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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2020.02.03.933143

Sharp tuning of head direction by somatosensory fast-spiking interneurons

Long, X.·Young, C. K.·Zhang, S.-J.
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Abstract

Head direction (HD) information is intricately linked to spatial navigation and cognition. We recently reported the co-existence of all currently recognized spatial cell types can be found in the hindlimb primary somatosensory cortex (S1HL). In this study, we carried out an in-depth characterization of HD cells in S1HL. We show fast-spiking (FS), putative inhibitory neurons are over-represented in and sharply tuned to HD compared to regular-spiking (RS), putative excitatory neurons. These FS HD cells are non-conjunctive, rarely theta modulated, not locally connected and are enriched in layer 4/5a. Their co-existence with RS HD cells and angular head velocity (AHV) cells in a layer-specific fashion through the S1HL presents a previously unreported organization of spatial circuits. These findings challenge the notion that FS, putative inhibitory interneurons are weakly tuned to external stimuli in general and present a novel local network configuration not reported in other parts of the brain.

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Long, X., Young, C. K., Zhang, S.-J.. 2020-02-04. Sharp tuning of head direction by somatosensory fast-spiking interneurons. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.02.03.933143

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