Azrieli Centre for Autism Research, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Ronin Institute, Montclair, NJ, USA; Blue Brain Project, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Geneva, Switzerland.
Blue Brain Project, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Geneva, Switzerland.
Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2021 Jul;126:213-235. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.03.015. Epub 2021 Mar 22.
As our understanding of the thalamocortical system deepens, the questions we face become more complex. Their investigation requires the adoption of novel experimental approaches complemented with increasingly sophisticated computational modeling. In this review, we take stock of current data and knowledge about the circuitry of the somatosensory thalamocortical loop in rodents, discussing common principles across modalities and species whenever appropriate. We review the different levels of organization, including the cells, synapses, neuroanatomy, and network connectivity. We provide a complete overview of this system that should be accessible for newcomers to this field while nevertheless being comprehensive enough to serve as a reference for seasoned neuroscientists and computational modelers studying the thalamocortical system. We further highlight key gaps in data and knowledge that constitute pressing targets for future experimental work. Filling these gaps would provide invaluable information for systematically unveiling how this system supports behavioral and cognitive processes.
随着我们对丘脑皮质系统理解的加深，我们面临的问题变得更加复杂。这些问题的研究需要采用新颖的实验方法，并辅以日益复杂的计算模型。在这篇综述中，我们总结了目前关于啮齿动物体感丘脑皮质回路的电路数据和知识，只要合适，我们就会讨论跨模态和物种的共同原则。我们回顾了不同的组织层次，包括细胞、突触、神经解剖学和网络连接。我们提供了这个系统的完整概述，对于该领域的新手来说应该是容易理解的，同时也足够全面，可以作为研究丘脑皮质系统的经验丰富的神经科学家和计算模型的参考。我们进一步强调了数据和知识方面的关键空白，这些空白是未来实验工作的紧迫目标。填补这些空白将为系统地揭示该系统如何支持行为和认知过程提供宝贵的信息。
