Brief Visual Deprivation Selectively Remodels Intracortical Inputs onto Layer 6 Corticothalamic Neurons in Primary Auditory Cortex

Abstract

Loss of one sensory modality can enhance processing in spared systems. Brief visual deprivation by dark exposure (DE) enhances auditory responses in the primary auditory cortex (A1) of adult mice, increasing firing rates, frequency selectivity, and behavioral performance. This enhancement is accompanied by reduced inhibition of the auditory thalamus (MGBv) and strengthened thalamocortical and intracortical feedforward inputs. While the mechanisms coordinating cross-modal cortical and thalamic plasticity are unknown, Ntsr1+ layer 6 corticothalamic neurons (L6-CTNs) are a promising candidate given their regulation of both cortical and thalamic gain. Here, we examined how 1 week of DE in both male and female adult mice alters intracortical synaptic inputs onto A1 L6-CTNs using laser-scanning photostimulation and whole-cell recordings. We found DE selectively reduced excitatory intracortical connectivity onto L6-CTNs across multiple layers and weakened synaptic strength from infragranular inputs. In contrast, inhibitory inputs were largely preserved. This shift resulted in a layer-specific reduction in excitation–inhibition balance, particularly for inputs from layer 4. Although the spatial extent of inputs was unchanged, DE decreased the within-animal similarity of excitatory input patterns across neurons, indicating a reorganization of circuit structure. Together, these findings identify selective weakening of intracortical excitation onto L6-CTNs as a key feature of cross-modal plasticity. By reducing recruitment of the L6 gain-control circuit, this reconfiguration may bias cortical processing toward enhanced sensory discrimination while preserving sensitivity.