Input-Independent Homeostasis of Developing Thalamocortical Activity

Abstract The isocortex of all mammals studied to date shows a progressive increase in the amount and continuity background activity during early development. In humans transition from discontinuous (mostly silent, intermittently bursting) cortex one that is continuously active complete soon after birth critical prognostic indicator. visual rodents this switch continuous occurs 2 d before eye-opening, driven by changes relay thalamus. factors regulate timing development, which enables mature processing, are unknown. Here, we test role retina, primary input, development spontaneous mice using depth electrode recordings enucleated vivo . Bilateral enucleation at postnatal day (P)6, week onset activity, acutely silences cortex, yet firing rates oscillations return normal within show developmental trajectory through P12. Enucleated animals showed differences silent period duration on P13 resolved P16, an low frequency power did not. Our results cortical not determined major driving input system. Rather, even rapid continuity, neural under homeostatic control largely robust loss input.