AUTHOR=Briggs Farran TITLE=Organizing principles of cortical layer 6 JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neural Circuits VOLUME=4 YEAR=2010 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/neuro.04.003.2010 DOI=10.3389/neuro.04.003.2010 ISSN=1662-5110 ABSTRACT=Neurons in the deepest layer of mammalian cerebral cortex are morphologically and physiological diverse and are situated in a strategic position to modulate neuronal activity locally and in other structures. The variety of neuronal circuits within which layer 6 neurons participate differs across species and cortical regions. However even amidst this diversity, common organizational features emerge. Examination of the anatomical and physiological characteristics of different classes of layer 6 neuron, each specialized to participate in distinct circuits, provides insight into the functional contributions of layer 6 neurons toward cortical information processing.