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Synapses are essential structures in the nervous system and normally form between two cells.However,some occur in a single neuron between the axon and its own dendrites and soma.These special synapses are known as autapses (or autosynapses or self-synapses) [1].Previous studies have shown that autapses were much more abundant in cultured neurons [2-4] than in the intact brain,so there was suspicion that autapses in vivo may be wiring errors or redundant structures [5].However,accumulating evidence indicates that autapses are actually abundant in certain types of neurons [6].They selectively form on fast-spiking GABAergic interneurons but not on low-threshold spiking interneurons [6,7].Recently,we showed that autapses selectively occur on subcortically-projecting layer V pyramidal cells (PCs);they produced giant AMPA (αt-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid)-only postsynaptic responses and promoted burst firing and coincidence detection [8].Therefore,PC autapses are important circuit elements in the intact brain,and their role in regulating cortical information-processing needs to be considered seriously.