EM connectomics reveals axonal target variation in a sequence-generating network

Joergen Kornfeld

doi:10.7554/eLife.24364

EM connectomics reveals axonal target variation in a sequence-generating network

2017-03-27

57

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AI

Rajeevan T. Narayanan

DOI：10.7554/eLife.24364

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Abstract

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The sequential activation of neurons has been observed in various areas of the brain, but in no case is the underlying network structure well understood. Here we examined the circuit anatomy of zebra finch HVC, a cortical region that generates sequences underlying the temporal progression of the song. We combined serial block-face electron microscopy with light microscopy to determine the cell types targeted by HVC(RA) neurons, which control song timing. Close to their soma, axons almost exclusively targeted inhibitory interneurons, consistent with what had been found with electrical recordings from pairs of cells. Conversely, far from the soma the targets were mostly other excitatory neurons, about half of these being other HVC(RA) cells. Both observations are consistent with the notion that the neural sequences that pace the song are generated by global synaptic chains in HVC embedded within local inhibitory networks.

Keywords:

IDENTIFIED HVC NEURONS

STABLE PROPAGATION

CHAIN MODEL

NUCLEUS HVC

IN-VIVO

SONG

MOTOR

TIME

CONNECTIONS

BRAIN

EM connectomics reveals axonal target variation in a sequence-generating network

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