Layer-specific horizontal propagation of excitation in the auditory cortex

Optical imaging was conducted in rat auditory cortex slice preparations to study how horizontal excitation propagates in the cerebral cortex. When a horizontal cut was made between supragranular and infragranular layers, electrical stimulation of layer II/III elicited horizontally propagating excitation in supragranular layers with the same propagating velocities as those seen before a cut was made. Electrical stimulation of layer VI or the border between the white matter and layer VI also elicited horizontally propagating excitation in infragranular layers with the same propagating velocities as those seen before a cut was made. These results suggest that the horizontal propagation of excitation in supragranular and infragranular layers can occur independently in the auditory cortex.