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PMID: 10811722 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Review

Synaptic efficacy and reliability of excitatory connections between the principal neurones of the input (layer 4) and output layer (layer 5) of the neocortex.

The Journal of physiology ·Vol. 525 Pt 1 ·2000-05-15 ·Pages 31-9

Feldmeyer D, Sakmann B

Abstract

A prerequisite for the understanding of how a cortical column functions is a description of small and defined neuronal circuits consisting of only a few identified neurones. Here we summarise, with particular reference to the barrel cortex, the morphological and physiological properties of two synaptic connections, namely those between pairs of spiny neurones in layer 4 and pairs of pyramidal cells in layer 5. While layer 4 spiny neurones are the cortical input neurones that amplify and relay incoming excitation from the periphery, layer 5 pyramidal cells integrate neuronal activity both within and across cortical columns and subsequently distribute it to both cortical and subcortical brain regions.

MeSH Terms
Animals Neocortex/cytology Neurons/cytology Rats Synaptic Transmission/physiology
Authors & Affiliations
2 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Feldmeyer D
Max-Planck-Institut fur Medizinische Forschung, Abteilung Zellphysiologie, Jahnstrasse 29, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany. feldmeyr@sun0.mpimf-heidelberg.mpg.de
Sakmann B
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Article Info
Journal
The Journal of physiology
Abbr.
J Physiol
ISSN
0022-3751
DOI
10.1111/j.1469-7793.2000.00031.x
Email
feldmeyr@sun0.mpimf-heidelberg.mpg.de
Published
2000-05-15
Pages
31-9
Language
English
Region
England
NLM ID
0266262
PMCID
PMC2269927
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7793.2000.00031.x PMC Full Text View journal details
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