Figure 11. Model of cholinergic regulation of cortical projection neurons.

A, diagram of cholinergic regulation of cortical projection neurons. ACh promotes cortical output to the brainstem by preferentially exciting corticopontine (CPn) neurons relative to commissural/callosal (COM) neurons. B, diagram of three ionic mechanisms contributing to G_q‐triggered excitation in CPn neurons: suppression of K_V7 channels (M‐current), activation of the non‐specific cation conductance underlying the calcium‐dependent afterdepolarization (ADP), and activation of a calcium‐sensitive but calcium‐permeable non‐specific cation (NSC) conductance.