Extrathalamic Modulation of Cortical Function
Abstract
The focus of the research is to understand the role that the widely-divergent, globally-acting locus coeruleus (LC)-noradrenergic (NA) system plays in sensory information processing. Completed light-microscopic studies of the regional and laminar distribution of cortical innervation by extrathalamic systems (e.g., noradrenergic, cholinergic, serotonergic, and dopaminergic) indicate that axons of each system exhibit a different density and laminar distribution. They also display individual developmental sequences in terms of the time innervation begins and the evolution of its specialized laminar distribution in each cortical region. These anatomic data support the proposal that each extrathalamic system contacts a distinct population of neurons in specific cortical regions. Each population of neurons may be involved in different aspects of cortical regions. Cellular electrophysiology studies suggest that activity in the LC-NA has specific modulatory effects on the sensory responsiveness of cortical neurons. It alters the excitatory and inhibitory components of these sensory responses. Functionally, the LC-NA system may be involved in the orienting and attentional mechanisms. Keywords: Event related potential, Drugs, Visual perception, Auditory perception, Electroencephalography, Lesions, Nucleus.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 15, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA211044
Entities
People
- Stephen L. Foote
Organizations
- University of California, San Diego