Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Cereb Cortex. 2010 Oct;20(10):2261-4. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhq127. Epub 2010 Jul 28.
The function of any brain structure depends on its neuronal composition and on the pattern of its extrinsic and intrinsic excitatory and inhibitory synaptic connectivity. In this issue of Cerebral Cortex, 3 related papers provide the most comprehensive analysis to date of the cellular and synaptic relationships of a standard cortical column in the somatosensory cortex of the Wistar rat. It is hoped that understanding normal composition of this archetypical cortical column may help to explain its functional operations, expose subtle pathological changes that could cause abnormal sensory and cognitive functions, and provide insight into evolution of the cerebral cortex.
任何脑结构的功能都取决于其神经元组成,以及其外在和内在兴奋性和抑制性突触连接的模式。在本期《大脑皮层》中,3 篇相关论文对 Wistar 大鼠体感皮层中标准皮层柱的细胞和突触关系进行了迄今为止最全面的分析。人们希望了解这个典型皮层柱的正常组成可以帮助解释其功能运作,揭示可能导致异常感觉和认知功能的细微病理变化,并深入了解大脑皮层的进化。