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Petilla terminology: nomenclature of features of GABAergic interneurons of the cerebral cortex

Nature Reviews Neuroscience 9, 557–568 (2008) | Download Citation

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Abstract

Neuroscience produces a vast amount of data from an enormous diversity of neurons. A neuronal classification system is essential to organize such data and the knowledge that is derived from them. Classification depends on the unequivocal identification of the features that distinguish one type of neuron from another. The problems inherent in this are particularly acute when studying cortical interneurons. To tackle this, we convened a representative group of researchers to agree on a set of terms to describe the anatomical, physiological and molecular features of GABAergic interneurons of the cerebral cortex. The resulting terminology might provide a stepping stone towards a future classification of these complex and heterogeneous cells. Consistent adoption will be important for the success of such an initiative, and we also encourage the active involvement of the broader scientific community in the dynamic evolution of this project.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to funding agencies in their respective countries for supporting this work. The Gobierno de Navarra/Nafarroako Gobernua and the town and people of Petilla are acknowledged for graciously hosting the meeting that originated this document. Special thanks are due to A. Rowan, who attended the Petilla meeting and greatly contributed to establishing the initial vision for this report.

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Affiliations

  1. Giorgio A. Ascoli is at the Molecular Neuroscience Department and Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, and Plasticity, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason University, MS2A1, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, Virginia 22030, USA.

    • Giorgio A. Ascoli

  2. Rafael Yuste is at Columbia University, 1212 Amsterdam Avenue, Box 2435, New York, New York 10027, USA.

    • Rafael Yuste

Consortia

  1. The Petilla Interneuron Nomenclature Group (PING)

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    Correspondence to Giorgio A. Ascoli or Rafael Yuste.

    Supplementary information

    PDF files

    1. 1.

      Supplementary information S1 (box)

      Author addresses

    2. 2.

      Supplementary information S2 (box)

      Nomenclature of morphological features.

    3. 3.

      Supplementary information S3 (box)

      Nomenclature of molecular features

    4. 4.

      Supplementary information S4 (box)

      Nomenclature of physiological features.

    5. 5.

      Supplementary information S5 (figure)

      Somato-dendritic characteristics of cortical interneurons.

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      Supplementary information S6 (figure)

      Target specificity of cortical interneurons.

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      Supplementary information S7 (figure)

      Combining morphological and functional criteria.

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      Supplementary information S8 (figure)

      Electrophysiological and morphological characteristics of primate cortical interneurons.

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      Supplementary information S9 (figure)

      Near-threshold differences in discharge patterns of neocortical FS interneurons.

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      Supplementary information S10 (figure)

      Differences between species: prefrontal cortex neurogliaform (NGF) cells.

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    https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn2402