(1) Understand how feedforward inhibition is recruited in motor cortex by distinct cortical and thalamic inputs. Specifically, we seek to know whether these inputs recruit the same types of inhibitory interneurons (such as parvalbumin and somatostatin expressing interneurons), whether these inputs excite the same individual cells, and what rules govern the magnitude of feedforward excitation and inhibition from cortical and thalamic inputs to motor cortex.
(2) Examine where in the cortical circuit the inputs from distinct motor thalamic nuclei are combined. This will help to address how subcortical regions involved in motor learning and action selection, relaying input via motor thalamus, act together to influence the output of motor cortex.
