Correlating whisker behavior with membrane potential in barrel cortex of awake mice (original) (raw)

Nature Neuroscience volume 9, pages 608–610 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

To investigate synaptic events underlying sensory perception, we made whole-cell membrane potential recordings of barrel cortex neurons in awake mice while recording whisker-related behavior. During quiet periods, we recorded slow, large-amplitude membrane potential changes, which switched during whisking to small, fast fluctuations that were correlated with whisker position. Robust subthreshold responses were evoked by passive whisker stimulation during quiet behavior and by active whisker contact with an object.

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Acknowledgements

We thank R. Rödel (Max Planck Institute, Heidelberg, Germany) and C. Nicolas (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland) for electronic design and construction of the magnetic whisker stimulators; E. Ahissar and M. Diamond for help and advice with whisker filming; and I. Ferezou, J.F.A. Poulet and A. Borgdorff for discussion and critical reading of the manuscript. The authors are grateful to the Swiss National Science Foundation and the Leenaards Foundation for their support.

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  1. Laboratory of Sensory Processing, Brain Mind Institute, SV-BMI-LSENS AAB 105, Station 15, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland
    Sylvain Crochet & Carl C H Petersen

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  1. Sylvain Crochet
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  2. Carl C H Petersen
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Correspondence toCarl C H Petersen.

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Crochet, S., Petersen, C. Correlating whisker behavior with membrane potential in barrel cortex of awake mice.Nat Neurosci 9, 608–610 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn1690

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