The study “Pharmacological blocking of spinal GABAA receptors in monkeys reduces sensory transmission to the spinal cord, thalamus, and cortex” by Mahrous et al. investigates the role of GABAA receptors (GABAARs) in sensory transmission within the primate nervous system. Researchers examined how blocking these receptors in the spinal cord affects neural activity and sensory processing from the spinal cord to the brain.
Using NeuroNexus 32- and 64-channel linear probes, the team recorded intraspinal and supraspinal neural activity, measuring the impact of GABAAR inhibition on sensory transmission. Their findings suggest that GABAARs facilitate sensory input by helping maintain neural signal conduction, rather than merely inhibiting transmission as previously thought. Blocking these receptors reduced spinal reflexes, sensory-evoked neural responses in the spinal cord, and sensory signals reaching the thalamus and somatosensory cortex.
This study provides critical insights into sensory processing and motor control, reinforcing the importance of GABAergic modulation in fine motor function and perception. The use of high-density NeuroNexus probes enabled precise, multi-site electrophysiological recordings, highlighting their value in advanced neuroscience research.
