Final Report Summary - SENSTRIATUM (Sensory Integration in the Striatal Microcircuit)
In this study we elucidated principles of sensory processing performed by the striatal microcircuit. We used In vivo whole-cell recordings from striatal neurons, multineuron whole-cell recordings in slices, and optogenetic stimulation, to study the connectivity of neurons within the striatum and how they process sensory inputs. We showed that different types of striatal neurons are extremely selective in choosing their synaptic partners. We also showed that the striatum is a sensory structure and not only involved in motor related tasks. We were able to show that individual striatal neurons can respond to sensory inputs from both sides of the body and some integrate sensory input from different modalities such as tactile and visual inputs.