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Integration of anatomical and physiological connectivity data sets for layered cortical network models

Introduction

The specific connectivity of the local cortical network provides the structural basis for the function of the information-processing unit usually referred to as cortical column, cortical module or canonical microcircuit. We investigate in large-scale simulations the dynamical implications of layer-specific connectivity compatible with experimental data. However, the existing data sets are still diverse in their results as in their methodology ranging from electrophysiology to purely anatomical methods. The integration of the different data sets into a consistent model again advances the interpretation of the data.

Layer-specific connectivity structure

Restricting ourselves to pairwise connectivity we use the two most comprehensive and quantitative data sets from the literature [1, 2]. Despite their apparent inconsistency we identify invariant measures that may reflect canonicity in the relationship of intra-layer recurrence and inter-layer projections. The assumption of a gaussian connectivity profile explains the connectivity data [1, 2] while predicting a lateral spread of connections consistent with other studies [3, 4]. This reduces the discrepancies to the specificity in target type selection as typically found for functional connections (for instance [1, 5]). Hence, the data sets represent diversity in methodology rather than connectivity. Surmounting this obstacle, we can extract the information required to construct a multi-layered neocortical network model and propose a data set that best summarizes present knowledge.

Neural network dynamics

The dynamical properties induced by layer-specific connectivity are investigated by means of numerical simulations of a local cortical module consisting of 80,000 neurons. We elaborate on the existence and stability of asynchronous irregular activity for stationary and transient thalamo-cortical inputs, respectively. The cortical connectivity alone predicts a distribution of firing rates across layers. Quantification of target type specificity allows us to ascertain its dynamical implications.

Conclusion

We integrate various data sets and find that local connectivity is best described by layers of balanced random networks interconnected with partly target specific projections providing feed-forward and feedback signaling. Our quantitative analysis supplies researchers with the information required for simulations and renders the consistent usage of electrophysiological and anatomical data possible. Simulations of the multi-layered model can now be compared to the observed network activity, linking structure to dynamics.

References

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Acknowledgements

Partially funded by DIP F1.2, BMBF Grant 01GQ0420 to the Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Freiburg, and EU Grant 15879 (FACETS).

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Correspondence to Tobias C Potjans.

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Open Access This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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Potjans, T.C., Diesmann, M. Integration of anatomical and physiological connectivity data sets for layered cortical network models. BMC Neurosci 9 (Suppl 1), P60 (2008). https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.1186/1471-2202-9-S1-P60

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  • DOI: https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.1186/1471-2202-9-S1-P60

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