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Cited by 356Neural dynamics and brain functionNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchVisual perception and processing mechanisms

Lateral competition for cortical space by layer-specific horizontal circuits

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Adesnik, Hillel, Scanziani, Massimo·2010·Nature
DOI 10.1038/nature08935PMC PMC2908490
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Abstract

The cerebral cortex constructs a coherent representation of the world by integrating distinct features of the sensory environment. Although these features are processed vertically across cortical layers, horizontal projections interconnecting neighbouring cortical domains allow these features to be processed in a context-dependent manner. Despite the wealth of physiological and psychophysical studies addressing the function of horizontal projections, how they coordinate activity among cortical domains remains poorly understood. We addressed this question by selectively activating horizontal projection neurons in mouse somatosensory cortex, and determined how the resulting spatial pattern of excitation and inhibition affects cortical activity. We found that horizontal projections suppress superficial layers while simultaneously activating deeper cortical output layers. This layer-specific modulation does not result from a spatial separation of excitation and inhibition, but from a layer-specific ratio between these two opposing conductances. Through this mechanism, cortical domains exploit horizontal projections to compete for cortical space.

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  • Cross-columnar excitatory long-range axon collaterals connect neighboring columns running predominantly along barrel rows.

    “Cross-columnar excitatory long-range axon collaterals connect neighboring columns running predominantly along barrel rows (56).”

    From Neural correlates of perceptual decision-making in the primary somatosensory cortex (2026) · cites this paper as [56]

    The Abstract and Discussion describe layer 2/3 pyramidal-cell axons extending horizontally to neighboring cortical domains, including barrel columns. The Discussion does not establish that these connections run predominantly along barrel rows; it also distinguishes the local connections discussed here from long-range projections and says whether the findings hold for long-range interactions remains to be studied. No page numbers are available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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References 49 · Cited by 356

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Authors
Adesnik, H., & Scanziani, M.
Affiliations
Howard Hughes Medical Institute (US)
Corresponding author
Scanziani, Massimo
ORCID
Venue
Nature
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2010-04
Volume
464
Issue
7292
Pages
1155-1160
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
DOI
10.1038/nature08935
PMC
PMC2908490
OpenAlex
W2082160346
Cited by
356
References
49
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 27 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 32 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 25 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 30 · 2012: 32
FWCI
19.59
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute
  • University of California, San Diego
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R01 MH70058, R01MH070058)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
Keywords
cortical layers, somatosensory cortex, excitation-inhibition balance, optogenetic stimulation, mouse cortex
MeSH terms
Channelrhodopsins, Action Potentials, Aging, Animals, Axons, Models, Neurological, Neural Inhibition, Neural Pathways, Somatosensory Cortex, Pyramidal Cells, Mice

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