Connectivity of Mouse Somatosensory and Prefrontal Cortex Examined with Trans-synaptic Tracing

Information processing in neocortical circuits requires integrating inputs over a wide range of spatial scales, from local microcircuits to long-range cortical and subcortical connections. We used rabies virus-based trans-synaptic tracing to analyze the laminar distribution of local and long-range inputs to pyramidal neurons in the mouse barrel cortex and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). New findings in barrel cortex include substantial inputs from layer 3 (L3) to L6, prevalent translaminar inhibitory inputs, and long-range inputs to L2/3 or L5/6 preferentially from L2/3 or L5/6 of input cortical areas, respectively. These layer-specific input patterns are largely independent of NMDA receptor function in the recipient neurons. mPFC L5 receive proportionally more long-range inputs and more local inhibitory inputs than barrel cortex L5. These results provide new insight into the organization and development of neocortical networks and identify important differences in the circuit organization in sensory and association cortices.