Bilateral projections to the thalamus from individual neurons in the inferior colliculus

Up to 37% of cells projecting to the ipsilateral medial geniculate body originate from the inferior colliculus and project bilaterally.

• Cells in the inferior colliculus that project bilaterally to the medial geniculate body were identified using fluorescent retrograde tracers.
• Bilaterally projecting cells comprised up to 37% of the population sending projections to the ipsilateral medial geniculate body.
• These cells constituted up to 73% of those projecting to the contralateral medial geniculate body.
• Approximately 20% of the bilaterally projecting cells were identified as GABAergic, while the majority were glutamatergic.
• The bilaterally projecting cells originate from all major subdivisions of the inferior colliculus.
• This population of cells may serve different functions compared to the larger unilateral projections.

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