A novel theory of human cortical microcircuit function: Dedicated neuronal networks for fast cellular and synaptic computation

Project Information

FASTHUMANNEURON

Grant agreement ID: 101093198

DOI

10.3030/101093198

EC signature date 25 April 2023

Start date 1 September 2023

End date 31 August 2028

Funded under

• European Research Council (ERC)

Total cost

€ 2 500 000,00

EU contribution

€ 2 500 000,00

Coordinated by

STICHTING VU
Netherlands

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - FASTHUMANNEURON (A novel theory of human cortical microcircuit function: Dedicated neuronal networks for fast cellular and synaptic computation)

Reporting period: 2023-09-01 to 2026-02-28

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Improvement of information processing speed in the human brain by a specialized subset of neurons could exist in the human cortical circuitry. Although the human brain shares many cell types with other mammals, it also contains cell types that are not found in other primate and rodent neocortex. Our recent work shows that human-specialized transcriptomic types (t-types) of pyramidal neurons reside in cortical layers that show the largest evolutionary expansion in humans, layers 2 and 3, with unique molecular (i.e. gene expression) signature. We showed that these large pyramidal neurons in human layer 3 have fast processing properties, and can rapidly encode synaptic inputs into AP output to relay information to other neurons in the network, i.e. these neurons have fast input-output properties. This improves overall processing speed in neuronal networks and may support human cognitive abilities. Indeed, we showed that fast morphoelectric properties of large pyramidal neurons are associated with human cognitive function. Cortical computation speed would best be supported if human neurons types with fast input-output properties would be connected to each other, forming local microcircuits that rapidly process and relay information to other brain areas. Whether fast pyramidal neuron t-types form local preferential networks among each other, or mix with other slow pyramidal neuron t-types in human neocortex is not known. Therefore, we will test whether dedicated networks among neuron t-types with fast input-output properties exist in human neocortex that increase cortical computation power to ultimately support human cognitive abilities

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Project 2 (objective 1): Human voltage-gated Na+ and K+ channel properties underlie sustained fast AP signaling
Human cortical pyramidal neurons are large, have extensive dendritic trees, and yet have unexpectedly fast input-output properties: Rapid subthreshold synaptic membrane potential changes are reliably encoded in timing of action potentials (APs). Here, we tested whether biophysical properties of voltage-gated sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) currents in human pyramidal neurons can explain their fast input-output properties. Human Na+ and K+ currents exhibited more depolarized voltage dependence, slower inactivation, and faster recovery from inactivation compared with their mouse counterparts. Computational modeling showed that despite lower Na+ channel densities in human neurons, the biophysical properties of Na+ channels resulted in higher channel availability and contributed to fast AP kinetics stability. Last, human Na+ channel properties also resulted in a larger dynamic range for encoding of subthreshold membrane potential changes. Thus, biophysical adaptations of voltage-gated Na+ and K+ channels enable fast input-output properties of large human pyramidal neurons.

Project 3 (Objective 1, 2 and 4): Structural and functional specializations of human fast-spiking neurons support fast cortical signaling
Fast-spiking interneurons (FSINs) provide fast inhibition that synchronizes neuronal activity and is critical for cognitive function. Fast synchronization frequencies are evolutionary conserved in the expanded human neocortex despite larger neuron-to-neuron distances that challenge fast input-output transfer functions of FSINs. Here, we test in human neurons from neurosurgery tissue, which mechanistic specializations of human FSINs explain their fast-signaling properties in human cortex. With morphological reconstructions, multipatch recordings, and biophysical modeling, we find that despite threefold longer dendritic path, human FSINs maintain fast inhibition between connected pyramidal neurons through several mechanisms: stronger synapse strength of excitatory inputs, larger dendrite diameter with reduced complexity, faster AP initiation, and faster and larger inhibitory output, while Na+ current activation/inactivation properties are similar. These adaptations underlie short input-output delays in fast inhibition of human pyramidal neurons through FSINs, explaining how cortical synchronization frequencies are conserved despite expanded and sparse network topology of human cortex.

Project 4 (objective 4): Morphoelectric and transcriptomic divergence of the layer 1 interneuron repertoire in human versus mouse neocortex
Neocortical layer 1 (L1) is a site of convergence between pyramidal-neuron dendrites and feedback axons where local inhibitory signaling can profoundly shape cortical processing. Evolutionary expansion of human neocortex is marked by distinctive pyramidal neurons with extensive L1 branching, but whether L1 interneurons are similarly diverse is underexplored. Using Patch-seq recordings from human neurosurgical tissue, we identified four transcriptomic subclasses with mouse L1 homologs, along with distinct subtypes and types unmatched in mouse L1. Subclass and subtype comparisons showed stronger transcriptomic differences in human L1 and were correlated with strong morphoelectric variability along dimensions distinct from mouse L1 variability. Accompanied by greater layer thickness and other cytoarchitecture changes, these findings suggest that L1 has diverged in evolution, reflecting the demands of regulating the expanded human neocortical circuit.

Project 5 (objective 4): Signature morphoelectric properties of diverse GABAergic interneurons in the human neocortex
Human cortex transcriptomic studies have revealed a hierarchical organization of γ-aminobutyric acid-producing (GABAergic) neurons from subclasses to a high diversity of more granular types. Rapid GABAergic neuron viral genetic labeling plus Patch-seq (patch-clamp electrophysiology plus single-cell RNA sequencing) sampling in human brain slices was used to reliably target and analyze GABAergic neuron subclasses and individual transcriptomic types. This characterization elucidated transitions between PVALB and SST subclasses, revealed morphological heterogeneity within an abundant transcriptomic type, identified multiple spatially distinct types of the primate-specialized double bouquet cells (DBCs), and shed light on cellular differences between homologous mouse and human neocortical GABAergic neuron types. These results highlight the importance of multimodal phenotypic characterization for refinement of emerging transcriptomic cell type taxonomies and for understanding conserved and specialized cellular properties of human brain cell types.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

We idenfified molecular mechanisms underlying fast action potential signaling in adult human pyramidal neurons, indicating that molecular specializations facilitate neuronal input-output processing
We revealed physiological properties of adult human specialized interneuron types, and outlined an experimental roadmap using virus-mediated transfections to target these neurons in future studies.