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Grujic N, Polania R, Burdakov D. Neurobehavioral meaning of pupil size. Neuron 2024:S0896-6273(24)00406-9. [PMID: 38925124 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.05.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Pupil size is a widely used metric of brain state. It is one of the few signals originating from the brain that can be readily monitored with low-cost devices in basic science, clinical, and home settings. It is, therefore, important to investigate and generate well-defined theories related to specific interpretations of this metric. What exactly does it tell us about the brain? Pupils constrict in response to light and dilate during darkness, but the brain also controls pupil size irrespective of luminosity. Pupil size fluctuations resulting from ongoing "brain states" are used as a metric of arousal, but what is pupil-linked arousal and how should it be interpreted in neural, cognitive, and computational terms? Here, we discuss some recent findings related to these issues. We identify open questions and propose how to answer them through a combination of well-defined tasks, neurocomputational models, and neurophysiological probing of the interconnected loops of causes and consequences of pupil size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikola Grujic
- Neurobehavioural Dynamics Lab, ETH Zürich, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Schorenstrasse 16, 8603 Schwerzenbach, Switzerland.
| | - Rafael Polania
- Decision Neuroscience Lab, ETH Zürich, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Winterthurstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Denis Burdakov
- Neurobehavioural Dynamics Lab, ETH Zürich, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Schorenstrasse 16, 8603 Schwerzenbach, Switzerland.
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Grujic N, Tesmer A, Bracey E, Peleg-Raibstein D, Burdakov D. Control and coding of pupil size by hypothalamic orexin neurons. Nat Neurosci 2023:10.1038/s41593-023-01365-w. [PMID: 37336973 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01365-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Brain orexin (hypocretin) neurons are implicated in sleep-wake switching and reward-seeking but their roles in rapid arousal dynamics and reward perception are unclear. Here, cell-specific stimulation, deletion and in vivo recordings revealed strong correlative and causal links between pupil dilation-a quantitative arousal marker-and orexin cell activity. Coding of arousal and reward was distributed across orexin cells, indicating that they specialize in rapid, multiplexed communication of momentary arousal and reward states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikola Grujic
- Neurobehavioural Dynamics Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
| | - Alexander Tesmer
- Neurobehavioural Dynamics Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
| | - Ed Bracey
- Neurobehavioural Dynamics Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
| | - Daria Peleg-Raibstein
- Neurobehavioural Dynamics Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
| | - Denis Burdakov
- Neurobehavioural Dynamics Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland.
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Jeczmien-Lazur JS, Sanetra AM, Pradel K, Izowit G, Chrobok L, Palus-Chramiec K, Piggins HD, Lewandowski MH. Metabolic cues impact non-oscillatory intergeniculate leaflet and ventral lateral geniculate nucleus: standard versus high-fat diet comparative study. J Physiol 2023; 601:979-1016. [PMID: 36661095 DOI: 10.1113/jp283757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The intergeniculate leaflet and ventral lateral geniculate nucleus (IGL/VLG) are subcortical structures involved in entrainment of the brain's circadian system to photic and non-photic (e.g. metabolic and arousal) cues. Both receive information about environmental light from photoreceptors, exhibit infra-slow oscillations (ISO) in vivo, and connect to the master circadian clock. Although current evidence demonstrates that the IGL/VLG communicate metabolic information and are crucial for entrainment of circadian rhythms to time-restricted feeding, their sensitivity to food intake-related peptides has not been investigated yet. We examined the effect of metabolically relevant peptides on the spontaneous activity of IGL/VLG neurons. Using ex vivo and in vivo electrophysiological recordings as well as in situ hybridisation, we tested potential sensitivity of the IGL/VLG to anorexigenic and orexigenic peptides, such as cholecystokinin, glucagon-like peptide 1, oxyntomodulin, peptide YY, orexin A and ghrelin. We explored neuronal responses to these drugs during day and night, and in standard vs. high-fat diet conditions. We found that IGL/VLG neurons responded to all the substances tested, except peptide YY. Moreover, more neurons responded to anorexigenic drugs at night, while a high-fat diet affected the IGL/VLG sensitivity to orexigenic peptides. Interestingly, ISO neurons responded to light and orexin A, but did not respond to the other food intake-related peptides. In contrast, non-ISO cells were activated by metabolic peptides, with only some being responsive to light. Our results show for the first time that peptides involved in the body's energy homeostasis stimulate the thalamus and suggest functional separation of the IGL/VLG cells. KEY POINTS: The intergeniculate leaflet and ventral lateral geniculate nucleus (IGL/VLG) of the rodent thalamus process various signals and participate in circadian entrainment. In both structures, cells exhibiting infra-slow oscillatory activity as well as non-rhythmically firing neurons being observed. Here, we reveal that only one of these two groups of cells responds to anorexigenic (cholecystokinin, glucagon-like peptide 1 and oxyntomodulin) and orexigenic (ghrelin and orexin A) peptides. Neuronal responses vary depending on the time of day (day vs. night) and on the diet (standard vs. high-fat diet). Additionally, we visualised receptors to the tested peptides in the IGL/VLG using in situ hybridisation. Our results suggest that two electrophysiologically different subpopulations of IGL/VLG neurons are involved in two separate functions: one related to the body's energy homeostasis and one associated with the subcortical visual system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jagoda S Jeczmien-Lazur
- Department of Neurophysiology and Chronobiology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
| | - Anna M Sanetra
- Department of Neurophysiology and Chronobiology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
| | - Kamil Pradel
- Department of Neurophysiology and Chronobiology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
| | - Gabriela Izowit
- Department of Neurophysiology and Chronobiology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
| | - Lukasz Chrobok
- Department of Neurophysiology and Chronobiology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland.,School of Physiology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Katarzyna Palus-Chramiec
- Department of Neurophysiology and Chronobiology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
| | - Hugh D Piggins
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Marian H Lewandowski
- Department of Neurophysiology and Chronobiology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
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Chrobok L, Belle MDC, Myung J. From Fast Oscillations to Circadian Rhythms: Coupling at Multiscale Frequency Bands in the Rodent Subcortical Visual System. Front Physiol 2021; 12:738229. [PMID: 34899375 PMCID: PMC8662821 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.738229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The subcortical visual system (SVS) is a unique collection of brain structures localised in the thalamus, hypothalamus and midbrain. The SVS receives ambient light inputs from retinal ganglion cells and integrates this signal with internal homeostatic demands to influence physiology. During this processing, a multitude of oscillatory frequency bands coalesces, with some originating from the retinas, while others are intrinsically generated in the SVS. Collectively, these rhythms are further modulated by the day and night cycle. The multiplexing of these diverse frequency bands (from circadian to infra-slow and gamma oscillations) makes the SVS an interesting system to study coupling at multiscale frequencies. We review the functional organisation of the SVS, and the various frequencies generated and processed by its neurons. We propose a perspective on how these different frequency bands couple with one another to synchronise the activity of the SVS to control physiology and behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukasz Chrobok
- Department of Neurophysiology and Chronobiology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
| | - Mino D C Belle
- Institute of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Jihwan Myung
- Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain, and Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Brain and Consciousness Research Centre, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, New Taipei City, Taiwan
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Chrobok L, Jeczmien-Lazur JS, Bubka M, Pradel K, Klekocinska A, Klich JD, Ridla Rahim A, Myung J, Kepczynski M, Lewandowski MH. Daily coordination of orexinergic gating in the rat superior colliculus-Implications for intrinsic clock activities in the visual system. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21930. [PMID: 34533886 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202100779rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The orexinergic system delivers excitation for multiple brain centers to facilitate behavioral arousal, with its malfunction resulting in narcolepsy, somnolence, and notably, visual hallucinations. Since the circadian clock underlies the daily arousal, a timed coordination is expected between the orexin system and its target subcortical visual system, including the superior colliculus (SC). Here, we use a combination of electrophysiological, immunohistochemical, and molecular approaches across 24 h, together with the neuronal tract-tracing methods to investigate the daily coordination between the orexin system and the rodent SC. Higher orexinergic input was found to occur nocturnally in the superficial layers of the SC, in time for nocturnal silencing of spontaneous firing in this visual brain area. We identify autonomous daily and circadian expression of clock genes in the SC, which may underlie these day-night changes. Additionally, we establish the lateral hypothalamic origin of the orexin innervation to the SC and that the SC neurons robustly respond to orexin A via OX2 receptor in both excitatory and GABAA receptor-dependent inhibitory manners. Together, our evidence elucidates the combination of intrinsic and extrinsic clock mechanisms that shape the daily function of the visual layers of the SC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukasz Chrobok
- Department of Neurophysiology and Chronobiology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
| | - Jagoda Stanislawa Jeczmien-Lazur
- Department of Neurophysiology and Chronobiology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
| | - Monika Bubka
- Department of Glycoconjugate Biochemistry, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
| | - Kamil Pradel
- Department of Neurophysiology and Chronobiology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Klekocinska
- Department of Neurophysiology and Chronobiology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
| | - Jasmin Daniela Klich
- Department of Neurophysiology and Chronobiology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
| | - Amalia Ridla Rahim
- Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain, and Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jihwan Myung
- Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain, and Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Brain and Consciousness Research Centre, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Mariusz Kepczynski
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
| | - Marian Henryk Lewandowski
- Department of Neurophysiology and Chronobiology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
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