Internal brain state regulates membrane potential synchrony in barrel cortex of behaving mice

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Item Type:	Article
Title:	Internal brain state regulates membrane potential synchrony in barrel cortex of behaving mice
Creators Name:	Poulet, J.F.A. and Petersen, C.C.
Abstract:	Internal brain states form key determinants for sensory perception, sensorimotor coordination and learning. A prominent reflection of different brain states in the mammalian central nervous system is the presence of distinct patterns of cortical synchrony, as revealed by extracellular recordings of the electroencephalogram, local field potential and action potentials. Such temporal correlations of cortical activity are thought to be fundamental mechanisms of neuronal computation. However, it is unknown how cortical synchrony is reflected in the intracellular membrane potential (V(m)) dynamics of behaving animals. Here we show, using dual whole-cell recordings from layer 2/3 primary somatosensory barrel cortex in behaving mice, that the V(m) of nearby neurons is highly correlated during quiet wakefulness. However, when the mouse is whisking, an internally generated state change reduces the V(m) correlation, resulting in a desynchronized local field potential and electroencephalogram. Action potential activity was sparse during both quiet wakefulness and active whisking. Single action potentials were driven by a large, brief and specific excitatory input that was not present in the V(m) of neighbouring cells. Action potential initiation occurs with a higher signal-to-noise ratio during active whisking than during quiet periods. Therefore, we show that an internal brain state dynamically regulates cortical membrane potential synchrony during behaviour and defines different modes of cortical processing.
Keywords:	Electroencephalography, Exploratory Behavior, Membrane Potentials, Neurons, Somatosensory Cortex, Wakefulness, Animals, Mice, Inbred C57BL Mice
Source:	Nature
ISSN:	0028-0836
Publisher:	Nature Publishing Group
Volume:	454
Number:	7206
Page Range:	881-885
Date:	14 August 2008
Official Publication:	https://doi.org/10.1038/nature07150
PubMed:	View item in PubMed

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