image: A cortical neuron highlighted with green fluorescent protein, captured within the brain of a living mouse using two-photon imaging. Credit: © Ronan Chéreau The cerebral cortex interprets sensory input through an intricate web of neuronal connections. But how are these incoming signals adjusted to sharpen perception? Researchers at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) have uncovered a new mechanism in which specific projections from the thalamus influence the activity of neurons in the