# Functional interrogation of the mouse somatosensory thalamic interneuron in sensory perception and rhythmic states

> **NIH NIH F32** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2022 · $71,917

## Abstract

ABSTRACT/SUMMARY
The mouse somatosensory thalamus participates in fundamental processes including sensory processing, sleep
and pathological rhythmic behaviors like seizure. Local thalamic interneurons have been considerably
overlooked due to their sparsity in the total neuronal population. However, their extensive dendritic arborizations
spanning almost the entire breadth of the nucleus, together with my preliminary data, point to an important role
for these cells in thalamic functions. Thalamic interneuron dendrites are capable of releasing synaptic vesicles,
defying traditional definitions of neuronal input and output structures, while greatly increasing their capacity for
complex computations. Of interest, local thalamic interneurons are also capable of forming diverse and
uncommon synaptic relationships including triadic synapses. The primary conceptual goals this project seeks to
address are to define the rules that govern dendritic signal integration and to define the functional role these
interneurons play in the canonical thalamocortical circuit. I hypothesize that unique structural features enable
unique functions. Specifically, I predict that electrotonically isolated dendritic locations enable numerous
encoding processes to occur simultaneously and independently from the soma. Thus, thalamic interneurons
pose unique opportunities to study fundamental principles of neuronal computation including the ambiguous role
of triadic inhibition. Taking place at Columbia University with Sponsor Prof. Chris Makinson and Co-Sponsor
Prof. Liam Paninksi, I will use the newest generation of high-gain voltage indicators and multi-photon in vitro and
in vivo imaging to investigate the imperative questions outlined above. This fellowship represents a substantial
opportunity for high-quality training in state-of-the-art imaging and computational neuroscience techniques and
approaches that complement my background in neurobiology and electrophysiology. I aim to address the
influence of local interneurons in thalamic functions by observing and manipulating their activity during thalamic
oscillations. I will also apply synthetic synaptic inputs to probe with precision input distribution patterns and the
biophysical mechanisms underlying dendritic integration in thalamic interneurons. Data from these experiments
will be used to build realistic and well constrained computer simulations to further test precise mechanisms in
shaping receptive field structures. I expect to find that interneurons act as an integral member of the
thalamocortical circuit and to gain insight into fundamental concepts of neuronal computation through their
interrogation. Moving forward, I hope to build upon the conceptual and technical advances outlined here to
uncover the causative mechanisms involved in sensory perception and the role of thalamic interneurons in
disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10467357
- **Project number:** 1F32MH130023-01
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Jane Yi
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $71,917
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-01 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10467357

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10467357, Functional interrogation of the mouse somatosensory thalamic interneuron in sensory perception and rhythmic states (1F32MH130023-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10467357. Licensed CC0.

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