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Facilitating sensory responses in developing mouse somatosensory barrel cortex

Aren J Borgdorff1, James F A Poulet, Carl C H Petersen

  • 1Lab. of Sensory Processing, Brain Mind Inst., Faculty of Life Science, SV-BMI-LSENS, Station 15, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.

Journal of Neurophysiology
|February 9, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Young mice (postnatal day 7-12) exhibit facilitating sensory responses in the barrel cortex to repetitive whisker stimulation, unlike older mice. This suggests a unique developmental role for sensory processing in early brain circuit formation.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Neuroscience
  • Sensory Systems

Background:

  • Barrel cortex sensory responses differ between early (P7-P12) and later (P13-P21) postnatal development.
  • Early-life sensory processing mechanisms are crucial for cortical circuit development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the characteristics of sensory responses in the mouse barrel cortex during early postnatal development.
  • To compare sensory response patterns between young (P7-P12) and older (P13-P21) mice.
  • To elucidate the functional significance of early-life sensory processing for cortical plasticity.

Main Methods:

  • Whole-cell recordings, voltage-sensitive dye imaging, and calcium-sensitive dye imaging were employed.
  • Single whisker deflection and repetitive 10-Hz or paired-pulse stimulation protocols were used.
  • Pharmacological agents and local cortical microstimulation were utilized to probe mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • Sensory responses in P7-P12 mice were smaller and more localized than in P13-P21 mice upon single stimulus.
  • Repetitive stimulation in P7-P12 mice induced facilitating responses (300-1000 ms interval), contrasting with depressing responses in P13-P21 mice.
  • Facilitated responses in young mice showed increased amplitude and larger cortical spread, were blocked by reduced cortical excitability, and could be mimicked by microstimulation.

Conclusions:

  • Early-life facilitating sensory responses in the barrel cortex may guide activity-dependent cortical circuit specification.
  • These facilitating responses support extended sensory integration times, aligning with slower behaviors in early development.
  • The findings highlight distinct developmental trajectories in sensory processing and cortical plasticity.

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