Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings and high-resolution 3D morphometric analyses of layer 3 pyramidal neurons in in vitro slices of monkey primary visual cortex (V1) and dorsolateral granular prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) revealed that neurons in these two brain areas possess highly distinctive structural and functional properties. ... Three-dimensional reconstructions of V1 and dlPFC neurons were incorporated into computational models containing Hodgkin-Huxley and AMPA- and GABAA-receptor gated channels. Morphology alone largely accounted for observed passive physiological properties, but led to AP firing rates that differed more than observed empirically, and to synaptic responses that opposed empirical results. Accordingly, modeling predicts that active channel conductances differ between V1 and dlPFC neurons. The unique features of V1 and dlPFC neurons are likely fundamental determinants of area-specific network behavior. The compact electrotonic arbor and increased excitability of V1 neurons support the rapid signal integration required for early processing of visual information. The greater connectivity and dendritic complexity of dlPFC neurons likely support higher level cognitive functions including working memory and planning.
Model Type: Neuron or other electrically excitable cell
Region(s) or Organism(s): Neocortex; Prefrontal cortex (PFC)
Cell Type(s): Neocortex L2/3 pyramidal GLU cell
Model Concept(s): Activity Patterns; Influence of Dendritic Geometry; Detailed Neuronal Models; Electrotonus; Conductance distributions; Vision
Simulation Environment: NEURON
Implementer(s): Weaver, Christina [christina.weaver at fandm.edu]
References:
Amatrudo JM et al. (2012). Influence of highly distinctive structural properties on the excitability of pyramidal neurons in monkey visual and prefrontal cortices. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience. 32 [PubMed]