Cortical modulation of dorsal column nuclei: A computational study

We present a computational study aimed at exploring the sensorimotor cortex modulation of the behaviour of dorsal column nuclei, specifically the impact of synaptic parameters, during both sleep and waking conditions. On the basis of the circuit proposed by Canedo et al. (2000), we have developed realistic computational models that have been tested with simultaneous electrocorticographic as well as intracellular cuneate recordings performed in anaesthetized cats. The results show that, (1) under sleep conditions, the model can block the transmission of afferent sensory information and, (2) operations expected during wakefulness, such as filtering and facilitation, can be performed if synaptic parameters are appropriately tuned.

[1]  C. Koch,et al.  Multiple channels and calcium dynamics , 1989 .

[2]  H. Kuypers,et al.  THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE CORTICAL FIBRES WITHIN THE NUCLEI CUNEATUS AND GRACILIS IN THE CAT. , 1964, Journal of anatomy.

[3]  J. Mariño,et al.  Coupled slow and delta oscillations between cuneothalamic and thalamocortical neurons in the chloralose anesthetized cat , 1996, Neuroscience Letters.

[4]  A. Canedo,et al.  Lemniscal recurrent and transcortical influences on cuneate neurons , 2000, Neuroscience.

[5]  Senén Barro,et al.  A Realistic Computational Model of the Local Circuitry of the Cuneate Nucleus , 2001, IWANN.

[6]  W. Chambers,et al.  PYRAMIDAL AND EXTRAPYRAMIDAL MODULATION OF SOMATOSENSORY ACTIVITY IN GRACILE AND CUNEATE NUCLEI. , 1964, Archives italiennes de biologie.

[7]  M. Jukes,et al.  Descending influences on the exteroceptive organizations of the cat's gracile nucleus , 1964, The Journal of physiology.

[8]  Michael L. Hines,et al.  NEURON — A Program for Simulation of Nerve Equations , 1993 .

[9]  J R Huguenard,et al.  A fast transient potassium current in thalamic relay neurons: kinetics of activation and inactivation. , 1991, Journal of neurophysiology.

[10]  C. Rivadulla,et al.  The lemniscal–cuneate recurrent excitation is suppressed by strychnine and enhanced by GABAA antagonists in the anaesthetized cat , 2002, The European journal of neuroscience.

[11]  A. Towe,et al.  Cortical excitation of neurons in dorsal column nuclei of cat, including an analysis of pathways. , 1961, Journal of neurophysiology.

[12]  Vernon B. Mountcastle.  Neural Mechanisms in Somesthesis: Recent Progress and Future Problems , 1984 .

[13]  D. McCormick,et al.  Sleep and arousal: thalamocortical mechanisms. , 1997, Annual review of neuroscience.

[14]  A. Towe,et al.  Cortical inhibition of neurons in dorsal column nuclei of cat. , 1961, Journal of neurophysiology.

[15]  Wilfrid Rall,et al.  Theoretical significance of dendritic trees for neuronal input-output relations , 1964 .

[16]  H. Kuypers,et al.  Cells of origin of cortical projections to dorsal column nuclei, spinal cord and bulbar medial reticular formation in the rhesus monkey , 1976, Neuroscience Letters.

[17]  A. Light,et al.  Arborizations of single corticofugal axons in the feline cuneate nucleus stained by iontophoretic injection of horseradish peroxidase , 1984, Brain Research.

[18]  A. Canedo,et al.  Pyramidal tract and corticospinal neurons with branching axons to the dorsal column nuclei of the cat , 1995, Neuroscience.

[19]  D. Winter.  N. GRACILIS OF CAT. FUNCTIONAL ORGANIZATION AND CORTICOFUGAL EFFECTS. , 1965, Journal of neurophysiology.

[20]  J. Eccles,et al.  MECHANISMS OF SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION IN THE CUNEATE NUCLEUS. , 1964, Journal of neurophysiology.

[21]  M. L. Sotgiu,et al.  Electrophysiological identification of pontomedullary reticular neurons directly projecting into dorsal column nuclei , 1976, Brain Research.

[22]  T. Sejnowski,et al.  Thalamocortical oscillations in the sleeping and aroused brain. , 1993, Science.

[23]  Lynn J. Bindman,et al.  The neurophysiology of the cerebral cortex , 1981 .

[24]  J. Eccles,et al.  DEPOLARIZATION OF PRESYNAPTIC FIBERS IN THE CUNEATE NUCLEUS. , 1964, Journal of neurophysiology.

[25]  D. Prince,et al.  Developmental changes in Na+ conductances in rat neocortical neurons: appearance of a slowly inactivating component. , 1988, Journal of neurophysiology.

[26]  Antonio Canedo,et al.  Sensorimotor Integration at the Dorsal Column Nuclei. , 1999, News in physiological sciences : an international journal of physiology produced jointly by the International Union of Physiological Sciences and the American Physiological Society.

[27]  A. Canedo.  PRIMARY MOTOR CORTEX INFLUENCES ON THE DESCENDING AND ASCENDING SYSTEMS , 1997, Progress in Neurobiology.

[28]  M Hines,et al.  A program for simulation of nerve equations with branching geometries. , 1989, International journal of bio-medical computing.

[29]  I. Darian‐Smith,et al.  Corticofugal effects on different neuron types within the cat's brain stem activated by tactile stimulation of the face. , 1966, Journal of neurophysiology.

[30]  D. McCormick,et al.  A model of the electrophysiological properties of thalamocortical relay neurons. , 1992, Journal of neurophysiology.

[31]  Kenneth H. Britten,et al.  Attention is everywhere , 1996, Nature.

[32]  A. Canedo,et al.  Pericruciate fibres to the red nucleus and to the medial bulbar reticular formation , 1994, Neuroscience.

[33]  Senén Barro,et al.  Modelling the Circuitry of the Cuneate Nucleus , 1999, IWANN.

[34]  M. A. Biedenbach,et al.  Origin of the pyramidal tract determined with horseradish peroxidase , 1980, Brain Research.

[35]  S. Cheema,et al.  Intracellular staining study of the feline cuneate nucleus. I. Terminal patterns of primary afferent fibers. , 1986, Journal of neurophysiology.

[36]  A. Hodgkin,et al.  Measurement of current‐voltage relations in the membrane of the giant axon of Loligo , 1952, The Journal of physiology.

[37]  D. McCormick,et al.  Simulation of the currents involved in rhythmic oscillations in thalamic relay neurons. , 1992, Journal of neurophysiology.

[38]  A. Borst.  Seeing smells: imaging olfactory learning in bees , 1999, Nature Neuroscience.

[39]  M. Steriade.  Impact of network activities on neuronal properties in corticothalamic systems. , 2001, Journal of neurophysiology.

[40]  P. Matthews.  The neurophysiology of the cerebral cortex L. Bindman andO. Lippold. 1981, Edward Arnold, London 495 pp. £47.50 , 1981, Neuroscience.

[41]  J J Jack,et al.  The propagation of transient potentials in some linear cable structures , 1971, The Journal of physiology.

[42]  Senén Barro,et al.  A computational model of cuneothalamic projection neurons , 2003, Network.

[43]  J. Mariño,et al.  Tonic and bursting activity in the cuneate nucleus of the chloralose-anesthetized cat , 1998, Neuroscience.

[44]  M. Rowe,et al.  Sensorimotor cortical influences on the climbing fibre input to cerebellar Purkynĕ cells. , 1973, Brain research.

[45]  A. Canedo,et al.  Sensorimotor cortical influences on cuneate nucleus rhythmic activity in the anesthetized cat , 1999, Neuroscience.