Download Main Methods - Laboratory for Cortical Circuit Plasticity

Laboratory for Cortical Circuit Plasticity
Main theme: Mechanisms of operation and
plasticity of neural circuits in visual cortex
Project 1 Questions: How is each subtype of GABAergic neurons spatially arranged
in 3D space of the visual cortex? Are visual response properties different among subtypes?
Which subtype of neurons is more modifiable to visual deprivation?
Main Methods: In vivo two-photon functional Ca2+ imaging in transgenic mice or rats
in which GABAergic or a particular subtype of neurons express fluorescent protein.
A, Visual
B, Location of excitatory (blue) and GABAergic
stimulation and
in vivo recording
of responses of
many neurons
(red) neurons in 3D space of visual cortex (left) and
visual responses of neurons as indicated (right).
C, Identification of
Parvalbumin (PV)-, Calretinin
(CR)- and Somatostatin (SOM)-positive neurons
(left) and clusters of each subtype of neurons (right).
Project 2 Question: Are mechanisms of
LTP/LTD different, depending on types of
synapses in neural circuits in visual cortex?
Main Methods: Dual whole-cell recordings
from two cells in visual cortical slices of
transgenic mice in which a given type of
neurons express fluorescent protein.
d
e
b
a
c
Green cells, GABAergic interneurons. Different types
of synapses show different modes of plasticity.
Project 3 Question: Does optical stimulation of GABAergic or a given
subtype of interneurons modify feature-selective responses of nearby neurons?
Main Methods: Optical stimulation of neurons which express channelrhodpsin2 in GABAergic or subtypes of GABAergic neurons in the visual cortex.