Visual Experience Regulates the Intrinsic Excitability of Visual Cortical Neurons to Maintain Sensory Function

Alexander P Y Brown; Lee Cossell; Troy W Margrie

doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2019.03.073

Visual Experience Regulates the Intrinsic Excitability of Visual Cortical Neurons to Maintain Sensory Function

Cell Rep. 2019 Apr 16;27(3):685-689.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.03.073.

Authors

Alexander P Y Brown¹, Lee Cossell¹, Troy W Margrie²

Affiliations

¹ The Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, 25 Howland Street, London W1T 4JG, UK.
² The Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, 25 Howland Street, London W1T 4JG, UK. Electronic address: t.margrie@ucl.ac.uk.

Abstract

This in vivo study shows that both intrinsic and sensory-evoked synaptic properties of layer 2/3 neurons in mouse visual cortex are modified by ongoing visual input. Following visual deprivation, intrinsic properties are significantly altered, although orientation selectivity across the population remains unchanged. We, therefore, suggest that cortical cells adjust their intrinsic excitability in an activity-dependent manner to compensate for changes in synaptic drive and maintain sensory network function.

Keywords: intrinsic plasticity; layer 2/3; orientation selectivity; visual cortex; visual deprivation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Male
Membrane Potentials
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Neurons / physiology*
Patch-Clamp Techniques
Photic Stimulation
Pyramidal Cells / physiology
Sensation / physiology*
Sensory Deprivation
Visual Cortex / physiology*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding