Journal
ANNUAL REVIEW OF NEUROSCIENCE, VOL 38
Volume 38, Issue -, Pages 309-329Publisher
ANNUAL REVIEWS
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-neuro-071013-014229
Keywords
interneuron; lateral geniculate; reticular nucleus; whole-cell
Categories
Funding
- NIH [EY09593]
- NSF [0855272, 1219212]
- Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness [BFU2010-22220]
- Instituto de Neurociencias, a Center of Excellence Severo Ochoa
- Direct For Computer & Info Scie & Enginr [0855272] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
- Division Of Computer and Network Systems [0855272] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
- Div Of Information & Intelligent Systems
- Direct For Computer & Info Scie & Enginr [1219212] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
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Inhibitory neurons dominate the intrinsic circuits in the visual thalamus. Interneurons in the lateral geniculate nucleus innervate relay cells and each other densely to provide powerful inhibition. The visual sector of the overlying thalamic reticular nucleus receives input from relay cells and supplies feedback inhibition to them in return. Together, these two inhibitory circuits influence all information transmitted from the retina to the primary visual cortex. By contrast, relay cells make few local connections. This review explores the role of thalamic inhibition from the dual perspectives of feature detection and information theory. For example, we describe how inhibition sharpens tuning for spatial and temporal features of the stimulus and how it might enhance image perception. We also discuss how inhibitory circuits help to reduce redundancy in signals sent downstream and, at the same time, are adapted to maximize the amount of information conveyed to the cortex.
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