Complementary inhibitory control of dendritic top-down information processing in auditory cortex (A07)

• Subject Area: Cognitive, Systems and Behavioural Neurobiology
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 514483642

The distal apical dendrites of pyramidal neurons in neocortical layer 1 receive internally-generated top-down information which is vital for many higher brain functions, but how dendritic encoding of these signals is controlled by local inhibition is incompletely understood. Here, we combine spatially-resolved optogenetics, in vivo 2-photon calcium imaging, chemogenetics and cortex-dependent conditioning to dissect the contribution of two distinct types of GABAergic interneurons in these processes. Based on published and our preliminary evidence, we hypothesize a complementary division of labor between the two interneuron types in terms of circuit organization, interconnectivity and in vivo function.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 384: Inhibitory neurons: shaping the cortical code (IN-CODE)
• Major Instrumentation: Polygon 1000
• Applicant Institution: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Johannes Letzkus, Ph.D.