notes-science-neuro-cortex-cortex

Thalamic Input to Distal Apical Dendrites in Neocortical Layer 1 Is Massive and Highly Convergent

The usual picture is that the important thalamic input goes to layer 4. But the thalamus also projects to layer 1. This article highlights the potential importance of that projection.

Apparently the layer 4 projecting thalamic cells are core and the layer 1 projecting ones are matrix, although Sherman and Guillery's book also notes that a bunch of thalamic cells project to both.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhn259

"one map, one area" -- http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2007.03.044