RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A single-cell anatomical blueprint for intracortical information transfer from primary visual cortex
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 148031
DO 10.1101/148031
A1 Han, Yunyun
A1 Kebschull, Justus M
A1 Campbell, Robert AA
A1 Cowan, Devon
A1 Imhof, Fabia
A1 Zador, Anthony M
A1 Mrsic-Flogel, Thomas D
YR 2017
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2017/06/14/148031.abstract
AB The wiring diagram of the neocortex determines how information is processed across dozens of cortical areas. Each area communicates with multiple others via extensive long-range axonal projections 1–6, but the logic of inter-area information transfer is unresolved. Specifically, the extent to which individual neurons send dedicated projections to single cortical targets or distribute their signals across multiple areas remains unclear5,7–20. Distinguishing between these possibilities has been challenging because axonal projections of only a few individual neurons have been reconstructed. Here we map the projection patterns of axonal arbors from 591 individual neurons in mouse primary visual cortex (V1) using two complementary methods: whole-brain fluorescence-based axonal tracing21,22 and high-throughput DNA sequencing of genetically barcoded neurons (MAPseq)23. Although our results confirm the existence of dedicated projections to certain cortical areas, we find these are the exception, and that the majority of V1 neurons broadcast information to multiple cortical targets. Furthermore, broadcasting cells do not project to all targets randomly, but rather comprise subpopulations that either avoid or preferentially innervate specific subsets of cortical areas. Our data argue against a model of dedicated lines of intracortical information transfer via “one neuron – one target area” mapping. Instead, long-range communication between a sensory cortical area and its targets may be based on a principle whereby individual neurons copy information to, and potentially coordinate activity across, specific subsets of cortical areas.