Synchronization through nonreciprocal connections in a hybrid hippocampus microcircuit

Synchronization among neurons is thought to arise from the interplay between excitation and inhibition; however, the connectivity rules that contribute to synchronization are still unknown. We studied these issues in hippocampal CA1 microcircuits using paired patch clamp recordings and real time com...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Frontiers in neural circuits 2013, Vol.7, p.120-120
Main Authors: Hilscher, Markus M, Leão, Katarina E, Leão, Richardson N
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Action Potentials - physiology
AMPA
Animals
dynamic clamp
Firing pattern
Glutamic acid receptors (ionotropic)
Hippocampus
Hippocampus - cytology
Hippocampus - physiology
hybrid circuits
I-h
Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potentials - physiology
Laboratory animals
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
N-Methyl-D-aspartic acid receptors
Nerve Net - cytology
Nerve Net - physiology
Neural networks
Neurons
Neuroscience
NMDA
Organ Culture Techniques
Pyramidal cells
Pyramidal Cells - physiology
Synchronization
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Summary:Synchronization among neurons is thought to arise from the interplay between excitation and inhibition; however, the connectivity rules that contribute to synchronization are still unknown. We studied these issues in hippocampal CA1 microcircuits using paired patch clamp recordings and real time computing. By virtually connecting a model interneuron with two pyramidal cells (PCs), we were able to test the importance of connectivity in synchronizing pyramidal cell activity. Our results show that a circuit with a nonreciprocal connection between pyramidal cells and no feedback from PCs to the virtual interneuron produced the greatest level of synchronization and mutual information between PC spiking activity. Moreover, we investigated the role of intrinsic membrane properties contributing to synchronization where the application of a specific ion channel blocker, ZD7288 dramatically impaired PC synchronization. Additionally, background synaptic activity, in particular arising from NMDA receptors, has a large impact on the synchrony observed in the aforementioned circuit. Our results give new insights to the basic connection paradigms of microcircuits that lead to coordination and the formation of assemblies.
ISSN:1662-5110
1662-5110
DOI:10.3389/fncir.2013.00120