Layer specific neural interactions in the thalamo-cortical and cortico-cortical networks: An optogenetic manganese-enhanced MRI study

Abstract

The thalamo-cortical projections terminating in the primary somatosensory cortex are anatomically organized into layers. However, the functional layer-specificity of the axonal pathways which comprise the thalamo-cortical circuit remains to be studied. Combining optogenetic stimulation and manganese-enhanced MRI, the present study selectively induces neural activity in the ventral posteromedial nucleus to induce the deposit of manganese in its projections in-vivo. By identifying the cortical regions with increased contrast, using images acquired with the MDEFT MRI experiment, we infer the layer-specific connections from the thalamus to the primary somatosensory cortex.