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Two networks of electrically coupled inhibitory neurons in neocortex

Author

Listed:
  • Jay R. Gibson

    (Brown University)

  • Michael Beierlein

    (Brown University)

  • Barry W. Connors

    (Brown University)

Abstract

Inhibitory interneurons are critical to sensory transformations, plasticity and synchronous activity in the neocortex1,2. There are many types of inhibitory neurons, but their synaptic organization is poorly understood. Here we describe two functionally distinct inhibitory networks comprising either fast-spiking (FS) or low-threshold spiking (LTS) neurons. Paired-cell recordings showed that inhibitory neurons of the same type were strongly interconnected by electrical synapses, but electrical synapses between different inhibitory cell types were rare. The electrical synapses were strong enough to synchronize spikes in coupled interneurons. Inhibitory chemical synapses were also common between FS cells, and between FS and LTS cells, but LTS cells rarely inhibited one another. Thalamocortical synapses, which convey sensory information to the cortex, specifically and strongly excited only the FS cell network. The electrical and chemical synaptic connections of different types of inhibitory neurons are specific, and may allow each inhibitory network to function independently.

Suggested Citation

  • Jay R. Gibson & Michael Beierlein & Barry W. Connors, 1999. "Two networks of electrically coupled inhibitory neurons in neocortex," Nature, Nature, vol. 402(6757), pages 75-79, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:402:y:1999:i:6757:d:10.1038_47035
    DOI: 10.1038/47035
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    Cited by:

    1. Yilmaz, Ergin, 2014. "Impacts of hybrid synapses on the noise-delayed decay in scale-free neural networks," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 1-8.
    2. Yulin Shi & Zoran Nenadic & Xiangmin Xu, 2010. "Novel Use of Matched Filtering for Synaptic Event Detection and Extraction," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 5(11), pages 1-15, November.

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