Supplementary Figure 9: LC activation modulated intrathalamic circuit dynamics by reducing burst firing in both the TRN and VPm.

(a) Population average of percent of spikes in bursts for VPm and TRN neurons under varying LC stimulation conditions (VPm: 26±2% without LC stimulation vs 21±2% during 2 Hz LC stimulation and 14±2% during 5 Hz LC stimulation, n=22 neurons across 15 animals, Bonferroni corrected α=0.025, p=3.8x10-4 and =1.1x10-7, respectively, paired t-test; TRN: 17±3% without LC stimulation vs 10±3% during 2 Hz LC stimulation and 8±3% during 5 Hz LC stimulation, n=21 neurons across 10 animals, Bonferroni corrected α=0.025, p=0.031 and =0.007, respectively, paired t-test). (b) Example plots from the same VPm neuron showing inter-spike-intervals (ISIs) before vs after each spike in response to WGN whisker stimulation. Left: without LC stimulation. Right: with 5 Hz LC stimulation. (c) Example single-unit TRN response to a punctate stimulation of its principal whisker, with arrow marking whisker stimulation onset. Inset: example TRN waveform; shaded area represents ±s.d. (n=220 spikes) (d) Example plots from the same TRN neuron showing ISIs before and after each spike in response to WGN whisker stimulation. Left: without LC stimulation. Right: with 5 Hz LC stimulation. Error bars indicate ±s.e.m.