회의 ID: 996 3257 0373 /  암호: 1234
- Abstract :
The representation and differentiation of sensory information in the brain has long represented a fundamental question in neuroscience. The vast majority of studies on sensory processing has focused on the peripheral receptors or the cortical function, not the contribution of thalamus activity which is predominantly controlled by the state of arousal. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the mechanisms of thalamic sensory processing for an integrative understanding of sensory information processing in the brain. We recently reported that astrocytes, an abundant glia in the brain, synthesize and release tonic GABA in the thalamus. Remarkably, in contrast to the conventional idea that tonic GABA suppresses information processing, an increase in tonic GABA within the physiologically relevant range enhanced the temporal fidelity of neuronal responses to distinguish inputs in the thalamus thus improving tactile discriminability in mice. These results, for the first time, provide evidence that astrocytes control tactile acuity via tonic GABA in the thalamus. Building on our previous research and recent preliminary results, we hypothesized that the glial network consisting of multiple cell types plays a pivotal role in meditating tonic GABA and tuning thalamic sensory processing, specifically by dynamically regulating the synaptic integration and membrane properties of thalamocortical neurons.