Inter-laminar microcircuits across neocortex: repair and augmentation

Abstract

This opinion article highlights the potential employing of inter-laminar recording and microstimulation of cortical microcircuits to build neural prostheses for repair and augmentation of cognitive function. Repair and brain augmentation approaches, such as brain-machine interfaces, neural stimulation and other neural prostheses, have experienced a rapid development during the last decade. Cortical microcircuits are connected into a macro-network by cortico-cortical connections, which link areas within the same hemisphere, as well as between hemispheres. Inter-area connectivity of cortical microcircuits preserves spatial topography suggesting a column-to-column match from one area to another. A number of recent publications suggest that cortical microcircuits perform elementary computations while cognitive functions are sub-served by a broader network comprising multiple cortical areas. Microcircuit-based augmentation could be implemented in several cortical areas, where different functions could be enhanced. A better understanding of the function of inter-laminar microcircuits across the neocortex is needed for the development of treatments for neurological disorders, as well as for the development of methods of brain augmentation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)