Global enhancement of cortical excitability following coactivation of large neuronal populations
Deng Zhang, Xingjian Yan, Liang She, Yunqing Wen, Mu‐ming Poo
Abstract
Significance Propagating cortical waves that evoke correlated firing of large neuronal populations may cause long-term modification of neural circuits in the brain. Using optogenetic stimulation, we found that repetitive coactivation of large populations of mouse cortical neurons led to enhanced excitability of cortical neurons in both coactivated areas and distant areas that were not coactivated, including those in the contralateral cortices. This global enhancement of neuronal excitability caused by local neuronal stimulation was accompanied by the potentiation of excitatory synaptic transmission, suggesting activity-dependent synaptic plasticity. The corticothalamocortical circuit could contribute to the propagation of this enhancement effect. These results show that the repetitive correlated excitation of large neuronal populations could lead to global enhancement of neuronal excitability.