Figure 5.

Local Deactivation of L6CCs Affects L5PT Responses throughout vS1

(A) Simulations for two different manipulation scenarios: L6CCs or all other neurons in/around a 2^nd SC were deprived from their ability to respond to whisker stimuli. Raster plots represent APs of the L5PT models for 200 randomly selected simulation trials in control and manipulation 1 scenarios, respectively. PSTHs for PW and 2^nd SW stimuli in control and both manipulation scenarios are shown.

(B) Strategy to test the predictions empirically. Recording whisker-evoked local field potentials (LFPs) allows placing of muscimol injection and recording pipettes at precise columnar and laminar positions. Top to bottom panels: L6CC and L5PT labeled in the same animal are shown. Axonal extent in the deep layers of L6CCs versus TC and other IC cell types is shown. Example LFPs (mean ± SEM) before and after muscimol injections recorded via the injection and recording pipettes, respectively, are shown.

(C) Exemplary AP responses evoked by PW or 2^nd SW stimuli and PSTHs across L5PTs (mean ± SEM; 2^nd SW: n = 8; PW: n = 5).

(D) Left panels: APs per L5PT before and after muscimol injections (red: mean ± SEM) in response to a 2^nd SW (n = 8) and non-manipulated PW or SW (n = 5, respectively). Right panel: effect of muscimol on AP response probabilities of L5PTs is shown (mean ± SEM).

See also Figure S2.