# Functional diversity of somatostatin interneurons in visual cortical circuits

> **NIH NIH F30** · YALE UNIVERSITY · 2023 · $51,581

## 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, the functional roles of the diverse classes of SST-INs in deep cortical
layers remain unknown. Furthermore, whereas the role of SST-INs in superficial cortical layers of adult animals
has been well characterized, their function in the infragranular layers is unknown. Our preliminary data suggest
the properties of SST-Ins vary across different cortical layers and thus may serve different roles. To further
explore this observation, we propose to combine a number of methodological approaches, including optogenetic
manipulations, 2-photon and viral tracing. We will test the following hypotheses: (1) SST-IN populations in
superficial and deep layers of visual cortex have distinct responses and differentially regulated by behavioral
state due to differences in presynaptic inputs. (2) SST-IN populations are functionally distinct across the layers
and differ in their impact on sensory processing. Our results will provide an unprecedented level of insight into
the function of SST-INs and their relationship to visual processing in the neocortex.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10694942
- **Project number:** 5F30EY032338-03
- **Recipient organization:** YALE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Calvin Fang
- **Activity code:** F30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $51,581
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-09-01 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10694942

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10694942, Functional diversity of somatostatin interneurons in visual cortical circuits (5F30EY032338-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10694942. Licensed CC0.

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