FOR 1341:  Barrel Cortex Function

• Subject Area: Medicine
• Term: from 2010 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 141272880

The cerebral cortex is organised horizontally in layers and vertically in cortical columns. Although the structural and functional properties of a cortical column have been intensively studied in a variety of mammalian species, the “canonical circuit” of a cortical column and the interaction between different columns is still largely unknown. Over the last years it became clear that understanding neocortical information processing does not only require a detailed knowledge of the synaptic circuitry at the single cell level, but also an in-depth analysis of the columnar network activity at the population level. The rodent barrel cortex offers unique opportunities for studying sensory processing in a cortical column and to correlate whisker-related behaviour with neuronal activity in a well-defined cortical map.
The overall aim of this Swiss-German Research Unit is: Understanding the function of a neocortical column by using the rodent barrel cortex as a model for neuronal information processing within a neocortical module. The specific objectives are: (1) to describe the inhibitory and excitatory synaptic circuitry within a barrel-related cortical column and to understand general principles of neuronal information processing, i.e. excitatory feedback circuits within a cortical column; (2) to study large-scale network activity in order to reveal the role of intra- and inter-columnar interactions in spontaneous and sensory-driven activity patterns; (3) to examine defined synaptic microcircuits and large-scale neocortical networks during UP- and DOWN-states in order to elucidate state-dependent modifications of neuronal information processing; (4) to understand the neocortical network mechanism participating in or generating a distinct sensor-related behaviour; (5) to understand the processing of task-specific neuronal signals; (6) to understand the activity-dependent mechanisms that lead to the formation of a cortical column during the pre-critical period and its modification during subsequent developmental stages; (7) to develop, test and install novel behavioural tasks, which will allow detailed electrophysiological or population imaging analyses of behaviourally relevant neocortical circuits; (8) to develop in cooperation with our two industrial partners and our international partner in Taiwan novel techniques to monitor single cell and neuronal network activity in freely moving animals.

• DFG Programme: Research Units
• International Connection: Switzerland

Projects

• Cellular and synaptic analysis of rodent social facial touch (Applicant Brecht, Michael )
• Coordination funds etc. (Applicant Luhmann, Heiko J. )
• Cortical functional subnetworks in the fosGFP+ mouse (Applicant Poulet, Ph.D., James F.A. )
• Development of a barrel-related cortical column in the newborn rat (Applicant Luhmann, Heiko J. )
• Neocortical microcircuits: Role of excitatory feedback circuits within a barrel-related cortical column (Applicant Feldmeyer, Dirk )
• Neuronal processing of task-specific afferent whisker information in the rat barrel cortex (Applicant Schwarz, Cornelius )
• Postnatal maturation of cortical microcircuit function in barrel cortex (Applicant Helmchen, Fritjof )
• Three-dimensional analysis and quantification of dye-labeled cortical neurons by Neurolucida (Applicant Staiger, Jochen Ferdinand )
• Whole-cell recordings and optogenetic manipulation of GABAergic neurons in the barrel cortex of behaving mice (Applicant Petersen, Carl )

• Partner Organisation: Schweizerischer Nationalfonds (SNF)
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Heiko J. Luhmann
• Deputy: Professor Dr. Fritjof Helmchen