* Morphological and physiological characterization of pyramidal neuron subtypes in rat medial prefrontal cortex.
- The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) has been implicated in cognitive and executive processes including decision making, working memory and behavioral flexibility. Cortical processing depends on the interaction between distinct neuronal cell types in different cortical layers. To better understand cortical processing in the rat mPFC, we studied the diversity of pyramidal neurons using in vitro whole-cell patch clamp recordings and biocytin staining of neurons, followed by morphological analysis. Using unsupervised cluster analysis for the objective grouping of neurons, we identified more than 10 different pyramidal subtypes spread across the different cortical layers. Layer 2 pyramidal neurons possessed a unique morphology with wide apical dendritic field spans and a narrow basal field span. Layer 3 contained the only subtype that showed a burst of action potentials upon current injection. Layer 5 pyramidal neurons showed the largest voltage sags. Finally, pyramidal neurons in layer 6 (L6) showed a great variety in their morphology with 39% of L6 neurons possessing tall apical dendrites that extend into layer 1. Future experiments on the functional role of the mPFC should take into account the great diversity of pyramidal neurons.
=>機能の, 関数の, 機能する, 機能上の, 実用的な, 機能的な
Overview of adj functional
The adj functional has 6 senses (first 2 from tagged texts)
1. (3) functional -- (designed for or capable of a particular function or use; "a style of writing
in which every word is functional"; "functional architecture")
2. (1) functional -- (involving or affecting function rather than physiology; "functional deafness")
3. functional -- (relating to or based on function especially as opposed to structure; "the problem
now is not a constitutional one; it is a functional one"; "delegates elected on a functional rather
than a geographical basis")
4. functional, usable, useable, operable, operational -- (fit or ready for use or service; "the
toaster was still functional even after being dropped"; "the lawnmower is a bit rusty but still
usable"; "an operational aircraft"; "the dishwasher is now in working order")
5. functional -- (designed for or adapted to a function or use; "functional education selects
knowledge that is concrete and usable rather than abstract and theoretical"; "functional
architecture")
6. running, operative, functional, working -- ((of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of
performing; "in running (or working) order"; "a functional set of brakes")
--- WordNet end ---