Pharmacological Inactivation of the Inhibitory Zona Incerta Decreased Resting-state Functional MRI Connectivity

In the recent decade, resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI) has emerged as the most invaluable, non-invasive imaging technique to map long-range, brain-wide functional connectivity networks. Despite the enormous potential inherent in this technique, our present knowledge of the neural underpinnings of rsfMRI connectivity remains generally incomplete given the lack of studies examining the role of the inhibitory neural population, which is the counterpart of the excitatory neurons. In this study, we directly examine the role of zona incerta, which is one of the major source of inhibitory drive to the cortex.