An enormous amount of energy has been targeted at elucidating basal ganglia function yet almost nothing is known about the mechanisms that govern the relay of basal-ganglia output through the thalamus. The basic thrust of this research proposal is to explore how information is transferred through a thalamic nucleus, which lies within a basal ganglia loop required for song learning in zebra finches. This problem is interesting because the most substantial input to this thalamic area (DLM), is GABAergic and strongly inhibitory to DLM neurons. How, then, might DLM relay GABAergic inputs? A robust feature of thalamic neurons could render inhibitory post-synaptic potentials (IPSPs) excitatory, namely post-inhibitory rebound. In fact, short barrages of IPSPs have been shown to elicit rebound spikes in DLM neurons. In this study, we plan to systematically explore the capacity of thalamic neurons to translate IPSPs into superthreshold output. These experiments will provide powerful insight into the function of thalamic areas important for motor learning in vertebrates, as well as thalamic-basal ganglia relay. This information is necessary to completely understand basal ganglia circuitry, which is pathological in human disorders such as Parkinson's disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
5F31NS049732-02
Application #
6959265
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F02B (20))
Program Officer
Babcock, Debra J
Project Start
2004-09-16
Project End
2007-09-15
Budget Start
2005-09-16
Budget End
2006-09-15
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$32,073
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Washington
Department
Physiology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
605799469
City
Seattle
State
WA
Country
United States
Zip Code
98195
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Person, Abigail L; Gale, Samuel D; Farries, Michael A et al. (2008) Organization of the songbird basal ganglia, including area X. J Comp Neurol 508:840-66
Person, Abigail L; Perkel, David J (2007) Pallidal neuron activity increases during sensory relay through thalamus in a songbird circuit essential for learning. J Neurosci 27:8687-98
Person, Abigail L; Perkel, David J (2005) Unitary IPSPs drive precise thalamic spiking in a circuit required for learning. Neuron 46:129-40