Traveling waves in developing cerebellar cortex mediated by asymmetrical Purkinje cell connectivity

Correlated network activity plays a critical role in the development of many neural circuits. Purkinje cells are among the first neurons to populate the cerebellar cortex, where they sprout exuberant axon collaterals. Here we use multiple patch-clamp recordings targeted with two-photon microscopy to characterize monosynaptic connections between Purkinje cells of juvenile mice. We show that Purkinje cell axon collaterals project asymmetrically in the sagittal plane, directed away from the lobule apex. Based on our anatomical and physiological characterization of this connection, we construct a network model that robustly generates waves of activity traveling along chains of connected Purkinje cells. Consistent with the model, we observe traveling waves of activity in Purkinje cells in sagittal slices from young mice that require GABA(A) receptor-mediated transmission and intact Purkinje cell axon collaterals. These traveling waves are absent in adult animals, suggesting they play a developmental role in wiring the cerebellar cortical microcircuit.