Hypotheses relating to the function of the claustrum

@article{Smythies2012HypothesesRT,
  title={Hypotheses relating to the function of the claustrum},
  author={John Smythies and Lawrence Edelstein and Vilayanur S. Ramachandran},
  journal={Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience},
  year={2012},
  volume={6}
}
This paper presents a new hypothesis as to the function of the claustrum. Our basic premise is that the claustrum functions as a detector and integrator of synchrony in the axonal trains in its afferent inputs. In the first place an unexpected stimulus sets up a processed signal to the sensory cortex that initiates a focus of synchronized gamma oscillations therein. This focus may then interact with a general alerting signal conveyed from the reticular formation via cholinergic mechanisms, and… 
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120 Citations

Chapter 13 – Hypotheses Relating to the Function of the Claustrum
An Integrated Neuronal Model of Claustral Function in Timing the Synchrony Between Cortical Areas
TLDR
This model describes how the functional anatomy of the claustral connections can potentially execute the sequential activation of the representations of objects that are being processed serially and proposes that cross-frequency coupling between low frequency signals from CL and higher frequency oscillations in the cortical areas will be an efficient means of CL modulating neural activity across multiple brain regions in synchrony.
Physiology of the Claustrum
Organization of the Claustrum-to-Entorhinal Cortical Connection in Mice
TLDR
The results suggest that the dense claustro–MEC pathway is activated by novel context and modulates MEC function in contextual memory.
Organization of the claustrum-to-entorhinal cortical connection in mice.
TLDR
Investigation of the organization and function of identified claustro-cortical projections in mice using multiple anatomical and optogenetic techniques suggests that the dense claustra-MEC pathway is activated by novel context and modulates MEC function in contextual memory.
Single neurons and networks in the claustrum integrate input from widespread cortical sources
TLDR
It is shown that the claustrum is composed of excitatory and inhibitory cell types that are connected through intraclaustral excited synapses, especially between neurons with disparate projection targets.
Interhemispheric claustral circuits coordinate sensory and motor cortical areas that regulate exploratory behaviors
TLDR
The results suggest that subregions within the claustrum play a critical role in coordinating the cortical areas that regulate the acquisition of modality-specific sensory information during exploration and other behaviors that require sensory attention.
Intrinsic Connectivity of the Claustrum : Gap Junctions Demonstrated by Immunohistochemistry and Electron Microscopy
TLDR
The presence of gap junctions in the claustrum was investigated in this thesis with an immunohistochemical approach to localize the gap junction protein connexin 36, and it was argued that their limited occurrence in both number and location are not entirely in line with current hypotheses predicting a wide gap junction network common to the entire claustrums.
A role of the claustrum in auditory scene analysis by reflecting sensory change
TLDR
Claustral neurons were however able to detect target sounds embedded in a noisy background and their responses scaled with target signal to noise ratio (SNR) and single trial responses of individual neurons suggest that these neurons detected and reflected the occurrence of a change in the auditory scene.
The claustrum is a highway not a hub : organizing principles of claustrocortical synaptic transmission
TLDR
The findings in this thesis add to the understanding of CLA functional organization by suggesting that any input received by the CLA must be sufficiently strong in order to overcome FFI and for the signal to be propagated.
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