Disruption in Patterning in the Whisker-to-Barrel Cortex Pathway Alters Behavior

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Sensory processing
• Animal behavior

Background:

• Mice utilize whiskers for sensory input, navigation, and environmental exploration.
• The whisker-to-barrel pathway is crucial for processing tactile information.
• Disruptions in this pathway can alter sensory perception and behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the behavioral consequences of disrupted whisker somatotopy.
• To compare the effects of absent barrel cortex patterning (Barrelless mice) versus disrupted lemniscal pathway patterning (Prrxl1 knockout mice).

Main Methods:

• Utilized two mouse models: Barrelless (BRL) mice and Prrxl1 knockout (Prrxl1^-/-) mice.
• Assessed whisker-dependent discriminatory behavior using a textured novel object recognition test.
• Evaluated exploratory and locomotor behavior via an open field test.

Main Results:

• Barrelless mice successfully discriminated textures, unlike Prrxl1^-/- mice.
• Both BRL and Prrxl1^-/- mice exhibited increased anxiety compared to controls.
• Exploratory and locomotor activity increased in BRL mice but decreased in Prrxl1^-/- mice.

Conclusions:

• Whisker somatotopy disruption significantly affects sensory discrimination and exploratory behaviors.
• The degree of pathway disruption correlates with specific behavioral phenotypes.
• Somatosensory patterning is implicated in the regulation of anxiety and motor activity.