Multiscale dynamics and information flow in a data-driven model of the primary motor cortex microcircuit

We developed a biophysically detailed multiscale model of mouse primary motor cortex (M1) with over 10,000 neurons and 35 million synapses. We focused on intratelencephalic (IT) and pyramidal-tract (PT) neurons of layer 5 (L5), which were modeled at high multicompartment resolution. Wiring densities were based on prior detailed measures from mouse slice, and depended on cell class and cortical depth at sublaminar resolution. Prominent phase-amplitude-coupled delta and gamma activity emerged from the network. Spectral Granger causality analysis revealed the dynamics of information flow through populations at different frequencies. Stimulation of motor vs sensory long-range inputs to M1 demonstrated distinct intra- and inter-laminar dynamics and PT output. Manipulating PT I h altered PT activity, supporting the hypothesis that I h neuromodulation is involved in translating motor planning into execution. Our model sheds light on the multiscale dynamics of cell-type-specific M1 circuits and how connectivity relates to dynamics.