Editor's Summary
4 June 2009
Sensory transmission
Gamma oscillations, synchronous activity rhythms in the neuronal network measured between 20 and 80 Hz, are active during information processing and attention, and are dysregulated in schizophrenia. What induces this activity band has been the subject of speculation and theory. Two papers in this issue report the use of cell-type-targeted optogenetic technologies to test the currently favoured theory — that these oscillations are generated by synchronous activity of fast-spiking (FS) interneurons, also known as parvalbumin-expressing interneurons. The results suggest that the theory is correct. Cardin et al. show that a gamma state can be driven by specific activation of FS interneurons in vivo, and that sensory input relative to these oscillations can determine the extent of evoked cortical activity. Sohal et al. report empirical evidence for the involvement of specific activation of FS interneurons in the production of gamma oscillations, and their data too suggest that gamma-based modulation of excitatory cells may enhance the signal-to-noise ratio in circuits.
Article: Driving fast-spiking cells induces gamma rhythm and controls sensory responses
Jessica A. Cardin, Marie Carlén, Konstantinos Meletis, Ulf Knoblich, Feng Zhang, Karl Deisseroth, Li-Huei Tsai & Christopher I. Moore
doi:10.1038/nature08002
Abstract | Full Text | PDF (698K) | Supplementary information
Letter: Parvalbumin neurons and gamma rhythms enhance cortical circuit performance
Vikaas S. Sohal, Feng Zhang, Ofer Yizhar & Karl Deisseroth
doi:10.1038/nature07991
First paragraph | Full Text | PDF (627K) | Supplementary information
