1
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Zhang Y, Zhang X, Lu X, Chen N. Attention spotlight in V1-based cortico-cortical interactions in human visual hierarchy. Sci Rep 2024; 14:13140. [PMID: 38849423 PMCID: PMC11161588 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63817-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Attention is often viewed as a mental spotlight, which can be scaled like a zoom lens at specific spatial locations and features a center-surround gradient. Here, we demonstrate a neural signature of attention spotlight in signal transmission along the visual hierarchy. fMRI background connectivity analysis was performed between retinotopic V1 and downstream areas to characterize the spatial distribution of inter-areal interaction under two attentional states. We found that, compared to diffused attention, focal attention sharpened the spatial gradient in the strength of the background connectivity. Dynamic causal modeling analysis further revealed the effect of attention in both the feedback and feedforward connectivity between V1 and extrastriate cortex. In a context which induced a strong effect of crowding, the effect of attention in the background connectivity profile diminished. Our findings reveal a context-dependent attention prioritization in information transmission via modulating the recurrent processing across the early stages in human visual cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanyu Zhang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Xilin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, Guangdong, China
- School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, Guangdong, China
| | - Xincheng Lu
- Department of psychological and cognitive sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Nihong Chen
- Department of psychological and cognitive sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
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2
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Kay K, Prince JS, Gebhart T, Tuckute G, Zhou J, Naselaris T, Schutt H. Disentangling signal and noise in neural responses through generative modeling. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.22.590510. [PMID: 38712051 PMCID: PMC11071385 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.22.590510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Measurements of neural responses to identically repeated experimental events often exhibit large amounts of variability. This noise is distinct from signal , operationally defined as the average expected response across repeated trials for each given event. Accurately distinguishing signal from noise is important, as each is a target that is worthy of study (many believe noise reflects important aspects of brain function) and it is important not to confuse one for the other. Here, we introduce a principled modeling approach in which response measurements are explicitly modeled as the sum of samples from multivariate signal and noise distributions. In our proposed method-termed Generative Modeling of Signal and Noise (GSN)-the signal distribution is estimated by subtracting the estimated noise distribution from the estimated data distribution. We validate GSN using ground-truth simulations and demonstrate the application of GSN to empirical fMRI data. In doing so, we illustrate a simple consequence of GSN: by disentangling signal and noise components in neural responses, GSN denoises principal components analysis and improves estimates of dimensionality. We end by discussing other situations that may benefit from GSN's characterization of signal and noise, such as estimation of noise ceilings for computational models of neural activity. A code toolbox for GSN is provided with both MATLAB and Python implementations.
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3
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Davis ZW, Busch A, Stewerd C, Muller L, Reynolds J. Horizontal cortical connections shape intrinsic traveling waves into feature-selective motifs that regulate perceptual sensitivity. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-3830199. [PMID: 38260448 PMCID: PMC10802692 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3830199/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Intrinsic, ongoing fluctuations of cortical activity form traveling waves that modulate the gain of sensory-evoked responses and perceptual sensitivity. Several lines of evidence suggest that intrinsic traveling waves (iTWs) may arise, in part, from the coordination of synaptic activity through the recurrent horizontal connectivity within cortical areas, which include long range patchy connections that link neurons with shared feature preferences. In a spiking network model with anatomical topology that incorporates feature-selective patchy connections, which we call the Balanced Patchy Network (BPN), we observe repeated iTWs, which we refer to as motifs. In the model, motifs stem from fluctuations in the excitability of like-tuned neurons that result from shifts in E/I balance as action potentials traverse these patchy connections. To test if feature-selective motifs occur in vivo, we examined data previously recorded using multielectrode arrays in Area MT of marmosets trained to perform a threshold visual detection task. Using a newly developed method for comparing the similarity of wave patterns we found that some iTWs can be grouped into motifs. As predicted by the BPN, many of these motifs are feature selective, exhibiting direction-selective modulations in ongoing spiking activity. Further, motifs modulate the gain of the response evoked by a target and perceptual sensitivity to the target if the target matches the preference of the motif. These results provide evidence that iTWs are shaped by the patterns of horizontal fiber projections in the cortex and that patchy connections enable iTWs to regulate neural and perceptual sensitivity in a feature selective manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary W Davis
- The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA. 92037
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, University of Utah, SLC, UT, USA 84112
| | - Alexandria Busch
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Western University, London, ON, Canada. N6A 3K7
- Brain and Mind Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada. N6A 3K7
| | - Christopher Stewerd
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Western University, London, ON, Canada. N6A 3K7
- Brain and Mind Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada. N6A 3K7
| | - Lyle Muller
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Western University, London, ON, Canada. N6A 3K7
- Brain and Mind Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada. N6A 3K7
| | - John Reynolds
- The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA. 92037
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4
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Syeda A, Zhong L, Tung R, Long W, Pachitariu M, Stringer C. Facemap: a framework for modeling neural activity based on orofacial tracking. Nat Neurosci 2024; 27:187-195. [PMID: 37985801 PMCID: PMC10774130 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01490-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies in mice have shown that orofacial behaviors drive a large fraction of neural activity across the brain. To understand the nature and function of these signals, we need better computational models to characterize the behaviors and relate them to neural activity. Here we developed Facemap, a framework consisting of a keypoint tracker and a deep neural network encoder for predicting neural activity. Our algorithm for tracking mouse orofacial behaviors was more accurate than existing pose estimation tools, while the processing speed was several times faster, making it a powerful tool for real-time experimental interventions. The Facemap tracker was easy to adapt to data from new labs, requiring as few as 10 annotated frames for near-optimal performance. We used the keypoints as inputs to a deep neural network which predicts the activity of ~50,000 simultaneously-recorded neurons and, in visual cortex, we doubled the amount of explained variance compared to previous methods. Using this model, we found that the neuronal activity clusters that were well predicted from behavior were more spatially spread out across cortex. We also found that the deep behavioral features from the model had stereotypical, sequential dynamics that were not reversible in time. In summary, Facemap provides a stepping stone toward understanding the function of the brain-wide neural signals and their relation to behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atika Syeda
- HHMI Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA, USA.
| | - Lin Zhong
- HHMI Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA, USA
| | - Renee Tung
- HHMI Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA, USA
| | - Will Long
- HHMI Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA, USA
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5
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Boscaglia M, Gastaldi C, Gerstner W, Quian Quiroga R. A dynamic attractor network model of memory formation, reinforcement and forgetting. PLoS Comput Biol 2023; 19:e1011727. [PMID: 38117859 PMCID: PMC10766193 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Empirical evidence shows that memories that are frequently revisited are easy to recall, and that familiar items involve larger hippocampal representations than less familiar ones. In line with these observations, here we develop a modelling approach to provide a mechanistic understanding of how hippocampal neural assemblies evolve differently, depending on the frequency of presentation of the stimuli. For this, we added an online Hebbian learning rule, background firing activity, neural adaptation and heterosynaptic plasticity to a rate attractor network model, thus creating dynamic memory representations that can persist, increase or fade according to the frequency of presentation of the corresponding memory patterns. Specifically, we show that a dynamic interplay between Hebbian learning and background firing activity can explain the relationship between the memory assembly sizes and their frequency of stimulation. Frequently stimulated assemblies increase their size independently from each other (i.e. creating orthogonal representations that do not share neurons, thus avoiding interference). Importantly, connections between neurons of assemblies that are not further stimulated become labile so that these neurons can be recruited by other assemblies, providing a neuronal mechanism of forgetting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Boscaglia
- Centre for Systems Neuroscience, University of Leicester, United Kingdom
- School of Psychology and Vision Sciences, University of Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Chiara Gastaldi
- School of Computer and Communication Sciences and School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland
| | - Wulfram Gerstner
- School of Computer and Communication Sciences and School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland
| | - Rodrigo Quian Quiroga
- Centre for Systems Neuroscience, University of Leicester, United Kingdom
- Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
- Ruijin hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
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6
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Bhaskaran AA, Gauvrit T, Vyas Y, Bony G, Ginger M, Frick A. Endogenous noise of neocortical neurons correlates with atypical sensory response variability in the Fmr1 -/y mouse model of autism. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7905. [PMID: 38036566 PMCID: PMC10689491 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43777-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Excessive neural variability of sensory responses is a hallmark of atypical sensory processing in autistic individuals with cascading effects on other core autism symptoms but unknown neurobiological substrate. Here, by recording neocortical single neuron activity in a well-established mouse model of Fragile X syndrome and autism, we characterized atypical sensory processing and probed the role of endogenous noise sources in exaggerated response variability in males. The analysis of sensory stimulus evoked activity and spontaneous dynamics, as well as neuronal features, reveals a complex cellular and network phenotype. Neocortical sensory information processing is more variable and temporally imprecise. Increased trial-by-trial and inter-neuronal response variability is strongly related to key endogenous noise features, and may give rise to behavioural sensory responsiveness variability in autism. We provide a novel preclinical framework for understanding the sources of endogenous noise and its contribution to core autism symptoms, and for testing the functional consequences for mechanism-based manipulation of noise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjun A Bhaskaran
- INSERM, U1215 Neurocentre Magendie, 33077, Bordeaux, France
- University of Bordeaux, 33000, Bordeaux, France
- Department of Psychiatry, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Théo Gauvrit
- INSERM, U1215 Neurocentre Magendie, 33077, Bordeaux, France
- University of Bordeaux, 33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Yukti Vyas
- INSERM, U1215 Neurocentre Magendie, 33077, Bordeaux, France
- University of Bordeaux, 33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Guillaume Bony
- INSERM, U1215 Neurocentre Magendie, 33077, Bordeaux, France
- University of Bordeaux, 33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Melanie Ginger
- INSERM, U1215 Neurocentre Magendie, 33077, Bordeaux, France
- University of Bordeaux, 33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Andreas Frick
- INSERM, U1215 Neurocentre Magendie, 33077, Bordeaux, France.
- University of Bordeaux, 33000, Bordeaux, France.
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7
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Niraula S, Hauser WL, Rouse AG, Subramanian J. Repeated passive visual experience modulates spontaneous and non-familiar stimuli-evoked neural activity. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20907. [PMID: 38017135 PMCID: PMC10684504 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47957-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Familiarity creates subjective memory of repeated innocuous experiences, reduces neural and behavioral responsiveness to those experiences, and enhances novelty detection. The neural correlates of the internal model of familiarity and the cellular mechanisms of enhanced novelty detection following multi-day repeated passive experience remain elusive. Using the mouse visual cortex as a model system, we test how the repeated passive experience of a 45° orientation-grating stimulus for multiple days alters spontaneous and non-familiar stimuli evoked neural activity in neurons tuned to familiar or non-familiar stimuli. We found that familiarity elicits stimulus competition such that stimulus selectivity reduces in neurons tuned to the familiar 45° stimulus; it increases in those tuned to the 90° stimulus but does not affect neurons tuned to the orthogonal 135° stimulus. Furthermore, neurons tuned to orientations 45° apart from the familiar stimulus dominate local functional connectivity. Interestingly, responsiveness to natural images, which consists of familiar and non-familiar orientations, increases subtly in neurons that exhibit stimulus competition. We also show the similarity between familiar grating stimulus-evoked and spontaneous activity increases, indicative of an internal model of altered experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suraj Niraula
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA
| | - William L Hauser
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA
| | - Adam G Rouse
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66103, USA
| | - Jaichandar Subramanian
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA.
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8
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Niraula S, Hauser WL, Rouse AG, Subramanian J. Repeated passive visual experience modulates spontaneous and non-familiar stimulievoked neural activity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.21.529278. [PMID: 36865208 PMCID: PMC9980096 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.21.529278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Familiarity creates subjective memory of repeated innocuous experiences, reduces neural and behavioral responsiveness to those experiences, and enhances novelty detection. The neural correlates of the internal model of familiarity and the cellular mechanisms of enhanced novelty detection following multi-day repeated passive experience remain elusive. Using the mouse visual cortex as a model system, we test how the repeated passive experience of a 45° orientation-grating stimulus for multiple days alters spontaneous and non-familiar stimuli evoked neural activity in neurons tuned to familiar or non-familiar stimuli. We found that familiarity elicits stimulus competition such that stimulus selectivity reduces in neurons tuned to the familiar 45° stimulus; it increases in those tuned to the 90° stimulus but does not affect neurons tuned to the orthogonal 135° stimulus. Furthermore, neurons tuned to orientations 45° apart from the familiar stimulus dominate local functional connectivity. Interestingly, responsiveness to natural images, which consists of familiar and non-familiar orientations, increases subtly in neurons that exhibit stimulus competition. We also show the similarity between familiar grating stimulus-evoked and spontaneous activity increases, indicative of an internal model of altered experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suraj Niraula
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
| | - William L. Hauser
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
| | - Adam G. Rouse
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66103, USA
| | - Jaichandar Subramanian
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
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9
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Etemadi L, Enander JM, Jörntell H. Hippocampal output profoundly impacts the interpretation of tactile input patterns in SI cortical neurons. iScience 2023; 26:106885. [PMID: 37260754 PMCID: PMC10227419 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to continuous state variations in neocortical circuits, individual somatosensory cortex (SI) neurons in vivo display a variety of intracellular responses to the exact same spatiotemporal tactile input pattern. To manipulate the internal cortical state, we here used brief electrical stimulation of the output region of the hippocampus, which preceded the delivery of specific tactile afferent input patterns to digit 2 of the anesthetized rat. We find that hippocampal output had a diversified, remarkably strong impact on the intracellular response types displayed by each neuron in the primary SI to each given tactile input pattern. Qualitatively, this impact was comparable to that previously described for cortical output, which was surprising given the widely assumed specific roles of the hippocampus, such as in cortical memory formation. The findings show that hippocampal output can profoundly impact the state-dependent interpretation of tactile inputs and hence influence perception, potentially with affective and semantic components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Etemadi
- Neural Basis of Sensorimotor Control, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Jonas M.D. Enander
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Henrik Jörntell
- Neural Basis of Sensorimotor Control, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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10
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Zhu RJB, Wei XX. Unsupervised approach to decomposing neural tuning variability. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2298. [PMID: 37085524 PMCID: PMC10121715 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37982-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural representation is often described by the tuning curves of individual neurons with respect to certain stimulus variables. Despite this tradition, it has become increasingly clear that neural tuning can vary substantially in accordance with a collection of internal and external factors. A challenge we are facing is the lack of appropriate methods to accurately capture the moment-to-moment tuning variability directly from the noisy neural responses. Here we introduce an unsupervised statistical approach, Poisson functional principal component analysis (Pf-PCA), which identifies different sources of systematic tuning fluctuations, moreover encompassing several current models (e.g.,multiplicative gain models) as special cases. Applying this method to neural data recorded from macaque primary visual cortex- a paradigmatic case for which the tuning curve approach has been scientifically essential- we discovered a simple relationship governing the variability of orientation tuning, which unifies different types of gain changes proposed previously. By decomposing the neural tuning variability into interpretable components, our method enables discovery of unexpected structure of the neural code, capturing the influence of the external stimulus drive and internal states simultaneously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong J B Zhu
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- MOE Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Shanghai, China.
| | - Xue-Xin Wei
- Department of Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, USA.
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, USA.
- Center for Perceptual Systems, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, USA.
- Center for Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, USA.
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11
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Rasiah NP, Loewen SP, Bains JS. Windows into stress: a glimpse at emerging roles for CRH PVN neurons. Physiol Rev 2023; 103:1667-1691. [PMID: 36395349 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00056.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The corticotropin-releasing hormone cells in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (CRHPVN) control the slow endocrine response to stress. The synapses on these cells are exquisitely sensitive to acute stress, leveraging local signals to leave a lasting imprint on this system. Additionally, recent work indicates that these cells also play key roles in the control of distinct stress and survival behaviors. Here we review these observations and provide a perspective on the role of CRHPVN neurons as integrative and malleable hubs for behavioral, physiological, and endocrine responses to stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neilen P Rasiah
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Spencer P Loewen
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jaideep S Bains
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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12
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Gandhi SR, Mayner WGP, Marshall W, Billeh YN, Bennett C, Gale SD, Mochizuki C, Siegle JH, Olsen S, Tononi G, Koch C, Arkhipov A. A survey of neurophysiological differentiation across mouse visual brain areas and timescales. Front Comput Neurosci 2023; 17:1040629. [PMID: 36994445 PMCID: PMC10040573 DOI: 10.3389/fncom.2023.1040629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurophysiological differentiation (ND), a measure of the number of distinct activity states that a neural population visits over a time interval, has been used as a correlate of meaningfulness or subjective perception of visual stimuli. ND has largely been studied in non-invasive human whole-brain recordings where spatial resolution is limited. However, it is likely that perception is supported by discrete neuronal populations rather than the whole brain. Therefore, here we use Neuropixels recordings from the mouse brain to characterize the ND metric across a wide range of temporal scales, within neural populations recorded at single-cell resolution in localized regions. Using the spiking activity of thousands of simultaneously recorded neurons spanning 6 visual cortical areas and the visual thalamus, we show that the ND of stimulus-evoked activity of the entire visual cortex is higher for naturalistic stimuli relative to artificial ones. This finding holds in most individual areas throughout the visual hierarchy. Moreover, for animals performing an image change detection task, ND of the entire visual cortex (though not individual areas) is higher for successful detection compared to failed trials, consistent with the assumed perception of the stimulus. Together, these results suggest that ND computed on cellular-level neural recordings is a useful tool highlighting cell populations that may be involved in subjective perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saurabh R. Gandhi
- MindScope Program, Allen Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
- *Correspondence: Saurabh R. Gandhi,
| | - William G. P. Mayner
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - William Marshall
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada
| | - Yazan N. Billeh
- MindScope Program, Allen Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Corbett Bennett
- MindScope Program, Allen Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Samuel D. Gale
- MindScope Program, Allen Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Chris Mochizuki
- MindScope Program, Allen Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
| | | | - Shawn Olsen
- MindScope Program, Allen Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Giulio Tononi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Christof Koch
- MindScope Program, Allen Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Anton Arkhipov
- MindScope Program, Allen Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
- Anton Arkhipov,
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13
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Dwarakanath A, Kapoor V, Werner J, Safavi S, Fedorov LA, Logothetis NK, Panagiotaropoulos TI. Bistability of prefrontal states gates access to consciousness. Neuron 2023; 111:1666-1683.e4. [PMID: 36921603 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.02.027] [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: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023]
Abstract
Access of sensory information to consciousness has been linked to the ignition of content-specific representations in association cortices. How does ignition interact with intrinsic cortical state fluctuations to give rise to conscious perception? We addressed this question in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) by combining multi-electrode recordings with a binocular rivalry (BR) paradigm inducing spontaneously driven changes in the content of consciousness, inferred from the reflexive optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) pattern. We find that fluctuations between low-frequency (LF, 1-9 Hz) and beta (∼20-40 Hz) local field potentials (LFPs) reflect competition between spontaneous updates and stability of conscious contents, respectively. Both LF and beta events were locally modulated. The phase of the former locked differentially to the competing populations just before a spontaneous transition while the latter synchronized the neuronal ensemble coding the consciously perceived content. These results suggest that prefrontal state fluctuations gate conscious perception by mediating internal states that facilitate perceptual update and stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhilash Dwarakanath
- Department of Physiology of Cognitive Processes, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen 72076, Germany; Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux énergies alternatives, Université Paris-Saclay, NeuroSpin Center, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
| | - Vishal Kapoor
- Department of Physiology of Cognitive Processes, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen 72076, Germany; International Center for Primate Brain Research, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology (CEBSIT), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Joachim Werner
- Department of Physiology of Cognitive Processes, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Shervin Safavi
- Department of Physiology of Cognitive Processes, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen 72076, Germany; International Max Planck Research School, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Leonid A Fedorov
- Department of Physiology of Cognitive Processes, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Nikos K Logothetis
- Department of Physiology of Cognitive Processes, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen 72076, Germany; Division of Imaging Science and Biomedical Engineering, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK; International Center for Primate Brain Research, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology (CEBSIT), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Theofanis I Panagiotaropoulos
- Department of Physiology of Cognitive Processes, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen 72076, Germany; Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux énergies alternatives, Université Paris-Saclay, NeuroSpin Center, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
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14
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Sachse EM, Snyder AC. Dynamic attention signalling in V4: Relation to fast-spiking/non-fast-spiking cell class and population coupling. Eur J Neurosci 2023; 57:918-939. [PMID: 36732934 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15928] [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: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The computational role of a neuron during attention depends on its firing properties, neurotransmitter expression and functional connectivity. Neurons in the visual cortical area V4 are reliably engaged by selective attention but exhibit diversity in the effect of attention on firing rates and correlated variability. It remains unclear what specific neuronal properties shape these attention effects. In this study, we quantitatively characterised the distribution of attention modulation of firing rates across populations of V4 neurons. Neurons exhibited a continuum of time-varying attention effects. At one end of the continuum, neurons' spontaneous firing rates were slightly depressed with attention (compared to when unattended), whereas their stimulus responses were enhanced with attention. The other end of the continuum showed the converse pattern: attention depressed stimulus responses but increased spontaneous activity. We tested whether the particular pattern of time-varying attention effects that a neuron exhibited was related to the shape of their actions potentials (so-called 'fast-spiking' [FS] neurons have been linked to inhibition) and the strength of their coupling to the overall population. We found an interdependence among neural attention effects, neuron type and population coupling. In particular, we found neurons for which attention enhanced spontaneous activity but suppressed stimulus responses were less likely to be fast-spiking (more likely to be non-fast-spiking) and tended to have stronger population coupling, compared to neurons with other types of attention effects. These results add important information to our understanding of visual attention circuits at the cellular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M Sachse
- Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Adam C Snyder
- Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA.,Neuroscience, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA.,Center for Visual Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA
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15
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Alilović J, Lampers E, Slagter HA, van Gaal S. Illusory object recognition is either perceptual or cognitive in origin depending on decision confidence. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002009. [PMID: 36862734 PMCID: PMC10013920 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
We occasionally misinterpret ambiguous sensory input or report a stimulus when none is presented. It is unknown whether such errors have a sensory origin and reflect true perceptual illusions, or whether they have a more cognitive origin (e.g., are due to guessing), or both. When participants performed an error-prone and challenging face/house discrimination task, multivariate electroencephalography (EEG) analyses revealed that during decision errors (e.g., mistaking a face for a house), sensory stages of visual information processing initially represent the presented stimulus category. Crucially however, when participants were confident in their erroneous decision, so when the illusion was strongest, this neural representation flipped later in time and reflected the incorrectly reported percept. This flip in neural pattern was absent for decisions that were made with low confidence. This work demonstrates that decision confidence arbitrates between perceptual decision errors, which reflect true illusions of perception, and cognitive decision errors, which do not.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josipa Alilović
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Brain and Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Eline Lampers
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Heleen A. Slagter
- Department of Applied and Experimental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Institute for Brain and Behavior, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Simon van Gaal
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Brain and Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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16
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Jia X, Shao W, Hu N, Shi J, Fan X, Chen C, Wang Y, Chen L, Qiao H, Li X. Learning populations with hubs govern the initiation and propagation of spontaneous bursts in neuronal networks after learning. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:854199. [PMID: 36061604 PMCID: PMC9433803 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.854199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spontaneous bursts in neuronal networks with propagation involving a large number of synchronously firing neurons are considered to be a crucial feature of these networks both in vivo and in vitro. Recently, learning has been shown to improve the association and synchronization of spontaneous events in neuronal networks by promoting the firing of spontaneous bursts. However, little is known about the relationship between the learning phase and spontaneous bursts. By combining high-resolution measurement with a 4,096-channel complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) microelectrode array (MEA) and graph theory, we studied how the learning phase influenced the initiation of spontaneous bursts in cultured networks of rat cortical neurons in vitro. We found that a small number of selected populations carried most of the stimulus information and contributed to learning. Moreover, several new burst propagation patterns appeared in spontaneous firing after learning. Importantly, these "learning populations" had more hubs in the functional network that governed the initiation of spontaneous burst activity. These results suggest that changes in the functional structure of learning populations may be the key mechanism underlying increased bursts after learning. Our findings could increase understanding of the important role that synaptic plasticity plays in the regulation of spontaneous activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Jia
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Neural Engineering, Tianjin, China
| | - Wenwei Shao
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Neural Engineering, Tianjin, China
| | - Nan Hu
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Neural Engineering, Tianjin, China
| | - Jianxin Shi
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Neural Engineering, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiu Fan
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Neural Engineering, Tianjin, China
| | - Chong Chen
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Youwei Wang
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Neural Engineering, Tianjin, China
| | - Liqun Chen
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Neural Engineering, Tianjin, China
| | - Huanhuan Qiao
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Neural Engineering, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaohong Li
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Neural Engineering, Tianjin, China
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17
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Saggar M, Shine JM, Liégeois R, Dosenbach NUF, Fair D. Precision dynamical mapping using topological data analysis reveals a hub-like transition state at rest. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4791. [PMID: 35970984 PMCID: PMC9378660 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32381-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In the absence of external stimuli, neural activity continuously evolves from one configuration to another. Whether these transitions or explorations follow some underlying arrangement or lack a predictable ordered plan remains to be determined. Here, using fMRI data from highly sampled individuals (~5 hours of resting-state data per individual), we aimed to reveal the rules that govern transitions in brain activity at rest. Our Topological Data Analysis based Mapper approach characterized a highly visited transition state of the brain that acts as a switch between different neural configurations to organize the spontaneous brain activity. Further, while the transition state was characterized by a uniform representation of canonical resting-state networks (RSNs), the periphery of the landscape was dominated by a subject-specific combination of RSNs. Altogether, we revealed rules or principles that organize spontaneous brain activity using a precision dynamics approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish Saggar
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - James M Shine
- Brain and Mind Center, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Raphaël Liégeois
- Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nico U F Dosenbach
- Departments of Neurology, Radiology, Pediatrics and Biomedical Engineering, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Damien Fair
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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18
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Avitan L, Stringer C. Not so spontaneous: Multi-dimensional representations of behaviors and context in sensory areas. Neuron 2022; 110:3064-3075. [PMID: 35863344 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Sensory areas are spontaneously active in the absence of sensory stimuli. This spontaneous activity has long been studied; however, its functional role remains largely unknown. Recent advances in technology, allowing large-scale neural recordings in the awake and behaving animal, have transformed our understanding of spontaneous activity. Studies using these recordings have discovered high-dimensional spontaneous activity patterns, correlation between spontaneous activity and behavior, and dissimilarity between spontaneous and sensory-driven activity patterns. These findings are supported by evidence from developing animals, where a transition toward these characteristics is observed as the circuit matures, as well as by evidence from mature animals across species. These newly revealed characteristics call for the formulation of a new role for spontaneous activity in neural sensory computation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilach Avitan
- Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel.
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19
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Hancock F, Rosas FE, Mediano PAM, Luppi AI, Cabral J, Dipasquale O, Turkheimer FE. May the 4C's be with you: an overview of complexity-inspired frameworks for analysing resting-state neuroimaging data. J R Soc Interface 2022; 19:20220214. [PMID: 35765805 PMCID: PMC9240685 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2022.0214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Competing and complementary models of resting-state brain dynamics contribute to our phenomenological and mechanistic understanding of whole-brain coordination and communication, and provide potential evidence for differential brain functioning associated with normal and pathological behaviour. These neuroscientific theories stem from the perspectives of physics, engineering, mathematics and psychology and create a complicated landscape of domain-specific terminology and meaning, which, when used outside of that domain, may lead to incorrect assumptions and conclusions within the neuroscience community. Here, we review and clarify the key concepts of connectivity, computation, criticality and coherence-the 4C's-and outline a potential role for metastability as a common denominator across these propositions. We analyse and synthesize whole-brain neuroimaging research, examined through functional magnetic imaging, to demonstrate that complexity science offers a principled and integrated approach to describe, and potentially understand, macroscale spontaneous brain functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fran Hancock
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Fernando E. Rosas
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Department of Brain Science, Imperial College London, London SW7 2DD, UK
- Data Science Institute, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- Centre for Complexity Science, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Pedro A. M. Mediano
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK
- Department of Psychology, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Andrea I. Luppi
- Division of Anaesthesia, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Alan Turing Institute, London, UK
| | - Joana Cabral
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ottavia Dipasquale
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Federico E. Turkheimer
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
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20
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The Analysis of Mammalian Hearing Systems Supports the Hypothesis That Criticality Favors Neuronal Information Representation but Not Computation. ENTROPY 2022; 24:e24040540. [PMID: 35455203 PMCID: PMC9029204 DOI: 10.3390/e24040540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
In the neighborhood of critical states, distinct materials exhibit the same physical behavior, expressed by common simple laws among measurable observables, hence rendering a more detailed analysis of the individual systems obsolete. It is a widespread view that critical states are fundamental to neuroscience and directly favor computation. We argue here that from an evolutionary point of view, critical points seem indeed to be a natural phenomenon. Using mammalian hearing as our example, we show, however, explicitly that criticality does not describe the proper computational process and thus is only indirectly related to the computation in neural systems.
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21
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Etemadi L, Enander JMD, Jörntell H. Remote cortical perturbation dynamically changes the network solutions to given tactile inputs in neocortical neurons. iScience 2022; 25:103557. [PMID: 34977509 PMCID: PMC8689199 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The neocortex has a globally encompassing network structure, which for each given input constrains the possible combinations of neuronal activations across it. Hence, its network contains solutions. But in addition, the cortex has an ever-changing multidimensional internal state, causing each given input to result in a wide range of specific neuronal activations. Here we use intracellular recordings in somatosensory cortex (SI) neurons of anesthetized rats to show that remote, subthreshold intracortical electrical perturbation can impact such constraints on the responses to a set of spatiotemporal tactile input patterns. Whereas each given input pattern normally induces a wide set of preferred response states, when combined with cortical perturbation response states that did not otherwise occur were induced and consequently made other response states less likely. The findings indicate that the physiological network structure can dynamically change as the state of any given cortical region changes, thereby enabling a rich, multifactorial, perceptual capability. Tactile sensory input patterns evoke multi-structure cortical neuron responses Multi-structure responses are shown to be impacted by remote cortical regions Highly dynamic neuron responses reflects global cortical information integration Perception hence depends on globally distributed activity at the time of input
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Etemadi
- Neural Basis of Sensorimotor Control, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, BMC F10 Tornavägen 10, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Jonas M D Enander
- Neural Basis of Sensorimotor Control, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, BMC F10 Tornavägen 10, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Henrik Jörntell
- Neural Basis of Sensorimotor Control, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, BMC F10 Tornavägen 10, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
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22
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Taschereau-Dumouchel V, Cushing C, Lau H. Real-Time Functional MRI in the Treatment of Mental Health Disorders. Annu Rev Clin Psychol 2022; 18:125-154. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-072220-014550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Multiple mental disorders have been associated with dysregulation of precise brain processes. However, few therapeutic approaches can correct such specific patterns of brain activity. Since the late 1960s and early 1970s, many researchers have hoped that this feat could be achieved by closed-loop brain imaging approaches, such as neurofeedback, that aim to modulate brain activity directly. However, neurofeedback never gained mainstream acceptance in mental health, in part due to methodological considerations. In this review, we argue that, when contemporary methodological guidelines are followed, neurofeedback is one of the few intervention methods in psychology that can be assessed in double-blind placebo-controlled trials. Furthermore, using new advances in machine learning and statistics, it is now possible to target very precise patterns of brain activity for therapeutic purposes. We review the recent literature in functional magnetic resonance imaging neurofeedback and discuss current and future applications to mental health. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, Volume 18 is May 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Taschereau-Dumouchel
- Department of Psychiatry and Addictology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Cody Cushing
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Hakwan Lau
- RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wakoshi, Saitama, Japan
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23
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Afrashteh N, Inayat S, Bermudez-Contreras E, Luczak A, McNaughton BL, Mohajerani MH. Spatiotemporal structure of sensory-evoked and spontaneous activity revealed by mesoscale imaging in anesthetized and awake mice. Cell Rep 2021; 37:110081. [PMID: 34879278 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Stimuli-evoked and spontaneous brain activity propagates across the cortex in diverse spatiotemporal patterns. Despite extensive studies, the relationship between spontaneous and evoked activity is poorly understood. We investigate this relationship by comparing the amplitude, speed, direction, and complexity of propagation trajectories of spontaneous and evoked activity elicited with visual, auditory, and tactile stimuli using mesoscale wide-field imaging in mice. For both spontaneous and evoked activity, the speed and direction of propagation is modulated by the amplitude. However, spontaneous activity has a higher complexity of the propagation trajectories. For low stimulus strengths, evoked activity amplitude and speed is similar to that of spontaneous activity but becomes dissimilar at higher stimulus strengths. These findings are consistent with observations that primary sensory areas receive widespread inputs from other cortical regions, and during rest, the cortex tends to reactivate traces of complex multisensory experiences that might have occurred in exhibition of different behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Navvab Afrashteh
- University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Neuroscience, 4401 University Dr. W., Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Samsoon Inayat
- University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Neuroscience, 4401 University Dr. W., Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Edgar Bermudez-Contreras
- University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Neuroscience, 4401 University Dr. W., Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Artur Luczak
- University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Neuroscience, 4401 University Dr. W., Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Bruce L McNaughton
- University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Neuroscience, 4401 University Dr. W., Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4, Canada; Center for Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92603, USA
| | - Majid H Mohajerani
- University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Neuroscience, 4401 University Dr. W., Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4, Canada.
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24
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Rezaei Z, Jafari Z, Afrashteh N, Torabi R, Singh S, Kolb BE, Davidsen J, Mohajerani MH. Prenatal stress dysregulates resting-state functional connectivity and sensory motifs. Neurobiol Stress 2021; 15:100345. [PMID: 34124321 PMCID: PMC8173309 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal stress (PS) can impact fetal brain structure and function and contribute to higher vulnerability to neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. To understand how PS alters evoked and spontaneous neocortical activity and intrinsic brain functional connectivity, mesoscale voltage imaging was performed in adult C57BL/6NJ mice that had been exposed to auditory stress on gestational days 12-16, the age at which neocortex is developing. PS mice had a four-fold higher basal corticosterone level and reduced amplitude of cortical sensory-evoked responses to visual, auditory, whisker, forelimb, and hindlimb stimuli. Relative to control animals, PS led to a general reduction of resting-state functional connectivity, as well as reduced inter-modular connectivity, enhanced intra-modular connectivity, and altered frequency of auditory and forelimb spontaneous sensory motifs. These resting-state changes resulted in a cortical connectivity pattern featuring disjoint but tight modules and a decline in network efficiency. The findings demonstrate that cortical connectivity is sensitive to PS and exposed offspring may be at risk for adult stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Rezaei
- Department of Neuroscience, Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada, T1K 3M4
| | - Zahra Jafari
- Department of Neuroscience, Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada, T1K 3M4
| | - Navvab Afrashteh
- Department of Neuroscience, Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada, T1K 3M4
| | - Reza Torabi
- Department of Neuroscience, Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada, T1K 3M4
| | - Surjeet Singh
- Department of Neuroscience, Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada, T1K 3M4
| | - Bryan E. Kolb
- Department of Neuroscience, Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada, T1K 3M4
| | - Jörn Davidsen
- Complexity Science Group, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada, T2N 1N4
| | - Majid H. Mohajerani
- Department of Neuroscience, Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada, T1K 3M4
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25
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Pezzulo G, Zorzi M, Corbetta M. The secret life of predictive brains: what's spontaneous activity for? Trends Cogn Sci 2021; 25:730-743. [PMID: 34144895 PMCID: PMC8363551 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2021.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Brains at rest generate dynamical activity that is highly structured in space and time. We suggest that spontaneous activity, as in rest or dreaming, underlies top-down dynamics of generative models. During active tasks, generative models provide top-down predictive signals for perception, cognition, and action. When the brain is at rest and stimuli are weak or absent, top-down dynamics optimize the generative models for future interactions by maximizing the entropy of explanations and minimizing model complexity. Spontaneous fluctuations of correlated activity within and across brain regions may reflect transitions between 'generic priors' of the generative model: low dimensional latent variables and connectivity patterns of the most common perceptual, motor, cognitive, and interoceptive states. Even at rest, brains are proactive and predictive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Pezzulo
- Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, National Research Council, Roma, Italy.
| | - Marco Zorzi
- Department of General Psychology and Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padova, Padova, Italy; IRCCS San Camillo Hospital, Venice, Italy
| | - Maurizio Corbetta
- Department of Neuroscience and Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padova, Padova, Italy; Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), Fondazione Biomedica, Padova, Italy
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26
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Herzog R, Morales A, Mora S, Araya J, Escobar MJ, Palacios AG, Cofré R. Scalable and accurate method for neuronal ensemble detection in spiking neural networks. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0251647. [PMID: 34329314 PMCID: PMC8323916 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We propose a novel, scalable, and accurate method for detecting neuronal ensembles from a population of spiking neurons. Our approach offers a simple yet powerful tool to study ensemble activity. It relies on clustering synchronous population activity (population vectors), allows the participation of neurons in different ensembles, has few parameters to tune and is computationally efficient. To validate the performance and generality of our method, we generated synthetic data, where we found that our method accurately detects neuronal ensembles for a wide range of simulation parameters. We found that our method outperforms current alternative methodologies. We used spike trains of retinal ganglion cells obtained from multi-electrode array recordings under a simple ON-OFF light stimulus to test our method. We found a consistent stimuli-evoked ensemble activity intermingled with spontaneously active ensembles and irregular activity. Our results suggest that the early visual system activity could be organized in distinguishable functional ensembles. We provide a Graphic User Interface, which facilitates the use of our method by the scientific community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubén Herzog
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Arturo Morales
- Departamento de Electrónica, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Soraya Mora
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
- Laboratorio de Biología Computacional, Fundación Ciencia y Vida, Santiago, Chile
| | - Joaquín Araya
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
- Escuela de Tecnología Médica, Facultad de Salud, Universidad Santo Tomás, Santiago, Chile
| | - María-José Escobar
- Departamento de Electrónica, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Adrian G. Palacios
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Rodrigo Cofré
- CIMFAV Ingemat, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
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27
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Oran Y, Katz Y, Sokoletsky M, Malina KCK, Lampl I. Reduction of corpus callosum activity during whisking leads to interhemispheric decorrelation. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4095. [PMID: 34215734 PMCID: PMC8253780 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24310-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Interhemispheric correlation between homotopic areas is a major hallmark of cortical physiology and is believed to emerge through the corpus callosum. However, how interhemispheric correlations and corpus callosum activity are affected by behavioral states remains unknown. We performed laminar extracellular and intracellular recordings simultaneously from both barrel cortices in awake mice. We find robust interhemispheric correlations of both spiking and synaptic activities that are reduced during whisking compared to quiet wakefulness. Accordingly, optogenetic inactivation of one hemisphere reveals that interhemispheric coupling occurs only during quiet wakefulness, and chemogenetic inactivation of callosal terminals reduces interhemispheric correlation especially during quiet wakefulness. Moreover, in contrast to the generally elevated firing rate observed during whisking epochs, we find a marked decrease in the activity of imaged callosal fibers. Our results indicate that the reduction in interhemispheric coupling and correlations during active behavior reflects the specific reduction in the activity of callosal neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yael Oran
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yonatan Katz
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Michael Sokoletsky
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | | | - Ilan Lampl
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
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28
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Wainio-Theberge S, Wolff A, Northoff G. Dynamic relationships between spontaneous and evoked electrophysiological activity. Commun Biol 2021; 4:741. [PMID: 34131279 PMCID: PMC8206204 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02240-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Spontaneous neural activity fluctuations have been shown to influence trial-by-trial variation in perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes. However, the complex electrophysiological mechanisms by which these fluctuations shape stimulus-evoked neural activity remain largely to be explored. Employing a large-scale magnetoencephalographic dataset and an electroencephalographic replication dataset, we investigate the relationship between spontaneous and evoked neural activity across a range of electrophysiological variables. We observe that for high-frequency activity, high pre-stimulus amplitudes lead to greater evoked desynchronization, while for low frequencies, high pre-stimulus amplitudes induce larger degrees of event-related synchronization. We further decompose electrophysiological power into oscillatory and scale-free components, demonstrating different patterns of spontaneous-evoked correlation for each component. Finally, we find correlations between spontaneous and evoked time-domain electrophysiological signals. Overall, we demonstrate that the dynamics of multiple electrophysiological variables exhibit distinct relationships between their spontaneous and evoked activity, a result which carries implications for experimental design and analysis in non-invasive electrophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soren Wainio-Theberge
- Mind, Brain Imaging and Neuroethics, Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Annemarie Wolff
- Mind, Brain Imaging and Neuroethics, Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Georg Northoff
- Mind, Brain Imaging and Neuroethics, Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. .,Mental Health Centre, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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29
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Norrlid J, Enander JMD, Mogensen H, Jörntell H. Multi-structure Cortical States Deduced From Intracellular Representations of Fixed Tactile Input Patterns. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:677568. [PMID: 34194301 PMCID: PMC8236821 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.677568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The brain has a never-ending internal activity, whose spatiotemporal evolution interacts with external inputs to constrain their impact on brain activity and thereby how we perceive them. We used reproducible touch-related spatiotemporal sensory inputs and recorded intracellularly from rat (Sprague-Dawley, male) neocortical neurons to characterize this interaction. The synaptic responses, or the summed input of the networks connected to the neuron, varied greatly to repeated presentations of the same tactile input pattern delivered to the tip of digit 2. Surprisingly, however, these responses tended to sort into a set of specific time-evolving response types, unique for each neuron. Further, using a set of eight such tactile input patterns, we found each neuron to exhibit a set of specific response types for each input provided. Response types were not determined by the global cortical state, but instead likely depended on the time-varying state of the specific subnetworks connected to each neuron. The fact that some types of responses recurred indicates that the cortical network had a non-continuous landscape of solutions for these tactile inputs. Therefore, our data suggest that sensory inputs combine with the internal dynamics of the brain networks, thereby causing them to fall into one of the multiple possible perceptual attractor states. The neuron-specific instantiations of response types we observed suggest that the subnetworks connected to each neuron represent different components of those attractor states. Our results indicate that the impact of cortical internal states on external inputs is substantially more richly resolvable than previously shown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Norrlid
- Neural Basis of Sensorimotor Control, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Jonas M D Enander
- Neural Basis of Sensorimotor Control, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Hannes Mogensen
- Neural Basis of Sensorimotor Control, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Henrik Jörntell
- Neural Basis of Sensorimotor Control, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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30
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Mell MM, St-Yves G, Naselaris T. Voxel-to-voxel predictive models reveal unexpected structure in unexplained variance. Neuroimage 2021; 238:118266. [PMID: 34129949 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Encoding models based on deep convolutional neural networks (DCNN) predict BOLD responses to natural scenes in the human visual system more accurately than many other currently available models. However, DCNN-based encoding models fail to predict a significant amount of variance in the activity of most voxels in all visual areas. This failure could reflect limitations in the data (e.g., a noise ceiling), or could reflect limitations of the DCNN as a model of computation in the brain. Understanding the source and structure of the unexplained variance could therefore provide helpful clues for improving models of brain computation. Here, we characterize the structure of the variance that DCNN-based encoding models cannot explain. Using a publicly available dataset of BOLD responses to natural scenes, we determined if the source of unexplained variance was shared across voxels, individual brains, retinotopic locations, and hierarchically distant visual brain areas. We answered these questions using voxel-to-voxel (vox2vox) models that predict activity in a target voxel given activity in a population of source voxels. We found that simple linear vox2vox models increased within-subject prediction accuracy over DCNN-based models for any pair of source/target visual areas, clearly demonstrating that the source of unexplained variance is widely shared within and across visual brain areas. However, vox2vox models were not more accurate than DCNN-based encoding models when source and target voxels came from different brains, demonstrating that the source of unexplained variance was not shared across brains. Importantly, control analyses demonstrated that the source of unexplained variance was not encoded in the mean activity of source voxels, or the activity of voxels in white matter. Interestingly, the weights of vox2vox models revealed preferential connection of target voxel activity to source voxels with adjacent receptive fields, even when source and target voxels were in different functional brain areas. Finally, we found that the prediction accuracy of the vox2vox models decayed with hierarchical distance between the source and target voxels but showed detailed patterns of dependence on hierarchical relationships that we did not observe in DCNNs. Given these results, we argue that the structured variance unexplained by DCNN-based encoding models is unlikely to be entirely caused by non-neural artifacts (e.g., spatially correlated measurement noise) or a failure of DCNNs to approximate the features encoded in brain activity; rather, our results point to a need for brain models that provide both mechanistic and computational explanations for structured ongoing activity in the brain. Keywords: fMRI, encoding models, deep neural networks, functional connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maggie Mae Mell
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Ghislain St-Yves
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Thomas Naselaris
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
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31
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Ibrahim BA, Murphy CA, Yudintsev G, Shinagawa Y, Banks MI, Llano DA. Corticothalamic gating of population auditory thalamocortical transmission in mouse. eLife 2021; 10:e56645. [PMID: 34028350 PMCID: PMC8186908 DOI: 10.7554/elife.56645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms that govern thalamocortical transmission are poorly understood. Recent data have shown that sensory stimuli elicit activity in ensembles of cortical neurons that recapitulate stereotyped spontaneous activity patterns. Here, we elucidate a possible mechanism by which gating of patterned population cortical activity occurs. In this study, sensory-evoked all-or-none cortical population responses were observed in the mouse auditory cortex in vivo and similar stochastic cortical responses were observed in a colliculo-thalamocortical brain slice preparation. Cortical responses were associated with decreases in auditory thalamic synaptic inhibition and increases in thalamic synchrony. Silencing of corticothalamic neurons in layer 6 (but not layer 5) or the thalamic reticular nucleus linearized the cortical responses, suggesting that layer 6 corticothalamic feedback via the thalamic reticular nucleus was responsible for gating stochastic cortical population responses. These data implicate a corticothalamic-thalamic reticular nucleus circuit that modifies thalamic neuronal synchronization to recruit populations of cortical neurons for sensory representations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baher A Ibrahim
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of IllinoisUrbana-ChampaignUnited States
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of IllinoisUrbana-ChampaignUnited States
| | - Caitlin A Murphy
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-MadisonWisconsin-MadisonUnited States
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-MadisonWisconsin-MadisonUnited States
| | - Georgiy Yudintsev
- Neuroscience Program, University of IllinoisUrbana-ChampaignUnited States
| | - Yoshitaka Shinagawa
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of IllinoisUrbana-ChampaignUnited States
| | - Matthew I Banks
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-MadisonWisconsin-MadisonUnited States
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-MadisonWisconsin-MadisonUnited States
| | - Daniel A Llano
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of IllinoisUrbana-ChampaignUnited States
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of IllinoisUrbana-ChampaignUnited States
- Neuroscience Program, University of IllinoisUrbana-ChampaignUnited States
- College of Medicine, University of IllinoisUrbana-ChampaignUnited States
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32
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Avitan L, Pujic Z, Mölter J, Zhu S, Sun B, Goodhill GJ. Spontaneous and evoked activity patterns diverge over development. eLife 2021; 10:e61942. [PMID: 33871351 PMCID: PMC8075578 DOI: 10.7554/elife.61942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The immature brain is highly spontaneously active. Over development this activity must be integrated with emerging patterns of stimulus-evoked activity, but little is known about how this occurs. Here we investigated this question by recording spontaneous and evoked neural activity in the larval zebrafish tectum from 4 to 15 days post-fertilisation. Correlations within spontaneous and evoked activity epochs were comparable over development, and their neural assemblies refined in similar ways. However, both the similarity between evoked and spontaneous assemblies, and also the geometric distance between spontaneous and evoked patterns, decreased over development. At all stages of development, evoked activity was of higher dimension than spontaneous activity. Thus, spontaneous and evoked activity do not converge over development in this system, and these results do not support the hypothesis that spontaneous activity evolves to form a Bayesian prior for evoked activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilach Avitan
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
- Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, The Hebrew University of JerusalemJerusalemIsrael
| | - Zac Pujic
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
| | - Jan Mölter
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
- School of Mathematics and Physics, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
| | - Shuyu Zhu
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
| | - Biao Sun
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
| | - Geoffrey J Goodhill
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
- School of Mathematics and Physics, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
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33
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Yin D, Kaiser M. Understanding neural flexibility from a multifaceted definition. Neuroimage 2021; 235:118027. [PMID: 33836274 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Flexibility is a hallmark of human intelligence. Emerging studies have proposed several flexibility measurements at the level of individual regions, to produce a brain map of neural flexibility. However, flexibility is usually inferred from separate components of brain activity (i.e., intrinsic/task-evoked), and different definitions are used. Moreover, recent studies have argued that neural processing may be more than a task-driven and intrinsic dichotomy. Therefore, the understanding to neural flexibility is still incomplete. To address this issue, we propose a multifaceted definition of neural flexibility according to three key features: broad cognitive engagement, distributed connectivity, and adaptive connectome dynamics. For these three features, we first review the advances in computational approaches, their functional relevance, and their potential pitfalls. We then suggest a set of metrics that can help us assign a flexibility rating to each region. Subsequently, we present an emergent probabilistic view for further understanding the functional operation of individual regions in the unified framework of intrinsic and task-driven states. Finally, we highlight several areas related to the multifaceted definition of neural flexibility for future research. This review not only strengthens our understanding of flexible human brain, but also suggests that the measure of neural flexibility could bridge the gap between understanding intrinsic and task-driven brain function dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dazhi Yin
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (Ministry of Education and Shanghai), School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China.
| | - Marcus Kaiser
- School of Computing, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5TG, UK; School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.
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34
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Waschke L, Kloosterman NA, Obleser J, Garrett DD. Behavior needs neural variability. Neuron 2021; 109:751-766. [PMID: 33596406 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Human and non-human animal behavior is highly malleable and adapts successfully to internal and external demands. Such behavioral success stands in striking contrast to the apparent instability in neural activity (i.e., variability) from which it arises. Here, we summon the considerable evidence across scales, species, and imaging modalities that neural variability represents a key, undervalued dimension for understanding brain-behavior relationships at inter- and intra-individual levels. We believe that only by incorporating a specific focus on variability will the neural foundation of behavior be comprehensively understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonhard Waschke
- Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Niels A Kloosterman
- Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jonas Obleser
- Department of Psychology, University of Lübeck, 23562 Lübeck, Germany; Center of Brain, Behavior, and Metabolism, University of Lübeck, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Douglas D Garrett
- Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, 14195 Berlin, Germany
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35
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Saderi D, Schwartz ZP, Heller CR, Pennington JR, David SV. Dissociation of task engagement and arousal effects in auditory cortex and midbrain. eLife 2021; 10:e60153. [PMID: 33570493 PMCID: PMC7909948 DOI: 10.7554/elife.60153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Both generalized arousal and engagement in a specific task influence sensory neural processing. To isolate effects of these state variables in the auditory system, we recorded single-unit activity from primary auditory cortex (A1) and inferior colliculus (IC) of ferrets during a tone detection task, while monitoring arousal via changes in pupil size. We used a generalized linear model to assess the influence of task engagement and pupil size on sound-evoked activity. In both areas, these two variables affected independent neural populations. Pupil size effects were more prominent in IC, while pupil and task engagement effects were equally likely in A1. Task engagement was correlated with larger pupil; thus, some apparent effects of task engagement should in fact be attributed to fluctuations in pupil size. These results indicate a hierarchy of auditory processing, where generalized arousal enhances activity in midbrain, and effects specific to task engagement become more prominent in cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Saderi
- Oregon Hearing Research Center, Oregon Health and Science UniversityPortlandUnited States
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Oregon Health and Science UniversityPortlandUnited States
| | - Zachary P Schwartz
- Oregon Hearing Research Center, Oregon Health and Science UniversityPortlandUnited States
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Oregon Health and Science UniversityPortlandUnited States
| | - Charles R Heller
- Oregon Hearing Research Center, Oregon Health and Science UniversityPortlandUnited States
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Oregon Health and Science UniversityPortlandUnited States
| | - Jacob R Pennington
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Washington State UniversityVancouverUnited States
| | - Stephen V David
- Oregon Hearing Research Center, Oregon Health and Science UniversityPortlandUnited States
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36
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Uddin LQ. Bring the Noise: Reconceptualizing Spontaneous Neural Activity. Trends Cogn Sci 2020; 24:734-746. [PMID: 32600967 PMCID: PMC7429348 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2020.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Definitions of what constitutes the 'signal of interest' in neuroscience can be controversial, due in part to continuously evolving notions regarding the significance of spontaneous neural activity. This review highlights how the challenge of separating brain signal from noise has led to new conceptualizations of brain functional organization at both the micro- and macroscopic level. Recent debates in the functional neuroimaging community surrounding artifact removal processes have revived earlier discussions surrounding how to appropriately isolate and measure neuronal signals against a background of noise from various sources. Insights from electrophysiological studies and computational modeling can inform current theory and data analytic practices in human functional neuroimaging, given that signal and noise may be inextricably linked in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucina Q Uddin
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, PO Box 248185-0751, Coral Gables, FL 33124, USA; Neuroscience Program, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
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37
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Structure of cortical network activity across natural wake and sleep states in mice. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0233561. [PMID: 32470016 PMCID: PMC7259746 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cortical neurons fire intermittently and synchronously during non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREMS), in which active and silent periods are referred to as ON and OFF periods, respectively. Neuronal firing rates during ON periods (NREMS-ON-activity) are similar to those of wakefulness (W-activity), raising the possibility that NREMS-ON neuronal-activity is fragmented W-activity. To test this, we investigated the patterning and organization of cortical spike trains and of spike ensembles in neuronal networks using extracellular recordings in mice. Firing rates of neurons during NREMS-ON and W were similar, but showed enhanced bursting in NREMS with no apparent preference in occurrence, relative to the beginning or end of the on-state. Additionally, there was an overall increase in the randomness of occurrence of sequences comprised of multi-neuron ensembles in NREMS recorded from tetrodes. In association with increased burst firing, somatic calcium transients were increased in NREMS. The increased calcium transients associated with bursting during NREM may activate calcium-dependent, cell-signaling pathways for sleep related cellular processes.
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38
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Abstract
Contemporary brain research seeks to understand how cognition is reducible to neural activity. Crucially, much of this effort is guided by a scientific paradigm that views neural activity as essentially driven by external stimuli. In contrast, recent perspectives argue that this paradigm is by itself inadequate and that understanding patterns of activity intrinsic to the brain is needed to explain cognition. Yet, despite this critique, the stimulus-driven paradigm still dominates-possibly because a convincing alternative has not been clear. Here, we review a series of findings suggesting such an alternative. These findings indicate that neural activity in the hippocampus occurs in one of three brain states that have radically different anatomical, physiological, representational, and behavioral correlates, together implying different functional roles in cognition. This three-state framework also indicates that neural representations in the hippocampus follow a surprising pattern of organization at the timescale of ∼1 s or longer. Lastly, beyond the hippocampus, recent breakthroughs indicate three parallel states in the cortex, suggesting shared principles and brain-wide organization of intrinsic neural activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Kay
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, Department of Physiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Loren M Frank
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, Department of Physiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
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39
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Zora H, Rudner M, Montell Magnusson AK. Concurrent affective and linguistic prosody with the same emotional valence elicits a late positive ERP response. Eur J Neurosci 2019; 51:2236-2249. [PMID: 31872480 PMCID: PMC7383972 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Change in linguistic prosody generates a mismatch negativity response (MMN), indicating neural representation of linguistic prosody, while change in affective prosody generates a positive response (P3a), reflecting its motivational salience. However, the neural response to concurrent affective and linguistic prosody is unknown. The present paper investigates the integration of these two prosodic features in the brain by examining the neural response to separate and concurrent processing by electroencephalography (EEG). A spoken pair of Swedish words—[ˈfɑ́ːsɛn] phase and [ˈfɑ̀ːsɛn] damn—that differed in emotional semantics due to linguistic prosody was presented to 16 subjects in an angry and neutral affective prosody using a passive auditory oddball paradigm. Acoustically matched pseudowords—[ˈvɑ́ːsɛm] and [ˈvɑ̀ːsɛm]—were used as controls. Following the constructionist concept of emotions, accentuating the conceptualization of emotions based on language, it was hypothesized that concurrent affective and linguistic prosody with the same valence—angry [ˈfɑ̀ːsɛn] damn—would elicit a unique late EEG signature, reflecting the temporal integration of affective voice with emotional semantics of prosodic origin. In accordance, linguistic prosody elicited an MMN at 300–350 ms, and affective prosody evoked a P3a at 350–400 ms, irrespective of semantics. Beyond these responses, concurrent affective and linguistic prosody evoked a late positive component (LPC) at 820–870 ms in frontal areas, indicating the conceptualization of affective prosody based on linguistic prosody. This study provides evidence that the brain does not only distinguish between these two functions of prosody but also integrates them based on language and experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hatice Zora
- Department of Linguistics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mary Rudner
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Anna K Montell Magnusson
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Science, Intervention, and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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40
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Chen G, Gong P. Computing by modulating spontaneous cortical activity patterns as a mechanism of active visual processing. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4915. [PMID: 31664052 PMCID: PMC6820766 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12918-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Cortical populations produce complex spatiotemporal activity spontaneously without sensory inputs. However, the fundamental computational roles of such spontaneous activity remain unclear. Here, we propose a new neural computation mechanism for understanding how spontaneous activity is actively involved in cortical processing: Computing by Modulating Spontaneous Activity (CMSA). Using biophysically plausible circuit models, we demonstrate that spontaneous activity patterns with dynamical properties, as found in empirical observations, are modulated or redistributed by external stimuli to give rise to neural responses. We find that this CMSA mechanism of generating neural responses provides profound computational advantages, such as actively speeding up cortical processing. We further reveal that the CMSA mechanism provides a unifying explanation for many experimental findings at both the single-neuron and circuit levels, and that CMSA in response to natural stimuli such as face images is the underlying neurophysiological mechanism of perceptual "bubbles" as found in psychophysical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guozhang Chen
- School of Physics, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia.,ARC Center of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Pulin Gong
- School of Physics, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia. .,ARC Center of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia.
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41
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Diana G, Sainsbury TTJ, Meyer MP. Bayesian inference of neuronal assemblies. PLoS Comput Biol 2019; 15:e1007481. [PMID: 31671090 PMCID: PMC6850560 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Revised: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In many areas of the brain, both spontaneous and stimulus-evoked activity can manifest as synchronous activation of neuronal assemblies. The characterization of assembly structure and dynamics provides important insights into how brain computations are distributed across neural networks. The proliferation of experimental techniques for recording the activity of neuronal assemblies calls for a comprehensive statistical method to describe, analyze and characterize these high dimensional datasets. The performance of existing methods for defining assemblies is sensitive to noise and stochasticity in neuronal firing patterns and assembly heterogeneity. To address these problems, we introduce a generative hierarchical model of synchronous activity to describe the organization of neurons into assemblies. Unlike existing methods, our analysis provides a simultaneous estimation of assembly composition, dynamics and within-assembly statistical features, such as the levels of activity, noise and assembly synchrony. We have used our method to characterize population activity throughout the tectum of larval zebrafish, allowing us to make statistical inference on the spatiotemporal organization of tectal assemblies, their composition and the logic of their interactions. We have also applied our method to functional imaging and neuropixels recordings from the mouse, allowing us to relate the activity of identified assemblies to specific behaviours such as running or changes in pupil diameter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Diana
- Center for Developmental Neurobiology & MRC Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital Campus, London, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas T. J. Sainsbury
- Center for Developmental Neurobiology & MRC Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital Campus, London, United Kingdom
| | - Martin P. Meyer
- Center for Developmental Neurobiology & MRC Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital Campus, London, United Kingdom
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42
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Bressler DW, Rokem A, Silver MA. Slow Endogenous Fluctuations in Cortical fMRI Signals Correlate with Reduced Performance in a Visual Detection Task and Are Suppressed by Spatial Attention. J Cogn Neurosci 2019; 32:85-99. [PMID: 31560268 DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_01470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Spatial attention improves performance on visual tasks, increases neural responses to attended stimuli, and reduces correlated noise in visual cortical neurons. In addition to being visually responsive, many retinotopic visual cortical areas exhibit very slow (<0.1 Hz) endogenous fluctuations in functional magnetic resonance imaging signals. To test whether these fluctuations degrade stimulus representations, thereby impairing visual detection, we recorded functional magnetic resonance imaging responses while human participants performed a target detection task that required them to allocate spatial attention to either a rotating wedge stimulus or a central fixation point. We then measured the effects of spatial attention on response amplitude at the frequency of wedge rotation and on the amplitude of endogenous fluctuations at nonstimulus frequencies. We found that, in addition to enhancing stimulus-evoked responses, attending to the wedge also suppressed slow endogenous fluctuations that were unrelated to the visual stimulus in topographically defined areas in early visual cortex, posterior parietal cortex, and lateral occipital cortex, but not in a nonvisual cortical control region. Moreover, attentional enhancement of response amplitude and suppression of endogenous fluctuations were dissociable across cortical areas and across time. Finally, we found that the amplitude of the stimulus-evoked response was not correlated with a perceptual measure of visual target detection. Instead, perceptual performance was accounted for by the amount of suppression of slow endogenous fluctuations. Our results indicate that the amplitude of slow fluctuations of cortical activity is influenced by spatial attention and suggest that these endogenous fluctuations may impair perceptual processing in topographically organized visual cortical areas.
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Podvalny E, Flounders MW, King LE, Holroyd T, He BJ. A dual role of prestimulus spontaneous neural activity in visual object recognition. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3910. [PMID: 31477706 PMCID: PMC6718405 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11877-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Vision relies on both specific knowledge of visual attributes, such as object categories, and general brain states, such as those reflecting arousal. We hypothesized that these phenomena independently influence recognition of forthcoming stimuli through distinct processes reflected in spontaneous neural activity. Here, we recorded magnetoencephalographic (MEG) activity in participants (N = 24) who viewed images of objects presented at recognition threshold. Using multivariate analysis applied to sensor-level activity patterns recorded before stimulus presentation, we identified two neural processes influencing subsequent subjective recognition: a general process, which disregards stimulus category and correlates with pupil size, and a specific process, which facilitates category-specific recognition. The two processes are doubly-dissociable: the general process correlates with changes in criterion but not in sensitivity, whereas the specific process correlates with changes in sensitivity but not in criterion. Our findings reveal distinct mechanisms of how spontaneous neural activity influences perception and provide a framework to integrate previous findings. The effect of spontaneous variations in prestimulus neural activity on subsequent perception is incompletely understood. Here, using MEG, the authors identify two distinct neural processes that can influence object recognition in different ways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ella Podvalny
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
| | - Matthew W Flounders
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Leana E King
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Tom Holroyd
- Magnetoencephalography Core Facility, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Biyu J He
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA. .,Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience & Physiology, and Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
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44
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Rapid and active stabilization of visual cortical firing rates across light-dark transitions. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:18068-18077. [PMID: 31366632 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1906595116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The dynamics of neuronal firing during natural vision are poorly understood. Surprisingly, mean firing rates of neurons in primary visual cortex (V1) of freely behaving rodents are similar during prolonged periods of light and darkness, but it is unknown whether this reflects a slow adaptation to changes in natural visual input or insensitivity to rapid changes in visual drive. Here, we use chronic electrophysiology in freely behaving rats to follow individual V1 neurons across many dark-light (D-L) and light-dark (L-D) transitions. We show that, even on rapid timescales (1 s to 10 min), neuronal activity was only weakly modulated by transitions that coincided with the expected 12-/12-h L-D cycle. In contrast, a larger subset of V1 neurons consistently responded to unexpected L-D and D-L transitions, and disruption of the regular L-D cycle with 60 h of complete darkness induced a robust increase in V1 firing on reintroduction of visual input. Thus, V1 neurons fire at similar rates in the presence or absence of natural stimuli, and significant changes in activity arise only transiently in response to unexpected changes in the visual environment. Furthermore, although mean rates were similar in light and darkness, pairwise correlations were significantly stronger during natural vision, suggesting that information about natural scenes in V1 may be more strongly reflected in correlations than individual firing rates. Together, our findings show that V1 firing rates are rapidly and actively stabilized during expected changes in visual input and are remarkably stable at both short and long timescales.
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La Camera G, Fontanini A, Mazzucato L. Cortical computations via metastable activity. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2019; 58:37-45. [PMID: 31326722 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2019.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Metastable brain dynamics are characterized by abrupt, jump-like modulations so that the neural activity in single trials appears to unfold as a sequence of discrete, quasi-stationary 'states'. Evidence that cortical neural activity unfolds as a sequence of metastable states is accumulating at fast pace. Metastable activity occurs both in response to an external stimulus and during ongoing, self-generated activity. These spontaneous metastable states are increasingly found to subserve internal representations that are not locked to external triggers, including states of deliberations, attention and expectation. Moreover, decoding stimuli or decisions via metastable states can be carried out trial-by-trial. Focusing on metastability will allow us to shift our perspective on neural coding from traditional concepts based on trial-averaging to models based on dynamic ensemble representations. Recent theoretical work has started to characterize the mechanistic origin and potential roles of metastable representations. In this article we review recent findings on metastable activity, how it may arise in biologically realistic models, and its potential role for representing internal states as well as relevant task variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giancarlo La Camera
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY 11794, United States; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY 11794, United States.
| | - Alfredo Fontanini
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY 11794, United States; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY 11794, United States
| | - Luca Mazzucato
- Departments of Biology and Mathematics and Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, United States
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Palagina G, Meyer JF, Smirnakis SM. Inhibitory Units: An Organizing Nidus for Feature-Selective SubNetworks in Area V1. J Neurosci 2019; 39:4931-4944. [PMID: 30979814 PMCID: PMC6670246 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2275-18.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Revised: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuronal circuits often display small-world network architecture characterized by neuronal cliques of dense local connectivity communicating with each other through a limited number of cells that participate in multiple cliques. The principles by which such cliques organize to encode information remain poorly understood. Similarly tuned pyramidal cells that preferentially target each other may form multicellular encoding units performing distinct computational tasks. The existence of such units can reflect upon both spontaneous and stimulus-driven population events.We applied two-photon calcium imaging to study spontaneous population bursts in layer 2/3 of area V1 in male C57BL/6 mice. To identify potential small-world cliques, we searched for pyramidal cells whose calcium events had a consistent temporal relationship with the events of local inhibitory interneurons. This was guided by the intuition that groups of neurons whose synchronous firing represents a temporally coherent computational unit should be inhibited together. Pyramidal members of these interneuron-centered clusters on average displayed stronger functional connectivity between each other than with nonmember pyramidal neurons. The structure of the clusters evolved during postnatal development: cluster size and overlap between clusters decreased with developmental maturation. Pyramidal neurons in a cluster showed higher than chance tuning function similarity between each other and with the linked interneuron. Thus, spontaneous population events in V1 are shaped by small-world subnetworks of pyramidal neurons that share functional properties and work as a coherent unit with a local interneuron. These interneuron-pyramidal cell partnerships may represent a fundamental neocortical unit of computation at the population level.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Neuronal circuit in layer 2/3 of mouse area V1 possesses small-world network architecture, where cliques of densely interconnected neurons ("small worlds") communicate via restricted number of hub cells. We show that: (1) in mouse V1 individual small-world cliques preferably incorporate pyramidal neurons with similar visual feature tuning, and (2) ongoing population activity of such pyramidal neuron clique is temporally linked to the activity of the local interneuron sharing its feature tuning with the clique members. Functional grouping of similarly tuned interneurons and pyramidal cells into cliques may ensure that ensembles of functionally alike pyramidal cells recruited during perceptual tasks and spontaneous activity are also turned off together as a unit, with interneurons serving as organizers of linked pyramidal ensemble activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ganna Palagina
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School Boston, Massachusetts 02115,
- Jamaica Plain Veterans Administration Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02130, and
| | | | - Stelios M Smirnakis
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School Boston, Massachusetts 02115
- Jamaica Plain Veterans Administration Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02130, and
- Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
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47
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Ryu J, Lee SH. Stimulus-Tuned Structure of Correlated fMRI Activity in Human Visual Cortex. Cereb Cortex 2019; 28:693-712. [PMID: 28108488 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhw411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Processing units are interconnected in the visual system, where a sensory organ and downstream cortical regions communicate through hierarchical connections, and local sites within the regions communicate through horizontal connections. In such networks, neural activities at local sites are likely to influence one another in complex ways and thus are intricately correlated. Recognizing the functional importance of correlated activity in sensory representation, spontaneous activities have been studied via diverse local or global measures in various time scales. Here, measuring functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signals in human early visual cortex, we explored systematic patterns that govern the correlated activities arising spontaneously. Specifically, guided by previously identified biases in anatomical connection patterns, we characterized all possible pairs of gray matter sites in 3 relational factors: "retinotopic distance," "cortical distance," and "stimulus tuning similarity." By evaluating and comparing the unique contributions of these factors to the correlated activity, we found that tuning similarity factors overrode distance factors in accounting for the structure of correlated fMRI activity both within and between V1, V2, and V3, irrespective of the presence or degree of visual stimulation. Our findings indicate that the early human visual cortex is intrinsically organized as a network tuned to the stimulus features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jungwon Ryu
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Hun Lee
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea
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Stringer C, Pachitariu M, Steinmetz N, Reddy CB, Carandini M, Harris KD. Spontaneous behaviors drive multidimensional, brainwide activity. Science 2019; 364:255. [PMID: 31000656 PMCID: PMC6525101 DOI: 10.1126/science.aav7893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 672] [Impact Index Per Article: 134.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Neuronal populations in sensory cortex produce variable responses to sensory stimuli and exhibit intricate spontaneous activity even without external sensory input. Cortical variability and spontaneous activity have been variously proposed to represent random noise, recall of prior experience, or encoding of ongoing behavioral and cognitive variables. Recording more than 10,000 neurons in mouse visual cortex, we observed that spontaneous activity reliably encoded a high-dimensional latent state, which was partially related to the mouse's ongoing behavior and was represented not just in visual cortex but also across the forebrain. Sensory inputs did not interrupt this ongoing signal but added onto it a representation of external stimuli in orthogonal dimensions. Thus, visual cortical population activity, despite its apparently noisy structure, reliably encodes an orthogonal fusion of sensory and multidimensional behavioral information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carsen Stringer
- HHMI Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA.
- Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit, UCL, London W1T 4JG, UK
| | - Marius Pachitariu
- HHMI Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA.
- UCL Institute of Neurology, London WC1E 6DE, UK
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Shibata K, Lisi G, Cortese A, Watanabe T, Sasaki Y, Kawato M. Toward a comprehensive understanding of the neural mechanisms of decoded neurofeedback. Neuroimage 2019; 188:539-556. [PMID: 30572110 PMCID: PMC6431555 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2018] [Revised: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) neurofeedback is an experimental framework in which fMRI signals are presented to participants in a real-time manner to change their behaviors. Changes in behaviors after real-time fMRI neurofeedback are postulated to be caused by neural plasticity driven by the induction of specific targeted activities at the neuronal level (targeted neural plasticity model). However, some research groups argued that behavioral changes in conventional real-time fMRI neurofeedback studies are explained by alternative accounts, including the placebo effect and physiological artifacts. Recently, decoded neurofeedback (DecNef) has been developed as a result of adapting new technological advancements, including implicit neurofeedback and fMRI multivariate analyses. DecNef provides strong evidence for the targeted neural plasticity model while refuting the abovementioned alternative accounts. In this review, we first discuss how DecNef refutes the alternative accounts. Second, we propose a model that shows how targeted neural plasticity occurs at the neuronal level during DecNef training. Finally, we discuss computational and empirical evidence that supports the model. Clarification of the neural mechanisms of DecNef would lead to the development of more advanced fMRI neurofeedback methods that may serve as powerful tools for both basic and clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhisa Shibata
- Brain Information Communication Research Laboratory Group, Advanced Telecommunications Research Institutes International, 2-2-2 Hikaridai, Seika-cho, Soraku-gun, Kyoto, 619-0288, Japan; Graduate School of Informatics, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya-shi, Nagoya, 464-0814, Japan
| | - Giuseppe Lisi
- Brain Information Communication Research Laboratory Group, Advanced Telecommunications Research Institutes International, 2-2-2 Hikaridai, Seika-cho, Soraku-gun, Kyoto, 619-0288, Japan
| | - Aurelio Cortese
- Brain Information Communication Research Laboratory Group, Advanced Telecommunications Research Institutes International, 2-2-2 Hikaridai, Seika-cho, Soraku-gun, Kyoto, 619-0288, Japan
| | - Takeo Watanabe
- Brain Information Communication Research Laboratory Group, Advanced Telecommunications Research Institutes International, 2-2-2 Hikaridai, Seika-cho, Soraku-gun, Kyoto, 619-0288, Japan; Department of Cognitive, Linguistic and Psychological Sciences, Brown University, 190 Thayer Street, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
| | - Yuka Sasaki
- Brain Information Communication Research Laboratory Group, Advanced Telecommunications Research Institutes International, 2-2-2 Hikaridai, Seika-cho, Soraku-gun, Kyoto, 619-0288, Japan; Department of Cognitive, Linguistic and Psychological Sciences, Brown University, 190 Thayer Street, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
| | - Mitsuo Kawato
- Brain Information Communication Research Laboratory Group, Advanced Telecommunications Research Institutes International, 2-2-2 Hikaridai, Seika-cho, Soraku-gun, Kyoto, 619-0288, Japan.
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50
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Perceptual phenomena in destructured sensory fields: Probing the brain’s intrinsic functional architectures. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 98:265-286. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2018] [Revised: 01/13/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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