# Emergence of somatostatin interneuron function in the developing visual cortex

> **NIH NIH F31** · YALE UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $31,660

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY:
 GABAergic interneurons are central to the normal development and function of neocortical circuits. In
particular, cells that express the peptide somatostatin (SST-INs) are thought to play critical roles in both
spontaneous and sensory-evoked neuronal activity, primarily via their robust inhibition of the dendrites of
excitatory pyramidal neurons. However, whereas the role of cortical SST-INs in adult animals has been well
characterized, their function in developing cortical circuits is unknown. Indeed, the organization of functional
connectivity of SST-INs at various developmental time points remains unexplored. Our preliminary data suggest
the surprising finding that the circuit-level influence of SST-INs is not yet present at eye opening in juvenile mice,
potentially revealing a critical developmental trajectory for the influence of these interneurons and their
contribution to visual processing. To further explore this observation, we propose to combine a number of
methodological approaches, including juvenile viral injection, advanced behavioral state analysis, optogenetic
manipulations, and 2-photon monitoring of neuronal signaling. We will test the following hypotheses: (1) The
development of the visual response properties of SST-INs directly influences the development of local and large-
scale cortical circuits during the postnatal period. (2) The maturation of these circuits contributes to the
developmental emergence of state-dependent modulation of spontaneous and visually evoked activity in the
visual cortex. Our results will provide an unprecedented level of insight into the development and function of
SST-INs and their relationship to visual processing in the neocortex.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10388678
- **Project number:** 1F31EY032793-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** YALE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Alex Wang
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $31,660
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-01-01 → 2022-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10388678

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10388678, Emergence of somatostatin interneuron function in the developing visual cortex (1F31EY032793-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10388678. Licensed CC0.

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