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Olson RJ, Bartlett L, Sonneborn A, Milton R, Bretton-Granatoor Z, Firdous A, Harris AZ, Abbas AI. Decoupling of cortical activity from behavioral state following administration of the classic psychedelic DOI. Neuropharmacology 2024; 257:110030. [PMID: 38851531 PMCID: PMC11260522 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.110030] [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: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
Administration or consumption of classic psychedelics (CPs) leads to profound changes in experience which are often described as highly novel and meaningful. They have shown substantial promise in treating depressive symptoms and may be therapeutic in other situations. Although research suggests that the therapeutic response is correlated with the intensity of the experience, the neural circuit basis for the alterations in experience caused by CPs requires further study. The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), where CPs have been shown to induce rapid, 5-HT2A receptor-dependent structural and neurophysiological changes, is believed to be a key site of action. To investigate the acute neural circuit changes induced by CPs, we recorded single neurons and local field potentials in the mPFC of freely behaving male mice after administration of the 5-HT2A/2C receptor-selective CP, 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI). We segregated recordings into active and rest periods in order to examine cortical activity during desynchronized (active) and synchronized (rest) states. We found that DOI induced a robust decrease in low frequency power when animals were at rest, attenuating the usual synchronization that occurs during less active behavioral states. DOI also increased broadband gamma power and suppressed activity in fast-spiking neurons in both active and rest periods. Together, these results suggest that the CP DOI induces persistent desynchronization in mPFC, including during rest when mPFC typically exhibits more synchronized activity. This shift in cortical dynamics may in part underlie the longer-lasting effects of CPs on plasticity, and may be critical to their therapeutic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randall J Olson
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland OR 97239, USA
| | - Lowell Bartlett
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland OR 97239, USA
| | - Alex Sonneborn
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland OR 97239, USA
| | - Russell Milton
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland OR 97239, USA
| | | | - Ayesha Firdous
- Division of Integrative Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10034, USA
| | - Alexander Z Harris
- Division of Integrative Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10034, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10034, USA
| | - Atheir I Abbas
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland OR 97239, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland OR 97239, USA; VA Portland Health Care System, Portland OR, 97239, USA.
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2
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Grujic N, Polania R, Burdakov D. Neurobehavioral meaning of pupil size. Neuron 2024:S0896-6273(24)00406-9. [PMID: 38925124 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.05.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Pupil size is a widely used metric of brain state. It is one of the few signals originating from the brain that can be readily monitored with low-cost devices in basic science, clinical, and home settings. It is, therefore, important to investigate and generate well-defined theories related to specific interpretations of this metric. What exactly does it tell us about the brain? Pupils constrict in response to light and dilate during darkness, but the brain also controls pupil size irrespective of luminosity. Pupil size fluctuations resulting from ongoing "brain states" are used as a metric of arousal, but what is pupil-linked arousal and how should it be interpreted in neural, cognitive, and computational terms? Here, we discuss some recent findings related to these issues. We identify open questions and propose how to answer them through a combination of well-defined tasks, neurocomputational models, and neurophysiological probing of the interconnected loops of causes and consequences of pupil size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikola Grujic
- Neurobehavioural Dynamics Lab, ETH Zürich, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Schorenstrasse 16, 8603 Schwerzenbach, Switzerland.
| | - Rafael Polania
- Decision Neuroscience Lab, ETH Zürich, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Winterthurstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Denis Burdakov
- Neurobehavioural Dynamics Lab, ETH Zürich, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Schorenstrasse 16, 8603 Schwerzenbach, Switzerland.
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3
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Kwon YW, Ahn DB, Park YG, Kim E, Lee DH, Kim SW, Lee KH, Kim WY, Hong YM, Koh CS, Jung HH, Chang JW, Lee SY, Park JU. Power-integrated, wireless neural recording systems on the cranium using a direct printing method for deep-brain analysis. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadn3784. [PMID: 38569040 PMCID: PMC10990281 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adn3784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Conventional power-integrated wireless neural recording devices suffer from bulky, rigid batteries in head-mounted configurations, hindering the precise interpretation of the subject's natural behaviors. These power sources also pose risks of material leakage and overheating. We present the direct printing of a power-integrated wireless neural recording system that seamlessly conforms to the cranium. A quasi-solid-state Zn-ion microbattery was 3D-printed as a built-in power source geometrically synchronized to the shape of a mouse skull. Soft deep-brain neural probes, interconnections, and auxiliary electronics were also printed using liquid metals on the cranium with high resolutions. In vivo studies using mice demonstrated the reliability and biocompatibility of this wireless neural recording system, enabling the monitoring of neural activities across extensive brain regions without notable heat generation. This all-printed neural interface system revolutionizes brain research, providing bio-conformable, customizable configurations for improved data quality and naturalistic experimentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Won Kwon
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanomedicine, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - David B. Ahn
- Department of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Geun Park
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanomedicine, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Enji Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanomedicine, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Ha Lee
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanomedicine, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Woo Kim
- Department of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwon-Hyung Lee
- Ulsan Advanced Energy Technology R&D Center, Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER), Ulsan 44776, Republic of Korea
| | - Won-Yeong Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03772, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeon-Mi Hong
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanomedicine, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Chin Su Koh
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Ho Jung
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Woo Chang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Young Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03772, Republic of Korea
| | - Jang-Ung Park
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanomedicine, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Graduate Program of Nano Biomedical Engineering (NanoBME), Advanced Science Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
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4
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Shahidi N, Franch M, Parajuli A, Schrater P, Wright A, Pitkow X, Dragoi V. Population coding of strategic variables during foraging in freely moving macaques. Nat Neurosci 2024; 27:772-781. [PMID: 38443701 PMCID: PMC11001579 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01575-w] [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: 07/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Until now, it has been difficult to examine the neural bases of foraging in naturalistic environments because previous approaches have relied on restrained animals performing trial-based foraging tasks. Here we allowed unrestrained monkeys to freely interact with concurrent reward options while we wirelessly recorded population activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The animals decided when and where to forage based on whether their prediction of reward was fulfilled or violated. This prediction was not solely based on a history of reward delivery, but also on the understanding that waiting longer improves the chance of reward. The task variables were continuously represented in a subspace of the high-dimensional population activity, and this compressed representation predicted the animal's subsequent choices better than the true task variables and as well as the raw neural activity. Our results indicate that monkeys' foraging strategies are based on a cortical model of reward dynamics as animals freely explore their environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neda Shahidi
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas, Houston, Houston, TX, USA
- Georg-Elias-Müller-Institute for Psychology, Georg August-Universität, Göttingen, Germany
- Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Melissa Franch
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas, Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Arun Parajuli
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas, Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Paul Schrater
- Department of Computer Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Anthony Wright
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas, Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Xaq Pitkow
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
- Center for Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Department of Machine Learning, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Valentin Dragoi
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas, Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
- Neuroengineering Initiative, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
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5
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Franch M, Yellapantula S, Parajuli A, Kharas N, Wright A, Aazhang B, Dragoi V. Visuo-frontal interactions during social learning in freely moving macaques. Nature 2024; 627:174-181. [PMID: 38355804 PMCID: PMC10959748 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07084-x] [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: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Social interactions represent a ubiquitous aspect of our everyday life that we acquire by interpreting and responding to visual cues from conspecifics1. However, despite the general acceptance of this view, how visual information is used to guide the decision to cooperate is unknown. Here, we wirelessly recorded the spiking activity of populations of neurons in the visual and prefrontal cortex in conjunction with wireless recordings of oculomotor events while freely moving macaques engaged in social cooperation. As animals learned to cooperate, visual and executive areas refined the representation of social variables, such as the conspecific or reward, by distributing socially relevant information among neurons in each area. Decoding population activity showed that viewing social cues influences the decision to cooperate. Learning social events increased coordinated spiking between visual and prefrontal cortical neurons, which was associated with improved accuracy of neural populations to encode social cues and the decision to cooperate. These results indicate that the visual-frontal cortical network prioritizes relevant sensory information to facilitate learning social interactions while freely moving macaques interact in a naturalistic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Franch
- Deparment of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sudha Yellapantula
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Arun Parajuli
- Deparment of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Natasha Kharas
- Deparment of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Anthony Wright
- Deparment of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Behnaam Aazhang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Valentin Dragoi
- Deparment of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
- Neuroengineering Initiative, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
- Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA.
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6
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Takahashi M, Veale R. Pathways for Naturalistic Looking Behavior in Primate I: Behavioral Characteristics and Brainstem Circuits. Neuroscience 2023; 532:133-163. [PMID: 37776945 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
Organisms control their visual worlds by moving their eyes, heads, and bodies. This control of "gaze" or "looking" is key to survival and intelligence, but our investigation of the underlying neural mechanisms in natural conditions is hindered by technical limitations. Recent advances have enabled measurement of both brain and behavior in freely moving animals in complex environments, expanding on historical head-fixed laboratory investigations. We juxtapose looking behavior as traditionally measured in the laboratory against looking behavior in naturalistic conditions, finding that behavior changes when animals are free to move or when stimuli have depth or sound. We specifically focus on the brainstem circuits driving gaze shifts and gaze stabilization. The overarching goal of this review is to reconcile historical understanding of the differential neural circuits for different "classes" of gaze shift with two inconvenient truths. (1) "classes" of gaze behavior are artificial. (2) The neural circuits historically identified to control each "class" of behavior do not operate in isolation during natural behavior. Instead, multiple pathways combine adaptively and non-linearly depending on individual experience. While the neural circuits for reflexive and voluntary gaze behaviors traverse somewhat independent brainstem and spinal cord circuits, both can be modulated by feedback, meaning that most gaze behaviors are learned rather than hardcoded. Despite this flexibility, there are broadly enumerable neural pathways commonly adopted among primate gaze systems. Parallel pathways which carry simultaneous evolutionary and homeostatic drives converge in superior colliculus, a layered midbrain structure which integrates and relays these volitional signals to brainstem gaze-control circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayu Takahashi
- Department of Systems Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental, Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan.
| | - Richard Veale
- Department of Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan
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7
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Rotaru F, Bejinariu SI, Costin HN, Luca R, Niţă CD. Captive Animal Behavior Study by Video Analysis. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:7928. [PMID: 37765985 PMCID: PMC10538032 DOI: 10.3390/s23187928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Three video analysis-based applications for the study of captive animal behavior are presented. The aim of the first one is to provide certain parameters to assess drug efficiency by analyzing the movement of a rat. The scene is a three-chamber plastic box. First, the rat can move only in the middle room. The rat's head pose is the first parameter needed. Secondly, the rodent could walk in all three compartments. The entry number in each area and visit duration are the other indicators used in the final evaluation. The second application is related to a neuroscience experiment. Besides the electroencephalographic (EEG) signals yielded by a radio frequency link from a headset mounted on a monkey, the head placement is a useful source of information for reliable analysis, as well as its orientation. Finally, a fusion method to construct the displacement of a panda bear in a cage and the corresponding motion analysis to recognize its stress states are shown. The arena is a zoological garden that imitates the native environment of a panda bear. This surrounding is monitored by means of four video cameras. We have applied the following stages: (a) panda detection for every video camera; (b) panda path construction from all routes; and (c) panda way filtering and analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Hariton-Nicolae Costin
- Institute of Computer Science, Romanian Academy Iasi Branch, T. Codrescu Str., 2, 700481 Iaşi, Romania; (F.R.); (S.-I.B.); (R.L.); (C.D.N.)
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8
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Parajuli A, Gutnisky D, Tandon N, Dragoi V. Endogenous fluctuations in cortical state selectively enhance different modes of sensory processing in human temporal lobe. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5591. [PMID: 37696880 PMCID: PMC10495466 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41406-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The degree of synchronized fluctuations in neocortical network activity can vary widely during alertness. One influential idea that has emerged over the past few decades is that perceptual decisions are more accurate when the state of population activity is desynchronized. This suggests that optimal task performance may occur during a particular cortical state - the desynchronized state. Here we show that, contrary to this view, cortical state can both facilitate and suppress perceptual performance in a task-dependent manner. We performed electrical recordings from surface-implanted grid electrodes in the temporal lobe while human subjects completed two perceptual tasks. We found that when local population activity is in a synchronized state, network and perceptual performance are enhanced in a detection task and impaired in a discrimination task, but these modulatory effects are reversed when population activity is desynchronized. These findings indicate that the brain has adapted to take advantage of endogenous fluctuations in the state of neural populations in temporal cortex to selectively enhance different modes of sensory processing during perception in a state-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun Parajuli
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Diego Gutnisky
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, USA
| | - Nitin Tandon
- Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Medical School, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Valentin Dragoi
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
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9
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Nigam S, Milton R, Pojoga S, Dragoi V. Adaptive coding across visual features during free-viewing and fixation conditions. Nat Commun 2023; 14:87. [PMID: 36604422 PMCID: PMC9816177 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35656-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Theoretical studies have long proposed that adaptation allows the brain to effectively use the limited response range of sensory neurons to encode widely varying natural inputs. However, despite this influential view, experimental studies have exclusively focused on how the neural code adapts to a range of stimuli lying along a single feature axis, such as orientation or contrast. Here, we performed electrical recordings in macaque visual cortex (area V4) to reveal significant adaptive changes in the neural code of single cells and populations across multiple feature axes. Both during free viewing and passive fixation, populations of cells improved their ability to encode image features after rapid exposure to stimuli lying on orthogonal feature axes even in the absence of initial tuning to these stimuli. These results reveal a remarkable adaptive capacity of visual cortical populations to improve network computations relevant for natural viewing despite the modularity of the functional cortical architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunny Nigam
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy McGovern Medical School, University of Texas at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, US.
| | - Russell Milton
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy McGovern Medical School, University of Texas at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, US
| | - Sorin Pojoga
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy McGovern Medical School, University of Texas at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, US
| | - Valentin Dragoi
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy McGovern Medical School, University of Texas at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, US.
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, US.
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10
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Home-Enclosure-Based Behavioral and Wireless Neural Recording Setup for Unrestrained Rhesus Macaques. eNeuro 2023; 10:ENEURO.0285-22.2022. [PMID: 36564215 PMCID: PMC9836026 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0285-22.2022] [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: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Electrophysiological studies with behaving nonhuman primates often require the separation of animals from their social group as well as partial movement restraint to perform well-controlled experiments. When the research goal per se does not mandate constraining the animals' movements, there are often still experimental needs imposed by tethered data acquisition. Recent technological advances meanwhile allow wireless neurophysiological recordings at high band-width in limited-size enclosures. Here, we demonstrate wireless neural recordings at single unit resolution from unrestrained rhesus macaques while they performed self-paced, structured visuomotor tasks on our custom-built, stand-alone touchscreen system [eXperimental Behavioral Instrument (XBI)] in their home environment. We were able to successfully characterize neural tuning to task parameters, such as visuo-spatial selectivity during movement planning and execution, as expected from existing findings obtained via setup-based neurophysiology recordings. We conclude that when movement restraint and/or a highly controlled, insulated environment are not necessary for scientific reasons, cage-based wireless neural recordings are a viable option. We propose an approach that allows the animals to engage in a self-paced manner with our XBI device, both for fully automatized training and cognitive testing, as well as neural data acquisition in their familiar environment, maintaining auditory and sometimes visual contact with their conspecifics.
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11
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Kapoor V, Dwarakanath A, Safavi S, Werner J, Besserve M, Panagiotaropoulos TI, Logothetis NK. Decoding internally generated transitions of conscious contents in the prefrontal cortex without subjective reports. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1535. [PMID: 35318323 PMCID: PMC8940963 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28897-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
A major debate about the neural correlates of conscious perception concerns its cortical organization, namely, whether it includes the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which mediates executive functions, or it is constrained within posterior cortices. It has been suggested that PFC activity during paradigms investigating conscious perception is conflated with post-perceptual processes associated with reporting the contents of consciousness or feedforward signals originating from exogenous stimulus manipulations and relayed via posterior cortical areas. We addressed this debate by simultaneously probing neuronal populations in the rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) PFC during a no-report paradigm, capable of instigating internally generated transitions in conscious perception, without changes in visual stimulation. We find that feature-selective prefrontal neurons are modulated concomitantly with subjective perception and perceptual suppression of their preferred stimulus during both externally induced and internally generated changes in conscious perception. Importantly, this enables reliable single-trial, population decoding of conscious contents. Control experiments confirm significant decoding of stimulus contents, even when oculomotor responses, used for inferring perception, are suppressed. These findings suggest that internally generated changes in the contents of conscious visual perception are reliably reflected within the activity of prefrontal populations in the absence of volitional reports or changes in sensory input. The role of the prefrontal cortex in conscious perception is debated because of its involvement in task relevant behaviour, such as subjective perceptual reports. Here, the authors show that prefrontal activity in rhesus macaques correlates with subjective perception and the contents of consciousness can be decoded from prefrontal population activity even without reports.
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Affiliation(s)
- 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), Institute of Neuroscience (ION), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
| | - Abhilash Dwarakanath
- 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
| | - Joachim Werner
- Department of Physiology of Cognitive Processes, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
| | - Michel Besserve
- Department of Physiology of Cognitive Processes, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, 72076, Germany.,Department of Empirical Inference, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Theofanis I Panagiotaropoulos
- Department of Physiology of Cognitive Processes, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, 72076, Germany. .,Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit, CEA, DSV/I2BM, INSERM, Universite Paris-Sud, Universite Paris-Saclay, Neurospin Center, 91191, Gif/Yvette, France.
| | - Nikos K Logothetis
- 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), Institute of Neuroscience (ION), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,Division of Imaging Science and Biomedical Engineering, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
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12
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Chelaru MI, Eagleman S, Andrei AR, Milton R, Kharas N, Dragoi V. High-order interactions explain the collective behavior of cortical populations in executive but not sensory areas. Neuron 2021; 109:3954-3961.e5. [PMID: 34665999 PMCID: PMC8678300 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.09.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
One influential view in neuroscience is that pairwise cell interactions explain the firing patterns of large populations. Despite its prevalence, this view originates from studies in the retina and visual cortex of anesthetized animals. Whether pairwise interactions predict the firing patterns of neurons across multiple brain areas in behaving animals remains unknown. Here, we performed multi-area electrical recordings to find that 2nd-order interactions explain a high fraction of entropy of the population response in macaque cortical areas V1 and V4. Surprisingly, despite the brain-state modulation of neuronal responses, the model based on pairwise interactions captured ∼90% of the spiking activity structure during wakefulness and sleep. However, regardless of brain state, pairwise interactions fail to explain experimentally observed entropy in neural populations from the prefrontal cortex. Thus, while simple pairwise interactions explain the collective behavior of visual cortical networks across brain states, explaining the population dynamics in downstream areas involves higher-order interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mircea I Chelaru
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas, Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Sarah Eagleman
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas, Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, Stanford School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Ariana R Andrei
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas, Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Russell Milton
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas, Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Natasha Kharas
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas, Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Valentin Dragoi
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas, Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77026, USA.
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13
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Jacob G, Katti H, Cherian T, Das J, Zhivago KA, Arun SP. A naturalistic environment to study visual cognition in unrestrained monkeys. eLife 2021; 10:63816. [PMID: 34821553 PMCID: PMC8676323 DOI: 10.7554/elife.63816] [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: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Macaque monkeys are widely used to study vision. In the traditional approach, monkeys are brought into a lab to perform visual tasks while they are restrained to obtain stable eye tracking and neural recordings. Here, we describe a novel environment to study visual cognition in a more natural setting as well as other natural and social behaviors. We designed a naturalistic environment with an integrated touchscreen workstation that enables high-quality eye tracking in unrestrained monkeys. We used this environment to train monkeys on a challenging same-different task. We also show that this environment can reveal interesting novel social behaviors. As proof of concept, we show that two naive monkeys were able to learn this complex task through a combination of socially observing trained monkeys and solo trial-and-error. We propose that such naturalistic environments can be used to rigorously study visual cognition as well as other natural and social behaviors in freely moving monkeys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgin Jacob
- Centre for Neuroscience, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore, Bangalore, India.,Department of Electrical Communication Engineering Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Harish Katti
- Centre for Neuroscience, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore, Bangalore, India
| | - Thomas Cherian
- Centre for Neuroscience, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore, Bangalore, India
| | - Jhilik Das
- Centre for Neuroscience, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore, Bangalore, India
| | - K A Zhivago
- Centre for Neuroscience, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore, Bangalore, India
| | - S P Arun
- Centre for Neuroscience, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore, Bangalore, India
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14
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The application of noninvasive, restraint-free eye-tracking methods for use with nonhuman primates. Behav Res Methods 2021; 53:1003-1030. [PMID: 32935327 DOI: 10.3758/s13428-020-01465-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Over the past 50 years there has been a strong interest in applying eye-tracking techniques to study a myriad of questions related to human and nonhuman primate psychological processes. Eye movements and fixations can provide qualitative and quantitative insights into cognitive processes of nonverbal populations such as nonhuman primates, clarifying the evolutionary, physiological, and representational underpinnings of human cognition. While early attempts at nonhuman primate eye tracking were relatively crude, later, more sophisticated and sensitive techniques required invasive protocols and the use of restraint. In the past decade, technology has advanced to a point where noninvasive eye-tracking techniques, developed for use with human participants, can be applied for use with nonhuman primates in a restraint-free manner. Here we review the corpus of recent studies (N=32) that take such an approach. Despite the growing interest in eye-tracking research, there is still little consensus on "best practices," both in terms of deploying test protocols or reporting methods and results. Therefore, we look to advances made in the field of developmental psychology, as well as our own collective experiences using eye trackers with nonhuman primates, to highlight key elements that researchers should consider when designing noninvasive restraint-free eye-tracking research protocols for use with nonhuman primates. Beyond promoting best practices for research protocols, we also outline an ideal approach for reporting such research and highlight future directions for the field.
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15
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Noel JP, Caziot B, Bruni S, Fitzgerald NE, Avila E, Angelaki DE. Supporting generalization in non-human primate behavior by tapping into structural knowledge: Examples from sensorimotor mappings, inference, and decision-making. Prog Neurobiol 2021; 201:101996. [PMID: 33454361 PMCID: PMC8096669 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2021.101996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The complex behaviors we ultimately wish to understand are far from those currently used in systems neuroscience laboratories. A salient difference are the closed loops between action and perception prominently present in natural but not laboratory behaviors. The framework of reinforcement learning and control naturally wades across action and perception, and thus is poised to inform the neurosciences of tomorrow, not only from a data analyses and modeling framework, but also in guiding experimental design. We argue that this theoretical framework emphasizes active sensing, dynamical planning, and the leveraging of structural regularities as key operations for intelligent behavior within uncertain, time-varying environments. Similarly, we argue that we may study natural task strategies and their neural circuits without over-training animals when the tasks we use tap into our animal's structural knowledge. As proof-of-principle, we teach animals to navigate through a virtual environment - i.e., explore a well-defined and repetitive structure governed by the laws of physics - using a joystick. Once these animals have learned to 'drive', without further training they naturally (i) show zero- or one-shot learning of novel sensorimotor contingencies, (ii) infer the evolving path of dynamically changing latent variables, and (iii) make decisions consistent with maximizing reward rate. Such task designs allow for the study of flexible and generalizable, yet controlled, behaviors. In turn, they allow for the exploitation of pillars of intelligence - flexibility, prediction, and generalization -, properties whose neural underpinning have remained elusive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Paul Noel
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, USA
| | - Baptiste Caziot
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, USA
| | - Stefania Bruni
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, USA
| | | | - Eric Avila
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, USA
| | - Dora E Angelaki
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, USA; Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, New York, USA.
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16
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Testard C, Tremblay S, Platt M. From the field to the lab and back: neuroethology of primate social behavior. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2021; 68:76-83. [PMID: 33567386 PMCID: PMC8243779 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2021.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Social mammals with more numerous and stronger social relationships live longer, healthier lives. Despite the established importance of social relationships, our understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms by which they are pursued, formed, and maintained in primates remains largely confined to highly controlled laboratory settings which do not allow natural, dynamic social interactions to unfold. In this review, we argue that the neurobiological study of primate social behavior would benefit from adopting a neuroethological approach, that is, a perspective grounded in natural, species-typical behavior, with careful selection of animal models according to the scientific question at hand. We highlight macaques and marmosets as key animal models for human social behavior and summarize recent findings in the social domain for both species. We then review pioneering studies of dynamic social behaviors in small animals, which can inspire studies in larger primates where the technological landscape is now ripe for an ethological overhaul.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Testard
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Sébastien Tremblay
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Michael Platt
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Psychology Department, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Marketing Department, The Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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17
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Nigam S, Pojoga S, Dragoi V. A distinct population of heterogeneously color-tuned neurons in macaque visual cortex. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/8/eabc5837. [PMID: 33608266 PMCID: PMC7895441 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abc5837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Color is a key feature of natural environments that higher mammals routinely use to detect food, avoid predators, and interpret social signals. The distribution of color signals in natural scenes is widely variable, ranging from uniform patches to highly nonuniform regions in which different colors lie in close proximity. Whether individual neurons are tuned to this high degree of variability of color signals is unknown. Here, we identified a distinct population of cells in macaque visual cortex (area V4) that have a heterogeneous receptive field (RF) structure in which individual subfields are tuned to different colors even though the full RF is only weakly tuned. This spatial heterogeneity in color tuning indicates a higher degree of complexity of color-encoding mechanisms in visual cortex than previously believed to efficiently extract chromatic information from the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunny Nigam
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Sorin Pojoga
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Valentin Dragoi
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
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18
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Griggs DJ, Bloch J, Chavan S, Coubrough KM, Conley W, Morrisroe K, Yazdan-Shahmorad A. Autonomous cage-side system for remote training of non-human primates. J Neurosci Methods 2021; 348:108969. [PMID: 33039414 PMCID: PMC8384435 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.108969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Training non-human primates (NHPs) for translational medical experimentation is an essential yet time consuming process. To increase training efficiency, some training systems have been designed for NHPs to use at their home cages. Several autonomous cage-side tablet-based systems have been proposed, but none of these systems allow for remote monitoring and task modification while also being wireless, low-cost, light weight, and portable. NEW METHOD Here we present ACTS: an Autonomous Cage-side Training System which meets all these criteria. ACTS consists of 1) a touchscreen tablet and a speaker attached to the subject's home cage, 2) an inexpensive reward system made from a slightly modified fish feeder, and 3), a laptop operating the system wirelessly and remotely via a router. RESULTS We were able to test the system and wirelessly train two macaques in their home cages. Remote access enabled us to control ACTS from up to 90 m, through up to 3 walls, and through a floor of a building. The device is compatible with different reward pellet sizes and could run about two hours with a ∼4 mm pellet size. The animals were able to generalize the task when transferred to a traditional experimental rig. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS The low cost and modest skill required to build and implement ACTS lowers the barrier for NHP researchers and caregivers to deploy autonomous, remotely controlled tablet-based cage-side systems. CONCLUSION ACTS can be used for low-cost, wireless cage-side training of NHPs being prepared for translational medical experimentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devon J Griggs
- Dept. Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Washington National Primate Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Julien Bloch
- Washington National Primate Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States; Dept. of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Shivalika Chavan
- Dept. of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Kali M Coubrough
- Dept. of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - William Conley
- South Kitsap High School, Port Orchard, WA, United States
| | - Kelly Morrisroe
- Washington National Primate Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Azadeh Yazdan-Shahmorad
- Dept. Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Washington National Primate Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States; Dept. of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.
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19
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Cowley BR, Snyder AC, Acar K, Williamson RC, Yu BM, Smith MA. Slow Drift of Neural Activity as a Signature of Impulsivity in Macaque Visual and Prefrontal Cortex. Neuron 2020; 108:551-567.e8. [PMID: 32810433 PMCID: PMC7822647 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
An animal's decision depends not only on incoming sensory evidence but also on its fluctuating internal state. This state embodies multiple cognitive factors, such as arousal and fatigue, but it is unclear how these factors influence the neural processes that encode sensory stimuli and form a decision. We discovered that, unprompted by task conditions, animals slowly shifted their likelihood of detecting stimulus changes over the timescale of tens of minutes. Neural population activity from visual area V4, as well as from prefrontal cortex, slowly drifted together with these behavioral fluctuations. We found that this slow drift, rather than altering the encoding of the sensory stimulus, acted as an impulsivity signal, overriding sensory evidence to dictate the final decision. Overall, this work uncovers an internal state embedded in population activity across multiple brain areas and sheds further light on how internal states contribute to the decision-making process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin R Cowley
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Machine Learning, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Adam C Snyder
- Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Katerina Acar
- Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Ryan C Williamson
- Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Machine Learning, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Byron M Yu
- Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Matthew A Smith
- Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
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