Barrel cortex: What is it good for?

Neuroscience
Maik C Stüttgen, Cornelius Schwarz

Abstract

The rodent whisker system, with barrel cortex as its most prominent structure, has evolved into a powerful model system to study sensory processing. However, despite the vast amount of data collected on barrel cortex neural activity patterns, as well as its circuitry and plasticity, the precise behavioral and cognitive operations for which this structure is needed are still elusive. Proposed functions of barrel cortex include detection, discrimination, coordination of whisker movements during exploratory locomotion or active touch, and associative learning. Departing from a definition of what exactly constitutes a function and how the involvement of a brain area in a specific task can be established conclusively, we here review the arguments suggesting barrel cortex is involved in either of these functions. We conclude that currently available data do not unequivocally support a crucial role of barrel cortex in core sensorimotor functions like sensory processing for detection and discrimination or motor processing for movement. Instead, it appears that barrel cortex' contribution to behavior becomes ever more critical for performance with increasing cognitive load. We argue that our ignorance about barrel cortex' involvement in...Continue Reading

References

Nov 16, 2011·Frontiers in Neuroscience·Maik C StüttgenFrank Jäkel

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Citations

Oct 26, 2018·Genes, Brain, and Behavior·Robyn A GrantRichard E Brown
Jun 1, 2019·PLoS Computational Biology·Audrey J SederbergGarrett B Stanley
Aug 21, 2020·Physiological Reviews·Jochen F Staiger, Carl C H Petersen
Dec 14, 2018·Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience·Rahul Chaudhary, V Rema
Mar 9, 2018·Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience·Pierantonio ParmianiGianfranco Franchi
Sep 19, 2018·Nature·Y Kate HongRandy M Bruno
Sep 27, 2018·Nature Communications·Shubhodeep Chakrabarti, Cornelius Schwarz

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Barrel cortex

Here is the latest research on barrel cortex, a region of somatosensory and motor corticies in the brain, which are used by animals that rely on whiskers for world exploration.

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