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J Physiol Volume 581, Number 1, 139-154, May 15, 2007 DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2006.124321
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NEUROSCIENCE

Layer- and cell-type-specific suprathreshold stimulus representation in rat primary somatosensory cortex

 C. P. J. de Kock1, R. M. Bruno1, H. Spors1 and B. Sakmann1

1 Department of Cell Physiology, Max-Planck Institute for Medical Research, Jahnstrasse 29, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany

Sensory stimuli are encoded differently across cortical layers and it is unknown how response characteristics relate to the morphological identity of responding cells. We therefore juxtasomally recorded action potential (AP) patterns from excitatory cells in layer (L) 2/3, L4, L5 and L6 of rat barrel cortex in response to a standard stimulus (e.g. repeated deflection of single whiskers in the caudal direction). Subsequent single-cell filling with biocytin allowed for post hoc identification of recorded cells. We report three major conclusions. First, sensory-evoked responses were layer- and cell-type-specific but always < 1 AP per stimulus, indicating low AP rates for the entire cortical column. Second, response latencies from L4, L5B and L6 were comparable and thus a whisker deflection is initially represented simultaneously in these layers. Finally, L5 thick-tufted cells dominated the cortical AP output following sensory stimulation, suggesting that these cells could direct sensory guided behaviours.

(Received 6 November 2006; accepted after revision 20 February 2007; first published online 22 February 2007)
Corresponding author C. P. J. de Kock: Department of Cell Physiology, Max-Planck Institute for Medical Research, Jahnstrasse 29, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany. Email: christiaan.dekock{at}mpimf-heidelberg.mpg.de

This paper has online supplemental material.






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