A Layered Microcircuit Model of Somatosensory Cortex with Three Interneuron Types and Cell-Type-Specific Short-Term Plasticity

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)

Abstract

Abstract Three major types of GABAergic interneurons, parvalbumin- (PV), somatostatin- (SOM) and vasoactive intestinal peptide-expressing (VIP) cells, play critical but distinct roles in the cortical microcircuitry. Their specific electrophysiology and connectivity shape their inhibitory functions. To study the network dynamics and signal processing specific to these cell types in the cerebral cortex, we developed a multi-layer model incorporating biologically realistic interneuron parameters from rodent somatosensory cortex. The model is fitted to in vivo data on cell-type-specific population firing rates. With a protocol of cell-type-specific stimulation, network responses when activating different neuron types are examined. The model reproduces the experimentally observed inhibitory effects of PV and SOM cells and disinhibitory effect of VIP cells on excitatory cells. We further create a version of the model incorporating cell-type-specific short-term synaptic plasticity (STP). While the ongoing activity with and without STP is similar, STP modulates the responses of Exc, SOM, and VIP cells to cell-type-specific stimulation, presumably by changing the dominant inhibitory pathways. With slight adjustments, the model also reproduces sensory responses of specific interneuron types recorded in vivo . Our model provides predictions on network dynamics involving cell-type-specific short-term plasticity and can serve to explore the computational roles of inhibitory interneurons in sensory functions.

Authors 5

1. Han-Jia Jiang corresponding

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · University of Cologne · Jülich Aachen Research Alliance

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-6) and Institute for Advanced Simulation (IAS-6), Jülich Research Centre, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 52428, Jülich, Germany

   Institute of Zoology, University of Cologne, Albertus-Magnus-Platz, 50923, Cologne, Germany

   JARA Institute Brain Structure-Function Relationships (INM-10), Jülich Research Centre, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 52428, Jülich, Germany

   Institute of Zoology, University of Cologne, Albertus-Magnus-Platz, 5092, Cologne, Germany

   JARA Institute Brain Structure-Function Relationships (INM-10), Jülich Research Centre, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 548, Jülich, Germany

2. Guanxiao Qi

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · Jülich Aachen Research Alliance

   Affiliation as printed

   JARA Institute Brain Structure-Function Relationships (INM-10), Jülich Research Centre, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 52428, Jülich, Germany

   JARA Institute Brain Structure-Function Relationships (INM-10), Jülich Research Centre, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 548, Jülich, Germany

3. Renato Duarte

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · Jülich Aachen Research Alliance · Radboud University Nijmegen · Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour

   Affiliation as printed

   Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

   Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-6) and Institute for Advanced Simulation (IAS-6), Jülich Research Centre, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 52428, Jülich, Germany

   JARA Institute Brain Structure-Function Relationships (INM-10), Jülich Research Centre, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 52428, Jülich, Germany

   JARA Institute Brain Structure-Function Relationships (INM-10), Jülich Research Centre, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 548, Jülich, Germany

4. Dirk Feldmeyer Aachen Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics

   RWTH Aachen University · Universitätsklinikum Aachen · Forschungszentrum Jülich · Jülich Aachen Research Alliance

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany

   JARA Institute Brain Structure-Function Relationships (INM-10), Jülich Research Centre, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 52428, Jülich, Germany

   Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Pauwelsstr. 30, 2074, Aachen, Germany

   JARA Institute Brain Structure-Function Relationships (INM-10), Jülich Research Centre, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 548, Jülich, Germany

5. Sacha Jennifer van Albada corresponding

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · University of Cologne · Jülich Aachen Research Alliance

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-6) and Institute for Advanced Simulation (IAS-6), Jülich Research Centre, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 52428, Jülich, Germany

   Institute of Zoology, University of Cologne, Albertus-Magnus-Platz, 50923, Cologne, Germany

   JARA Institute Brain Structure-Function Relationships (INM-10), Jülich Research Centre, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 52428, Jülich, Germany

   Institute of Zoology, University of Cologne, Albertus-Magnus-Platz, 5092, Cologne, Germany

   JARA Institute Brain Structure-Function Relationships (INM-10), Jülich Research Centre, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 548, Jülich, Germany