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Sensory stimuli reach the brain via the thalamocortical projection, a group of axons thought to be among the most powerful in the neocortex. Surprisingly, these axons account for only approximately 15% of synapses onto cortical neurons. The thalamocortical pathway might thus achieve its effectiveness via high-efficacy thalamocortical synapses or via amplification within cortical layer 4. In rat somatosensory cortex, we measured in vivo the excitatory postsynaptic potential evoked by a single synaptic connection and found that thalamocortical synapses have low efficacy. Convergent inputs, however, are both numerous and synchronous, and intracortical amplification is not required. Our results suggest a mechanism of cortical activation by which thalamic input alone can drive cortex.

Original publication

DOI

10.1126/science.1124593

Type

Journal article

Journal

Science

Publication Date

16/06/2006

Volume

312

Pages

1622 - 1627

Keywords

Action Potentials, Animals, Axons, Dendrites, Electric Stimulation, Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials, Membrane Potentials, Neural Pathways, Neurons, Rats, Rats, Wistar, Somatosensory Cortex, Synapses, Synaptic Transmission, Thalamus, Vibrissae