Serotonin Inhibition of Claustrum Projection Neurons: Ionic Mechanism, Receptor Subtypes and Consequences for Claustrum Computation.

The claustrum is a small but densely interconnected brain structure that is innervated by axons containing serotonin (5-HT), a neuromodulator that has been implicated in control of sleep and in the actions of psychedelic drugs. However, little is known about how 5-HT influences the claustrum. We have combined whole-cell patch-clamp measurements of ionic currents, flash photolysis, and receptor pharmacology to characterize the 5-HT responses of individual claustral projection neurons (PNs) in mouse brain slices.

Changing the Cortical Conductor's Tempo: Neuromodulation of the Claustrum.

The claustrum is a thin sheet of neurons that is densely connected to many cortical regions and has been implicated in numerous high-order brain functions. Such brain functions arise from brain states that are influenced by neuromodulatory pathways from the cholinergic basal forebrain, dopaminergic substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area, and serotonergic raphe. Recent revelations that the claustrum receives dense input from these structures have inspired investigation of state-dependent control of the claustrum.

Neuroscience: A Role for the Claustrum in Drug Reward.

The claustrum is a poorly understood but intriguing part of the brain: a new study has found that it plays an important role in drug reward by providing incentive salience to the location where the drug is administered.

Identification of Mouse Claustral Neuron Types Based on Their Intrinsic Electrical Properties.

Although its dense connections with other brain areas suggests that the claustrum is involved in higher-order brain functions, little is known about the properties of claustrum neurons. Using whole-cell patch clamp recordings in acute brain slices of mice, we characterized the intrinsic electrical properties of more than 300 claustral neurons and used unsupervised clustering of these properties to define distinct cell types. Differences in intrinsic properties permitted separation of interneurons (INs) from projection neurons (PNs).

Precision of Discrete and Rhythmic Forelimb Movements Requires a Distinct Neuronal Subpopulation in the Interposed Anterior Nucleus.

The deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN) represent output channels of the cerebellum, and they transmit integrated sensorimotor signals to modulate limb movements. But the functional relevance of identifiable neuronal subpopulations within the DCN remains unclear. Here, we examine a genetically tractable population of neurons in the mouse interposed anterior nucleus (IntA).