Ventral posterolateral and ventral posteromedial thalamocortical neurons have distinct physiological properties
Carleigh Studtmann, Marek Ladislav, Mona Safari, Rabeya Khondaker, Yang Chen, Grace A. Vaughan, Mackenzie A. Topolski, Eni Tomović, Aleš Balík, Sharon A. Swanger
Abstract
This study revealed that somatosensory thalamocortical neurons in the VPL and VPM have substantial differences in excitatory synaptic input and intrinsic firing properties. The distinct properties suggest that VPL and VPM neurons could process somatosensory information differently and have selective vulnerability to disease. This work improves our understanding of nucleus-specific neuron function in the thalamus and demonstrates the critical importance of studying these parallel somatosensory pathways separately.
Topics & Concepts
NeuroscienceThalamusSomatosensory systemExcitatory postsynaptic potentialNeuronBiologyPsychologyInhibitory postsynaptic potentialNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchNeural dynamics and brain functionPhotoreceptor and optogenetics research