Kress GJ, Yamawaki N, Wokosin DL, Wickersham IR, Shepherd GM, Surmeier DJ. Nat Neurosci. 2013 Jun;16(6):665-7. doi: 10.1038/nn.3397. Epub 2013 May 12.
Anatomical studies have led to the assertion that intratelencephalic and pyramidal tract cortical neurons innervate different striatal projection neurons. To test this hypothesis, we measured the responses of mouse striatal neurons to optogenetic activation of intratelencephalic and pyramidal tract axons. Contrary to expectation, direct and indirect pathway striatal spiny projection neurons responded to both intratelencephalic and pyramidal tract activation, arguing that these cortical networks innervate both striatal projection neurons.