Massimo Scanziani's research seeks to understand the structure and function of neuronal circuits in the mammalian cortex and how they contribute to processing sensory information. Towards this goal the lab uses cutting edge electrophysiological, imaging, optogenetic and anatomical techniques. The work performed in the lab spans from in vitro analysis of biophysical properties of single neurons to in vivo recordings from neuronal populations during sensory stimulation in awake, behaving animals. Through this research program the role of each individual element of a neuronal circuit in sensory processing can be understood and can bridge the gap between cellular and system neuroscience.
Reinhold K, Lien AD, Scanziani M
Distinct Recurrent Versus Afferent Dynamics in Cortical Visual Processing
Nature Neurosci. 2015 18: 1789–1797
Xue M, Atallah VB, Scanziani M
Equalizing Excitation-Inhibition Ratios Across Visual Cortical Neurons
Nature 2014, 511: 596-600
Bortone D, Olsen SR, Scanziani M
Translaminar Inhibitory Cells Recruited by Layer 6 Cortico‐Thalamic Neurons Suppress Visual Cortex
Neuron 2014, 82: 474-485
Lien AD, Scanziani, M
Tuned thalamic excitation is amplified by visual cortical circuits.
Nature Neurosci. 2013, 16: 1315-1323
Pfeffer, C. K., Xue, M., He, M., Huang, Z. J., Scanziani, M.
Inhibition of inhibition in visual cortex: the logic of connections between molecularly distinct interneurons.
Nature Neurosci. 2013, 16: 1068-1076
Adesnik H, Bruns W, Taniguchi H, Huang ZJ, Scanziani, M
A neural circuit for spatial summation in visual cortex.
Nature, 2012, 490: 227-231 (full article).
Olsen SR, Bortone D, Adesnik H,
Gain control by layer six in cortical circuits of vision.
Nature 2012, 483: 47-52 (full article).
Atallah BV, Bruns W, Carandini M, Scanziani, M.
Parvalbumin expressing interneurons linearly transform cortical responses to visual stimuli.
Neuron 2012 73; 159 - 170
Isaacson JS, Scanziani M.
How inhibition shapes cortical activity
Neuron 2011; 72: 231-243.
Bagnall MW, Hull C, Bushong EA, Ellisman MH,
Multiple clusters of release sites formed by individual thalamic afferents onto cortical interneurons ensure reliable transmission.
Neuron 2011 71:180-194.
Adesnik H, Scanziani, M.
Lateral competition for cortical space through layer specific horizontal circuits.
Nature 2010, 464: 1155-1160 (full article).
Scanziani M, Hausser M.
Electrophysiology in the age of light,
Nature 2009 461: 930-939.
Pouille F, Marin-Burgin A, Adesnik H, Atallah BV, Scanziani M.
Input normalization by global feed-forward inhibition expands cortical dynamic range.
Nature Neurosci 2009 12: 1577-1585.
Atallah BV, Scanziani M.
Instantaneous modulation of gamma oscillation frequency by balancing excitation with inhibition.
Neuron 2009 62:566-77.
Glickfeld LL, Roberts JD, Somogyi P, Scanziani M.
Interneurons hyperpolarize pyramidal cells along their entire somatodendritic axis.
Nature Neurosci 2009, 12: 21-23.
Kapfer C, Glickfeld LL, Atallah BV,
Supralinear Increase of Recurrent Inhibition during Sparse Activity in the Somatosensory Cortex.
Nature Neurosci 2007, 10: 743 – 53.
Gabernet L, Jadhav SP, Feldman DE, Carandini M, Scanziani M.
Somatosensory integration controlled by dynamic thalamocortical feed-forward inhibition.
Neuron 2005, 48:315-27.
Pouille F, Scanziani M.
Routing of spike series by dynamic circuits in the hippocampus.
Nature 2004, 429:717-23 (full article).
Pouille F, Scanziani M.
Enforcement of temporal fidelity in pyramidal cells by somatic feed-forward inhibition.
Science 2001, 293:1159-1163.
-
How Cortical Circuits Implement Cortical Computations: Mouse Visual Cortex as a Model. Annu Rev Neurosci. 2021 Jul 08; 44:517-546. Niell CM, Scanziani M. PMID: 33914591.
-
A Disinhibitory Circuit for Contextual Modulation in Primary Visual Cortex. Neuron. 2020 12 23; 108(6):1181-1193.e8. Keller AJ, Dipoppa M, Roth MM, Caudill MS, Ingrosso A, Miller KD, Scanziani M. PMID: 33301712.
-
Learning speed and detection sensitivity controlled by distinct cortico-fugal neurons in visual cortex. Elife. 2020 12 07; 9. Ruediger S, Scanziani M. PMID: 33284107.
-
Head Movements Control the Activity of Primary Visual Cortex in a Luminance-Dependent Manner. Neuron. 2020 11 11; 108(3):500-511.e5. Bouvier G, Senzai Y, Scanziani M. PMID: 32783882.
-
Feedback generates a second receptive field in neurons of the visual cortex. Nature. 2020 06; 582(7813):545-549. Keller AJ, Roth MM, Scanziani M. PMID: 32499655.
-
Multicolor Polymeric Nanoparticle Neuronal Tracers. ACS Cent Sci. 2020 Mar 25; 6(3):436-445. Zang N, Issa JB, Ditri TB, Bortone DS, Touve MA, Rush AM, Scanziani M, Dombeck DA, Gianneschi NC. PMID: 32232144.View in: PubMed Mentions:
-
Reorganization of Recurrent Layer 5 Corticospinal Networks Following Adult Motor Training. J Neurosci. 2019 06 12; 39(24):4684-4693. Biane JS, Takashima Y, Scanziani M, Conner JM, Tuszynski MH. PMID: 30948479.
-
A collicular visual cortex: Neocortical space for an ancient midbrain visual structure. Science. 2019 01 04; 363(6422):64-69. Beltramo R, Scanziani M. PMID: 30606842.
-
Visual physiology of the layer 4 cortical circuit in silico. PLoS Comput Biol. 2018 11; 14(11):e1006535. Arkhipov A, Gouwens NW, Billeh YN, Gratiy S, Iyer R, Wei Z, Xu Z, Abbasi-Asl R, Berg J, Buice M, Cain N, da Costa N, de Vries S, Denman D, Durand S, Feng D, Jarsky T, Lecoq J, Lee B, Li L, Mihalas S, Ocker GK, Olsen SR, Reid RC, Soler-Llavina G, Sorensen SA, Wang Q, Waters J, Scanziani M, Koch C. PMID: 30419013.
-
Publisher Correction: Tuned thalamic excitation is amplified by visual cortical circuits. Nat Neurosci. 2018 Sep; 21(9):1292. Lien AD, Scanziani M. PMID: 30013170.
-
Cortical direction selectivity emerges at convergence of thalamic synapses. Nature. 2018 06; 558(7708):80-86. Lien AD, Scanziani M. PMID: 29795349.
-
First spikes in visual cortex enable perceptual discrimination. Elife. 2018 04 16; 7. Resulaj A, Ruediger S, Olsen SR, Scanziani M. PMID: 29659352.
-
Cortico-fugal output from visual cortex promotes plasticity of innate motor behaviour. Nature. 2016 Oct 20; 538(7625):383-387. Liu BH, Huberman AD, Scanziani M. PMID: 27732573.
-
Thalamocortical Projections onto Behaviorally Relevant Neurons Exhibit Plasticity during Adult Motor Learning. Neuron. 2016 Mar 16; 89(6):1173-1179. Biane JS, Takashima Y, Scanziani M, Conner JM, Tuszynski MH. PMID: 26948893.
-
Distinct recurrent versus afferent dynamics in cortical visual processing. Nat Neurosci. 2015 Dec; 18(12):1789-97. Reinhold K, Lien AD, Scanziani M. PMID: 26502263.
-
An improved chloride-conducting channelrhodopsin for light-induced inhibition of neuronal activity in vivo. Sci Rep. 2015 10 07; 5:14807. Wietek J, Beltramo R, Scanziani M, Hegemann P, Oertner TG, Wiegert JS. PMID: 26443033.
-
Motor cortex maturation is associated with reductions in recurrent connectivity among functional subpopulations and increases in intrinsic excitability. J Neurosci. 2015 Mar 18; 35(11):4719-28. Biane JS, Scanziani M, Tuszynski MH, Conner JM. PMID: 25788688.
-
Equalizing excitation-inhibition ratios across visual cortical neurons. Nature. 2014 Jul 31; 511(7511):596-600. Xue M, Atallah BV, Scanziani M. PMID: 25043046.
-
Atallah et al. reply. Nature. 2014 Apr 03; 508(7494):E3. Atallah BV, Scanziani M, Carandini M. PMID: 24695314.
-
Translaminar inhibitory cells recruited by layer 6 corticothalamic neurons suppress visual cortex. Neuron. 2014 Apr 16; 82(2):474-85. Bortone DS, Olsen SR, Scanziani M. PMID: 24656931.
-
The contribution of synaptic location to inhibitory gain control in pyramidal cells. Physiol Rep. 2013 Oct; 1(5):e00067. Pouille F, Watkinson O, Scanziani M, Trevelyan AJ. PMID: 24303159.
-
Tuned thalamic excitation is amplified by visual cortical circuits. Nat Neurosci. 2013 Sep; 16(9):1315-23. Lien AD, Scanziani M. PMID: 23933748.
-
Inhibition of inhibition in visual cortex: the logic of connections between molecularly distinct interneurons. Nat Neurosci. 2013 Aug; 16(8):1068-76. Pfeffer CK, Xue M, He M, Huang ZJ, Scanziani M. PMID: 23817549.
-
New insights into the classification and nomenclature of cortical GABAergic interneurons. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2013 03; 14(3):202-16. DeFelipe J, López-Cruz PL, Benavides-Piccione R, Bielza C, Larrañaga P, Anderson S, Burkhalter A, Cauli B, Fairén A, Feldmeyer D, Fishell G, Fitzpatrick D, Freund TF, González-Burgos G, Hestrin S, Hill S, Hof PR, Huang J, Jones EG, Kawaguchi Y, Kisvárday Z, Kubota Y, Lewis DA, Marín O, Markram H, McBain CJ, Meyer HS, Monyer H, Nelson SB, Rockland K, Rossier J, Rubenstein JL, Rudy B, Scanziani M, Shepherd GM, Sherwood CC, Staiger JF, Tamás G, Thomson A, Wang Y, Yuste R, Ascoli GA. PMID: 23385869.
-
A neural circuit for spatial summation in visual cortex. Nature. 2012 Oct 11; 490(7419):226-31. Adesnik H, Bruns W, Taniguchi H, Huang ZJ, Scanziani M. PMID: 23060193.
-
The information content of physiological and epileptic brain activity. J Physiol. 2013 Feb 15; 591(4):799-805. Trevelyan AJ, Bruns W, Mann EO, Crepel V, Scanziani M. PMID: 23027823.
-
Gain control by layer six in cortical circuits of vision. Nature. 2012 Feb 22; 483(7387):47-52. Olsen SR, Bortone DS, Adesnik H, Scanziani M. PMID: 22367547.
-
Parvalbumin-expressing interneurons linearly transform cortical responses to visual stimuli. Neuron. 2012 Jan 12; 73(1):159-70. Atallah BV, Bruns W, Carandini M, Scanziani M. PMID: 22243754.
-
In vivo Labeling of Constellations of Functionally Identified Neurons for Targeted in vitro Recordings. Front Neural Circuits. 2011; 5:16. Lien AD, Scanziani M. PMID: 22144948.
-
How inhibition shapes cortical activity. Neuron. 2011 Oct 20; 72(2):231-43. Isaacson JS, Scanziani M. PMID: 22017986.
-
Multiple clusters of release sites formed by individual thalamic afferents onto cortical interneurons ensure reliable transmission. Neuron. 2011 Jul 14; 71(1):180-94. Bagnall MW, Hull C, Bushong EA, Ellisman MH, Scanziani M. PMID: 21745647.
-
Linking neuronal ensembles by associative synaptic plasticity. PLoS One. 2011; 6(6):e20486. Yuan Q, Isaacson JS, Scanziani M. PMID: 21738576.
-
Pyramidal cells in piriform cortex receive convergent input from distinct olfactory bulb glomeruli. J Neurosci. 2010 Oct 20; 30(42):14255-60. Apicella A, Yuan Q, Scanziani M, Isaacson JS. PMID: 20962246.
-
Lateral competition for cortical space by layer-specific horizontal circuits. Nature. 2010 Apr 22; 464(7292):1155-60. Adesnik H, Scanziani M. PMID: 20414303.
-
Input normalization by global feedforward inhibition expands cortical dynamic range. Nat Neurosci. 2009 Dec; 12(12):1577-85. Pouille F, Marin-Burgin A, Adesnik H, Atallah BV, Scanziani M. PMID: 19881502.
-
Electrophysiology in the age of light. Nature. 2009 Oct 15; 461(7266):930-9. Scanziani M, Häusser M. PMID: 19829373.
-
Neocortical disynaptic inhibition requires somatodendritic integration in interneurons. J Neurosci. 2009 Jul 15; 29(28):8991-5. Hull C, Adesnik H, Scanziani M. PMID: 19605636.
-
Postsynaptic mechanisms govern the differential excitation of cortical neurons by thalamic inputs. J Neurosci. 2009 Jul 15; 29(28):9127-36. Hull C, Isaacson JS, Scanziani M. PMID: 19605650.
-
Instantaneous modulation of gamma oscillation frequency by balancing excitation with inhibition. Neuron. 2009 May 28; 62(4):566-77. Atallah BV, Scanziani M. PMID: 19477157.
-
Interneurons hyperpolarize pyramidal cells along their entire somatodendritic axis. Nat Neurosci. 2009 Jan; 12(1):21-3. Glickfeld LL, Roberts JD, Somogyi P, Scanziani M. PMID: 19029887.
-
Complementary modulation of somatic inhibition by opioids and cannabinoids. J Neurosci. 2008 Feb 20; 28(8):1824-32. Glickfeld LL, Atallah BV, Scanziani M. PMID: 18287499.
-
Erratum: Corrigendum: Supralinear increase of recurrent inhibition during sparse activity in the somatosensory cortex. Nature Neuroscience. 2007 Aug 1; 10(8):1073-1073. Christoph Kapfer, Lindsey L Glickfield, Bassam V Atallah, Massimo Scanziani. .View in: Publisher Site Mentions:
-
Supralinear increase of recurrent inhibition during sparse activity in the somatosensory cortex. Nat Neurosci. 2007 Jun; 10(6):743-53. Kapfer C, Glickfeld LL, Atallah BV, Scanziani M. PMID: 17515899.
-
It's about time for thalamocortical circuits. Nat Neurosci. 2007 Apr; 10(4):400-2. Hull C, Scanziani M. PMID: 17387326.
-
Distinct timing in the activity of cannabinoid-sensitive and cannabinoid-insensitive basket cells. Nat Neurosci. 2006 Jun; 9(6):807-15. Glickfeld LL, Scanziani M. PMID: 16648849.
-
Somatosensory integration controlled by dynamic thalamocortical feed-forward inhibition. Neuron. 2005 Oct 20; 48(2):315-27. Gabernet L, Jadhav SP, Feldman DE, Carandini M, Scanziani M. PMID: 16242411.
-
Self-administering cannabinoids. Trends Neurosci. 2005 Jul; 28(7):341-3. Glickfeld LL, Scanziani M. PMID: 15979498.
-
A precritical period for plasticity in visual cortex. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2005 Feb; 15(1):94-100. Feller MB, Scanziani M. PMID: 15721750.
-
Routing of spike series by dynamic circuits in the hippocampus. Nature. 2004 Jun 17; 429(6993):717-23. Pouille F, Scanziani M. PMID: 15170216.
-
Competing on the edge. Trends Neurosci. 2002 Jun; 25(6):282-3. Scanziani M. PMID: 12086738.
-
Erratum: Cooperation between independent hippocampal synapses is controlled by glutamate uptake. Nature Neuroscience. 2002 May 1; 5(5):500-500. Nina Arnth-Jensen, Denis Jabaudon, Massimo Scanziani. .View in: Publisher Site Mentions:
-
Cooperation between independent hippocampal synapses is controlled by glutamate uptake. Nat Neurosci. 2002 Apr; 5(4):325-31. Arnth-Jensen N, Jabaudon D, Scanziani M. PMID: 11896395.
-
Enforcement of temporal fidelity in pyramidal cells by somatic feed-forward inhibition. Science. 2001 Aug 10; 293(5532):1159-63. Pouille F, Scanziani M. PMID: 11498596.
-
Acute decrease in net glutamate uptake during energy deprivation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2000 May 09; 97(10):5610-5. Jabaudon D, Scanziani M, Gähwiler BH, Gerber U. PMID: 10805815.
-
GABA spillover activates postsynaptic GABA(B) receptors to control rhythmic hippocampal activity. Neuron. 2000 Mar; 25(3):673-81. Scanziani M. PMID: 10774734.
-
G-protein-independent signaling mediated by metabotropic glutamate receptors. Nat Neurosci. 1999 Dec; 2(12):1070-7. Heuss C, Scanziani M, Gähwiler BH, Gerber U. PMID: 10570483.
-
Inhibition of uptake unmasks rapid extracellular turnover of glutamate of nonvesicular origin. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999 Jul 20; 96(15):8733-8. Jabaudon D, Shimamoto K, Yasuda-Kamatani Y, Scanziani M, Gähwiler BH, Gerber U. PMID: 10411944.
-
Target cell-specific modulation of transmitter release at terminals from a single axon. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1998 Sep 29; 95(20):12004-9. Scanziani M, Gähwiler BH, Charpak S. PMID: 9751780.
-
Dual effects of anandamide on NMDA receptor-mediated responses and neurotransmission. J Neurochem. 1998 Feb; 70(2):671-6. Hampson AJ, Bornheim LM, Scanziani M, Yost CS, Gray AT, Hansen BM, Leonoudakis DJ, Bickler PE. PMID: 9453561.
-
Use-dependent increases in glutamate concentration activate presynaptic metabotropic glutamate receptors. Nature. 1997 Feb 13; 385(6617):630-4. Scanziani M, Salin PA, Vogt KE, Malenka RC, Nicoll RA. PMID: 9024660.
-
Distinct short-term plasticity at two excitatory synapses in the hippocampus. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1996 Nov 12; 93(23):13304-9. Salin PA, Scanziani M, Malenka RC, Nicoll RA. PMID: 8917586.
-
Functional characterization and modulation of feedback inhibitory circuits in area CA3 of rat hippocampal slice cultures. Eur J Neurosci. 1996 Aug; 8(8):1758-68. Fortunato C, Debanne D, Scanziani M, Gähwiler BH, Thompson SM. PMID: 8921266.
-
Role of intercellular interactions in heterosynaptic long-term depression. Nature. 1996 Apr 04; 380(6573):446-50. Scanziani M, Malenka RC, Nicoll RA. PMID: 8602244.
-
Heterosynaptic long-term depression in the hippocampus. J Physiol Paris. 1996; 90(3-4):165-6. Scanziani M, Nicoll RA, Malenka RC. PMID: 9116660.
-
Functional characterization and modulation of feedback inhibitory circuits in area CA3 of hippocampal slice cultures. Journal of Physiology-Paris. 1996 Jan 1; 90(5-6):412. C Fortunato, D Debanne, M Scanziani, B.H. Gähwiler, SM Thompson. .View in: Publisher Site Mentions:
-
Presynaptic inhibition of excitatory synaptic transmission by muscarinic and metabotropic glutamate receptor activation in the hippocampus: are Ca2+ channels involved? Neuropharmacology. 1995 Nov; 34(11):1549-57. Scanziani M, Gahwiler BH, Thompson SM. PMID: 8606802.
-
Role of excitatory amino acid and GABAB receptors in the generation of epileptiform activity in disinhibited hippocampal slice cultures. Neuroscience. 1994 Aug; 61(4):823-32. Scanziani M, Debanne D, Müller M, Gähwiler BH, Thompson SM. PMID: 7838381.
-
Presynaptic inhibition of excitatory synaptic transmission mediated by alpha adrenergic receptors in area CA3 of the rat hippocampus in vitro. J Neurosci. 1993 Dec; 13(12):5393-401. Scanziani M, Gähwiler BH, Thompson SM. PMID: 7504723.
-
Reply. Trends in Neurosciences. 1993 Oct 1; 16(10):396-397. Scott M. Thompson, Mario Capogna, Massimo Scanziani. .View in: Publisher Site Mentions:
-
Presynaptic inhibition in the hippocampus. Trends Neurosci. 1993 Jun; 16(6):222-7. Thompson SM, Capogna M, Scanziani M. PMID: 7688163.
-
Presynaptic inhibition of miniature excitatory synaptic currents by baclofen and adenosine in the hippocampus. Neuron. 1992 Nov; 9(5):919-27. Scanziani M, Capogna M, Gähwiler BH, Thompson SM. PMID: 1358131.
-
Paroxysmal inhibitory potentials mediated by GABAB receptors in partially disinhibited rat hippocampal slice cultures. J Physiol. 1991 Dec; 444:375-96. Scanziani M, Gähwiler BH, Thompson SM. PMID: 1688032.
Massimo Scanziani earned his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology before pursuing a PhD in Neurophysiology from the University of Zurich and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. He completed subsequent postdoctoral research at UCSF and Ecole Superieure de Physique et Chimie Industrielles in Paris. Prior to becoming a Professor at UCSF, Dr. Scanziani was a Professor for University of California San Diego and the Brain Research Institute at the University of Zurich.
Dr. Scanziani holds a number of awards including but not limited to a Betty and David Koetser Foundation for Brain Research Award, a NARSAD Distinguished Investigator, as well as being a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator since 2008.
Sarah Ruediger Lee – postdoc
Arbora Resulaj – postdoc
Pei Sabrina Xu – postdoc
Satoru Miura – postdoc
Riccardo Beltramo – postdoc
Xing Wei – postdoc
Andreas Keller – postdoc
Guy Bouvier – postdoc
Jun Lee – lab manager
Baohua Liu – postdoc
Carsten Pfeffer – postdoc
Matthew Caudill – postdoc