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Adolescent Thalamocortical Inhibition Alters Prefrontal Excitation-Inhibition Balance
David Petersen1,2, Ricardo Raudales1,2, Ariadna Kim Silva1,2
1Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|April 2, 2024
Summary
Inhibiting thalamic input to the prefrontal cortex during adolescence impairs cognitive function. This study reveals specific changes in synaptic connections, highlighting the importance of thalamo-cortical pathways for brain development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Adolescent development of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is crucial for adult cognition.
- Thalamo-cortical projections play a role in PFC maturation, but their specific impact on circuit connectivity during adolescence is not fully understood.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent thalamo-prefrontal pathway inhibition alters synaptic plasticity in specific PFC neuronal populations.
- Homeostatic regulation of excitation-inhibition balance appears to occur within subcortical but not intracortical pathways.
- Targeted inhibition of intra-prefrontal connectivity during adolescence may be critical for normal PFC circuit maturation and cognitive function.
Keywords:
AdolescenceExcitation inhibition balancePrefrontal cortex maturationThalamocortical projectionsMore Related Videos
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