TRACE: An unbiased method to permanently tag transiently activated inputs

Abstract

A fundamental interest in circuit analysis is to parse out the synaptic inputs underlying a behavioral experience. Toward this aim, we have devised an unbiased strategy that specifically labels the afferent inputs that are activated by a defined stimulus in an activity-dependent manner. We validated this strategy in four brain areas receiving known sensory inputs. This strategy, as demonstrated here, accurately identifies these inputs.