Closing the loop on neuronal oscillations: Motor networks take centre stage (360G-Wellcome-209120_Z_17_Z)

The idea that brief periods of coherence or phase-locking in rhythmic activity mechanistically facilitate communication across distributed cortical networks is hotly debated. It is thought to underlie processes like attention and working memory yet much of the evidence remains correlative. I propose to design and utilise a digital circuit to optogenetically entrain or damp rhythmic activity in one brain area based on oscillations occurring in other connected areas. Initially, I propose to use this circuit to determine if such processes drive dynamic connectivity across premotor and motor cortices facilitating the conversion of a motor plan to action. Specifically, I will perform closed-loop modulation of motor thalamo-cortical networks in behaving mice to determine if the projection from higher order motor thalamus to Layer 1 of cortex promotes such cortico-cortical synchronisation. Since higher order motor thalamus receives strong input from the dopamine modulated basal ganglia, I will also test if such subcortically mediated cortico-cortical synchronisation is important in driving cortico-cortical plasticity underlying motor learning. This will be accompanied with high channel count tetrode recordings distributed throughout the associated brain networks to capture changes in the spiking of individual neurons and LFPs, creating a rich data set to assess theories of oscillatory function.