Selective optical drive of thalamic reticular nucleus generates thalamic bursts and cortical spindles

Using optogenetics and multi-electrode recording in behaving mice, the authors find that briefly driving the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) switches thalamocortical firing mode and generates neocortical spindles, which have been implicated in memory and disease. These findings provide causal support for the idea that the TRN is involved in state regulation and introduce a new model for addressing the role of spindles in behavior. The thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) is hypothesized to regulate neocortical rhythms and behavioral states. Using optogenetics and multi-electrode recording in behaving mice, we found that brief selective drive of TRN switched the thalamocortical firing mode from tonic to bursting and generated state-dependent neocortical spindles. These findings provide causal support for the involvement of the TRN in state regulation in vivo and introduce a new model for addressing the role of this structure in behavior.