Thalamic Circuit Diversity: Modulation of the Driver/Modulator Framework
The idea that dorsal thalamic inputs can be divided into drivers, which provide the primary excitatory drive for the relay of information to cortex, and modulators, which alter the gain of signal transmission, has provided a valuable organizing principle for the study of thalamic function. This view...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2016-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Neural Circuits |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fncir.2015.00086/full |
| _version_ | 1828930865373118464 |
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| author | Martha E Bickford |
| author_facet | Martha E Bickford |
| author_sort | Martha E Bickford |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The idea that dorsal thalamic inputs can be divided into drivers, which provide the primary excitatory drive for the relay of information to cortex, and modulators, which alter the gain of signal transmission, has provided a valuable organizing principle for the study of thalamic function. This view further promoted the identification of first order and higher order thalamic nuclei, based on the origin of their driving inputs. Since the introduction of this influential terminology, a number of studies have revealed the existence of a wide variety of thalamic organizational schemes. For example, some thalamic nuclei are not innervated by typical driver inputs, but instead receive input from terminals which exhibit features distinct from those of either classic drivers or modulators. In addition, many thalamic nuclei contain unique combinations of convergent first order, higher order, and/or other driver-like inputs that do not conform with the driver/modulator framework. The assortment of synaptic arrangements identified in the thalamus are reviewed and discussed from the perspective that this organizational diversity can dramatically increase the computational capabilities of the thalamus, reflecting its essential roles in sensory, motor, and sensory-motor circuits. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T00:38:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-884db20abbe74b4d90fad656d9a48428 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5110 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T00:38:45Z |
| publishDate | 2016-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Neural Circuits |
| spelling | doaj.art-884db20abbe74b4d90fad656d9a484282022-12-21T23:24:30ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neural Circuits1662-51102016-01-01910.3389/fncir.2015.00086173539Thalamic Circuit Diversity: Modulation of the Driver/Modulator FrameworkMartha E Bickford0University of LouisvilleThe idea that dorsal thalamic inputs can be divided into drivers, which provide the primary excitatory drive for the relay of information to cortex, and modulators, which alter the gain of signal transmission, has provided a valuable organizing principle for the study of thalamic function. This view further promoted the identification of first order and higher order thalamic nuclei, based on the origin of their driving inputs. Since the introduction of this influential terminology, a number of studies have revealed the existence of a wide variety of thalamic organizational schemes. For example, some thalamic nuclei are not innervated by typical driver inputs, but instead receive input from terminals which exhibit features distinct from those of either classic drivers or modulators. In addition, many thalamic nuclei contain unique combinations of convergent first order, higher order, and/or other driver-like inputs that do not conform with the driver/modulator framework. The assortment of synaptic arrangements identified in the thalamus are reviewed and discussed from the perspective that this organizational diversity can dramatically increase the computational capabilities of the thalamus, reflecting its essential roles in sensory, motor, and sensory-motor circuits.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fncir.2015.00086/fullcorticothalamicmedial geniculatethalamocorticalpulvinar nucleusretinogeniculatetectothalamic |
| spellingShingle | Martha E Bickford Thalamic Circuit Diversity: Modulation of the Driver/Modulator Framework Frontiers in Neural Circuits corticothalamic medial geniculate thalamocortical pulvinar nucleus retinogeniculate tectothalamic |
| title | Thalamic Circuit Diversity: Modulation of the Driver/Modulator Framework |
| title_full | Thalamic Circuit Diversity: Modulation of the Driver/Modulator Framework |
| title_fullStr | Thalamic Circuit Diversity: Modulation of the Driver/Modulator Framework |
| title_full_unstemmed | Thalamic Circuit Diversity: Modulation of the Driver/Modulator Framework |
| title_short | Thalamic Circuit Diversity: Modulation of the Driver/Modulator Framework |
| title_sort | thalamic circuit diversity modulation of the driver modulator framework |
| topic | corticothalamic medial geniculate thalamocortical pulvinar nucleus retinogeniculate tectothalamic |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fncir.2015.00086/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT marthaebickford thalamiccircuitdiversitymodulationofthedrivermodulatorframework |