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Ehret B, Boehringer R, Amadei EA, Cervera MR, Henning C, Galgali AR, Mante V, Grewe BF. Population-level coding of avoidance learning in medial prefrontal cortex. Nat Neurosci 2024; 27:1805-1815. [PMID: 39075325 PMCID: PMC11374698 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01704-5] [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: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) has been proposed to link sensory inputs and behavioral outputs to mediate the execution of learned behaviors. However, how such a link is implemented has remained unclear. To measure prefrontal neural correlates of sensory stimuli and learned behaviors, we performed population calcium imaging during a new tone-signaled active avoidance paradigm in mice. We developed an analysis approach based on dimensionality reduction and decoding that allowed us to identify interpretable task-related population activity patterns. While a large fraction of tone-evoked activity was not informative about behavior execution, we identified an activity pattern that was predictive of tone-induced avoidance actions and did not occur for spontaneous actions with similar motion kinematics. Moreover, this avoidance-specific activity differed between distinct avoidance actions learned in two consecutive tasks. Overall, our results are consistent with a model in which mPFC contributes to the selection of goal-directed actions by transforming sensory inputs into specific behavioral outputs through distributed population-level computations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Ehret
- Institute of Neuroinformatics, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Roman Boehringer
- Institute of Neuroinformatics, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Elizabeth A Amadei
- Institute of Neuroinformatics, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Maria R Cervera
- Institute of Neuroinformatics, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Henning
- Institute of Neuroinformatics, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Aniruddh R Galgali
- Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | - Valerio Mante
- Institute of Neuroinformatics, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin F Grewe
- Institute of Neuroinformatics, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- ETH AI Center, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- University Research Priority Program (URPP) Adaptive Brain Circuits in Development and Learning (AdaBD), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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2
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Huang SM, Cho KH, Chang K, Huang PH, Kuo LW. Altered thalamocortical tract trajectory growth with undisrupted thalamic parcellation pattern in human lissencephaly brain at mid-gestational stage. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 199:106577. [PMID: 38914171 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106577] [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: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Proper topographically organized neural connections between the thalamus and the cerebral cortex are mandatory for thalamus function. Thalamocortical (TC) fiber growth begins during the embryonic period and completes by the third trimester of gestation, so that human neonates at birth have a thalamus with a near-facsimile of adult functional parcellation. Whether congenital neocortical anomaly (e.g., lissencephaly) affects TC connection in humans is unknown. Here, via diffusion MRI fiber-tractography analysis of long-term formalin-fixed postmortem fetal brain diagnosed as lissencephaly in comparison with an age-matched normal one, we found similar topological patterns of thalamic subregions and of internal capsule parcellated by TC fibers. However, lissencephaly fetal brain showed white matter structural changes, including fewer/less organized TC fibers and optic radiations, and much less cortical plate invasion by TC fibers - particularly around the shallow central sulcus. Diffusion MRI fiber tractography of normal fetal brains at 15, 23, and 26 gestational weeks (GW) revealed dynamic volumetric change of each parcellated thalamic subregion, suggesting coupled developmental progress of the thalamus with the corresponding cortex. Moreover, from GW23 and GW26 normal fetal brains, TC endings in the cortical plate could be delineated to reflect cumulative progressive TC invasion of cortical plate. By contrast, lissencephaly brain showed a dramatic decrease in TC invasion of the cortical plate. Our study thus shows the feasibility of diffusion MRI fiber tractography in postmortem long-term formalin-fixed fetal brains to disclose the developmental progress of TC tracts coordinating with thalamic and neocortical growth both in normal and lissencephaly fetal brains at mid-gestational stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng-Min Huang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Nanomedicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County 350, Taiwan
| | - Kuan-Hung Cho
- Department of Electronic Engineering, National United University, Miaoli 360, Taiwan
| | - Koping Chang
- Department of Pathology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Pathology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Hsin Huang
- Department of Pathology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Pathology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan.
| | - Li-Wei Kuo
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Nanomedicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County 350, Taiwan; Institute of Medical Device and Imaging, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan.
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3
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Gengeç Benli Ş, İçer S, Demirci E, Karaman ZF, Ak Z, Acer İ, Sağır GR, Aker E, Sertkaya B. Data-driven exploratory method investigation on the effect of dyslexia education at brain connectivity in Turkish children: a preliminary study. Brain Struct Funct 2024; 229:1697-1712. [PMID: 39003410 PMCID: PMC11374831 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-024-02820-5] [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: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin and is characterized by reading and/or spelling problems affecting the development of language-related skills. The aim of this study is to reveal functional markers based on dyslexia by examining the functions of brain regions in resting state and reading tasks and to analyze the effects of special education given during the treatment process of dyslexia. A total of 43 children, aged between 7 and 12, whose native language was Turkish, participated in the study in three groups including those diagnosed with dyslexia for the first time, those receiving special education for dyslexia, and healthy children. Independent component analysis method was employed to analyze functional connectivity variations among three groups both at rest and during the continuous reading task. A whole-brain scanning during task fulfillment and resting states revealed that there were significant differences in the regions including lateral visual, default mode, left frontoparietal, ventral attention, orbitofrontal and lateral motor network. Our results revealed the necessity of adding motor coordination exercises to the training of dyslexic participants and showed that training led to functional connectivity in some brain regions similar to the healthy group. Additionally, our findings confirmed that impulsivity is associated with motor coordination and visuality, and that the dyslexic group has weaknesses in brain connectivity related to these conditions. According to our preliminary results, the differences obtained between children with dyslexia, group of dyslexia with special education and healthy children has revealed the effect of education on brain functions as well as enabling a comprehensive examination of dyslexia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Şerife Gengeç Benli
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
| | - Semra İçer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Esra Demirci
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Zehra Filiz Karaman
- Department of Pediatric Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Zeynep Ak
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - İrem Acer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Gizem Rüveyda Sağır
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Ebru Aker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Büşra Sertkaya
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
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4
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Wang X, Fu S, Yoo K, Wang X, Gan L, Zou T, Gao Q, Han H, Yang Z, Hu X, Chen H, Liu D, Li R. Individualized Structural Perturbations on Normative Brain Connectome Restrict Deep Brain Stimulation Outcomes in Parkinson's Disease. Mov Disord 2024; 39:1352-1363. [PMID: 38894532 DOI: 10.1002/mds.29874] [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: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) respond to deep brain stimulation (DBS) variably. However, how brain substrates restrict DBS outcomes remains unclear. OBJECTIVE In this article, we aim to identify prognostic brain signatures for explaining the response variability. METHODS We retrospectively investigated a cohort of patients with PD (n = 141) between 2017 and 2022, and defined DBS outcomes as the improvement ratio of clinical motor scores. We used a deviation index to quantify individual perturbations on a reference structural covariance network acquired with preoperative T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. The neurobiological perturbations of patients were represented as z scored indices based on the chronological perturbations measured on a group of normal aging adults. RESULTS After applying stringent statistical tests (z > 2.5) and correcting for false discoveries (P < 0.01), we found that accelerated deviations mainly affected the prefrontal cortex, motor strip, limbic system, and cerebellum in PD. Particularly, a negative network within the accelerated deviations, expressed as "more preoperative deviations, less postoperative improvements," could predict DBS outcomes (mean absolute error = 0.09, R2 = 0.15). Moreover, a fusion of personal brain predictors and medical responses significantly improved traditional evaluations of DBS outcomes. Notably, the most important brain predictor, a pathway connecting the cognitive unit (prefrontal cortex) and motor control unit (cerebellum and motor strip), partially mediates DBS outcomes with the age at surgery. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that individual structural perturbations on the cognitive motor control circuit are critical for modulating DBS outcomes. Interventions toward the circuit have the potential for additional clinical improvements. © 2024 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuyang Wang
- Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
- MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Shiyu Fu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Kwangsun Yoo
- Department of Digital Health, Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Data Science Research Institute, Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Xiaoyue Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Lin Gan
- Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
- MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Ting Zou
- Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
- MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Qing Gao
- School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Honghao Han
- Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
- MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenzhe Yang
- Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
- MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaofei Hu
- Department of Radiology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Huafu Chen
- Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
- MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Dingyang Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Rong Li
- Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
- MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
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5
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Chen W, Liang J, Wu Q, Han Y. Anterior cingulate cortex provides the neural substrates for feedback-driven iteration of decision and value representation. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6020. [PMID: 39019943 PMCID: PMC11255269 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50388-9] [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: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Adjusting decision-making under uncertain and dynamic situations is the hallmark of intelligence. It requires a system capable of converting feedback information to renew the internal value. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) involves in error and reward events that prompt switching or maintenance of current decision strategies. However, it is unclear whether and how the changes of stimulus-action mapping during behavioral adaptation are encoded, nor how such computation drives decision adaptation. Here, we tracked ACC activity in male mice performing go/no-go auditory discrimination tasks with manipulated stimulus-reward contingencies. Individual ACC neurons integrate the outcome information to the value representation in the next-run trials. Dynamic recruitment of them determines the learning rate of error-guided value iteration and decision adaptation, forming a non-linear feedback-driven updating system to secure the appropriate decision switch. Optogenetically suppressing ACC significantly slowed down feedback-driven decision switching without interfering with the execution of the established strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqi Chen
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Jiejunyi Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Qiyun Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Yunyun Han
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
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6
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Xia R, Chen X, Engel TA, Moore T. Common and distinct neural mechanisms of attention. Trends Cogn Sci 2024; 28:554-567. [PMID: 38388258 PMCID: PMC11153008 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2024.01.005] [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: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Despite a constant deluge of sensory stimulation, only a fraction of it is used to guide behavior. This selective processing is generally referred to as attention, and much research has focused on the neural mechanisms controlling it. Recently, research has broadened to include more ways by which different species selectively process sensory information, whether due to the sensory input itself or to different behavioral and brain states. This work has produced a complex and disjointed body of evidence across different species and forms of attention. However, it has also provided opportunities to better understand the breadth of attentional mechanisms. Here, we summarize the evidence that suggests that different forms of selective processing are supported by mechanisms both common and distinct.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruobing Xia
- Department of Neurobiology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Xiaomo Chen
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Tatiana A Engel
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Tirin Moore
- Department of Neurobiology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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7
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Liu Y, Zhang J, Jiang Z, Qin M, Xu M, Zhang S, Ma G. Organization of corticocortical and thalamocortical top-down inputs in the primary visual cortex. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4495. [PMID: 38802410 PMCID: PMC11130321 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48924-8] [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: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Unified visual perception requires integration of bottom-up and top-down inputs in the primary visual cortex (V1), yet the organization of top-down inputs in V1 remains unclear. Here, we used optogenetics-assisted circuit mapping to identify how multiple top-down inputs from higher-order cortical and thalamic areas engage V1 excitatory and inhibitory neurons. Top-down inputs overlap in superficial layers yet segregate in deep layers. Inputs from the medial secondary visual cortex (V2M) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACA) converge on L6 Pyrs, whereas ventrolateral orbitofrontal cortex (ORBvl) and lateral posterior thalamic nucleus (LP) inputs are processed in parallel in Pyr-type-specific subnetworks (Pyr←ORBvl and Pyr←LP) and drive mutual inhibition between them via local interneurons. Our study deepens understanding of the top-down modulation mechanisms of visual processing and establishes that V2M and ACA inputs in L6 employ integrated processing distinct from the parallel processing of LP and ORBvl inputs in L5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanmei Liu
- Songjiang Hospital and Songjiang Research Institute, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Emotions and Affective Disorders, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201600, China
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Jiahe Zhang
- Songjiang Hospital and Songjiang Research Institute, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Emotions and Affective Disorders, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201600, China
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Zhishan Jiang
- Songjiang Hospital and Songjiang Research Institute, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Emotions and Affective Disorders, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201600, China
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Meiling Qin
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Min Xu
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Siyu Zhang
- Songjiang Hospital and Songjiang Research Institute, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Emotions and Affective Disorders, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201600, China.
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
| | - Guofen Ma
- Songjiang Hospital and Songjiang Research Institute, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Emotions and Affective Disorders, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201600, China.
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
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8
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Chintalacheruvu N, Kalelkar A, Boutin J, Breton-Provencher V, Huda R. A cortical locus for modulation of arousal states. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.24.595859. [PMID: 38826269 PMCID: PMC11142248 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.24.595859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Fluctuations in global arousal are key determinants of spontaneous cortical activity and function. Several subcortical structures, including neuromodulator nuclei like the locus coeruleus (LC), are involved in the regulation of arousal. However, much less is known about the role of cortical circuits that provide top-down inputs to arousal-related subcortical structures. Here, we investigated the role of a major subdivision of the prefrontal cortex, the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), in arousal modulation. Pupil size, facial movements, heart rate, and locomotion were used as non-invasive measures of arousal and behavioral state. We designed a closed loop optogenetic system based on machine vision and found that real time inhibition of ACC activity during pupil dilations suppresses ongoing arousal events. In contrast, inhibiting activity in a control cortical region had no effect on arousal. Fiber photometry recordings showed that ACC activity scales with the magnitude of spontaneously occurring pupil dilations/face movements independently of locomotion. Moreover, optogenetic ACC activation increases arousal independently of locomotion. In addition to modulating global arousal, ACC responses to salient sensory stimuli scaled with the size of evoked pupil dilations. Consistent with a role in sustaining saliency-linked arousal events, pupil responses to sensory stimuli were suppressed with ACC inactivation. Finally, our results comparing arousal-related ACC and norepinephrinergic LC neuron activity support a role for the LC in initiation of arousal events which are modulated in real time by the ACC. Collectively, our experiments identify the ACC as a key cortical site for sustaining momentary increases in arousal and provide the foundation for understanding cortical-subcortical dynamics underlying the modulation of arousal states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nithik Chintalacheruvu
- WM Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University – New Brunswick, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Anagha Kalelkar
- WM Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University – New Brunswick, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Jöel Boutin
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CERVO Brain Research Center, Universite Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Vincent Breton-Provencher
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CERVO Brain Research Center, Universite Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Rafiq Huda
- WM Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University – New Brunswick, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
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9
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Yonk AJ, Linares-García I, Pasternak L, Juliani SE, Gradwell MA, George AJ, Margolis DJ. Role of Posterior Medial Thalamus in the Modulation of Striatal Circuitry and Choice Behavior. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.21.586152. [PMID: 38585753 PMCID: PMC10996534 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.21.586152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
The posterior medial (POm) thalamus is heavily interconnected with sensory and motor circuitry and is likely involved in behavioral modulation and sensorimotor integration. POm provides axonal projections to the dorsal striatum, a hotspot of sensorimotor processing, yet the role of POm-striatal projections has remained undetermined. Using optogenetics with slice electrophysiology, we found that POm provides robust synaptic input to direct and indirect pathway striatal spiny projection neurons (D1- and D2-SPNs, respectively) and parvalbumin-expressing fast spiking interneurons (PVs). During the performance of a whisker-based tactile discrimination task, POm-striatal projections displayed learning-related activation correlating with anticipatory, but not reward-related, pupil dilation. Inhibition of POm-striatal axons across learning caused slower reaction times and an increase in the number of training sessions for expert performance. Our data indicate that POm-striatal inputs provide a behaviorally relevant arousal-related signal, which may prime striatal circuitry for efficient integration of subsequent choice-related inputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex J. Yonk
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Ivan Linares-García
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Logan Pasternak
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Sofia E. Juliani
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Mark A. Gradwell
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Arlene J. George
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - David J. Margolis
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
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10
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Kalelkar A, Sipe G, Castro E Costa AR, Lorenzo IM, Nguyen M, Linares-Garcia I, Vazey E, Huda R. A paradigm for ethanol consumption in head-fixed mice during prefrontal cortical two-photon calcium imaging. Neuropharmacology 2024; 245:109800. [PMID: 38056524 PMCID: PMC11292593 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109800] [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: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is a hub for cognitive behaviors and is a key target for neuroadaptations in alcohol use disorders. Recent advances in genetically encoded sensors and functional microscopy allow multimodal in vivo PFC activity recordings at subcellular and cellular scales. While these methods could enable a deeper understanding of the relationship between alcohol and PFC function/dysfunction, they typically require animals to be head-fixed. Here, we present a method in mice for binge-like ethanol consumption during head-fixation. Male and female mice were first acclimated to ethanol by providing home cage access to 20% ethanol (v/v) for 4 or 8 days. After home cage drinking, mice consumed ethanol from a lick spout during head-fixation. We used two-photon calcium imaging during the head-fixed drinking paradigm to record from a large population of PFC neurons (>1000) to explore how acute ethanol affects their activity. Drinking exerted temporally heterogeneous effects on PFC activity at single neuron and population levels. Intoxication modulated the tonic activity of some neurons while others showed phasic responses around ethanol receipt. Population level activity did not show tonic or phasic modulation but tracked ethanol consumption over the minute-timescale. Network level interactions assessed through between-neuron pairwise correlations were largely resilient to intoxication at the population level while neurons with increased tonic activity showed higher synchrony by the end of the drinking period. By establishing a method for binge-like drinking in head-fixed mice, we lay the groundwork for leveraging advanced microscopy technologies to study alcohol-induced neuroadaptations in PFC and other brain circuits. This article is part of the Special Issue on "PFC circuit function in psychiatric disease and relevant models".
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Affiliation(s)
- Anagha Kalelkar
- WM Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University - New Brunswick, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08904, USA
| | - Grayson Sipe
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 43 Vassar Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Ana Raquel Castro E Costa
- WM Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University - New Brunswick, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08904, USA
| | - Ilka M Lorenzo
- WM Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University - New Brunswick, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08904, USA
| | - My Nguyen
- WM Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University - New Brunswick, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08904, USA
| | - Ivan Linares-Garcia
- WM Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University - New Brunswick, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08904, USA
| | - Elena Vazey
- Department of Biology, The University of Massachusetts Amherst, 611 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Rafiq Huda
- WM Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University - New Brunswick, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08904, USA.
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11
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Timme NM, Ardinger CE, Weir SDC, Zelaya-Escobar R, Kruger R, Lapish CC. Non-consummatory behavior signals predict aversion-resistant alcohol drinking in head-fixed mice. Neuropharmacology 2024; 242:109762. [PMID: 37871677 PMCID: PMC10872650 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109762] [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: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
A key facet of alcohol use disorder is continuing to drink alcohol despite negative consequences (so called "aversion-resistant drinking"). In this study, we sought to assess the degree to which head-fixed mice exhibit aversion-resistant drinking and to leverage behavioral analysis techniques available in head-fixture to relate non-consummatory behaviors to aversion-resistant drinking. We assessed aversion-resistant drinking in head-fixed female and male C57BL/6 J mice. We adulterated 20% (v/v) alcohol with varying concentrations of the bitter tastant quinine to measure the degree to which mice would continue to drink despite this aversive stimulus. We recorded high-resolution video of the mice during head-fixed drinking, tracked body parts with machine vision tools, and analyzed body movements in relation to consumption. Female and male head-fixed mice exhibited heterogenous levels of aversion-resistant drinking. Additionally, non-consummatory behaviors, such as paw movement and snout movement, were related to the intensity of aversion-resistant drinking. These studies demonstrate that head-fixed mice exhibit aversion-resistant drinking and that non-consummatory behaviors can be used to assess perceived aversiveness in this paradigm. Furthermore, these studies lay the groundwork for future experiments that will utilize advanced electrophysiological techniques to record from large populations of neurons during aversion-resistant drinking to understand the neurocomputational processes that drive this clinically relevant behavior. This article is part of the Special Issue on "PFC circuit function in psychiatric disease and relevant models".
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas M Timme
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, 402 N. Blackford St, LD 124, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
| | - Cherish E Ardinger
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, 402 N. Blackford St, LD 124, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Seth D C Weir
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, 402 N. Blackford St, LD 124, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Rachel Zelaya-Escobar
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, 402 N. Blackford St, LD 124, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Rachel Kruger
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, 402 N. Blackford St, LD 124, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Christopher C Lapish
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology, and Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635 Barnhill Drive, MSB 5035, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA; Stark Neuroscience Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, 320 W. 15th St, NB 414, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
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12
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Do J, Jung MW, Lee D. Automating licking bias correction in a two-choice delayed match-to-sample task to accelerate learning. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22768. [PMID: 38123637 PMCID: PMC10733387 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49862-z] [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: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Animals often display choice bias, or a preference for one option over the others, which can significantly impede learning new tasks. Delayed match-to-sample (DMS) tasks with two-alternative choices of lickports on the left and right have been widely used to study sensory processing, working memory, and associative memory in head-fixed animals. However, extensive training time, primarily due to the animals' biased licking responses, limits their practical utility. Here, we present the implementation of an automated side bias correction system in an olfactory DMS task, where the lickport positions and the ratio of left- and right-rewarded trials are dynamically adjusted to counterbalance mouse's biased licking responses during training. The correction algorithm moves the preferred lickport farther away from the mouse's mouth and the non-preferred lickport closer, while also increasing the proportion of non-preferred side trials when biased licking occurs. We found that adjusting lickport distances and the proportions of left- versus right-rewarded trials effectively reduces the mouse's side bias. Further analyses reveal that these adjustments also correlate with subsequent improvements in behavioral performance. Our findings suggest that the automated side bias correction system is a valuable tool for enhancing the applicability of behavioral tasks involving two-alternative lickport choices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jongrok Do
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, 34126, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Whan Jung
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
- Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
| | - Doyun Lee
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, 34126, Republic of Korea.
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13
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Braine A, Georges F. Emotion in action: When emotions meet motor circuits. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 155:105475. [PMID: 37996047 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105475] [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: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
The brain is a remarkably complex organ responsible for a wide range of functions, including the modulation of emotional states and movement. Neuronal circuits are believed to play a crucial role in integrating sensory, cognitive, and emotional information to ultimately guide motor behavior. Over the years, numerous studies employing diverse techniques such as electrophysiology, imaging, and optogenetics have revealed a complex network of neural circuits involved in the regulation of emotional or motor processes. Emotions can exert a substantial influence on motor performance, encompassing both everyday activities and pathological conditions. The aim of this review is to explore how emotional states can shape movements by connecting the neural circuits for emotional processing to motor neural circuits. We first provide a comprehensive overview of the impact of different emotional states on motor control in humans and rodents. In line with behavioral studies, we set out to identify emotion-related structures capable of modulating motor output, behaviorally and anatomically. Neuronal circuits involved in emotional processing are extensively connected to the motor system. These circuits can drive emotional behavior, essential for survival, but can also continuously shape ongoing movement. In summary, the investigation of the intricate relationship between emotion and movement offers valuable insights into human behavior, including opportunities to enhance performance, and holds promise for improving mental and physical health. This review integrates findings from multiple scientific approaches, including anatomical tracing, circuit-based dissection, and behavioral studies, conducted in both animal and human subjects. By incorporating these different methodologies, we aim to present a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of the emotional modulation of movement in both physiological and pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaelle Braine
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, IMN, UMR 5293, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
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14
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Wu K, Wang D, Wang Y, Tang P, Li X, Pan Y, Tao HW, Zhang LI, Liang F. Distinct circuits in anterior cingulate cortex encode safety assessment and mediate flexibility of fear reactions. Neuron 2023; 111:3650-3667.e6. [PMID: 37652003 PMCID: PMC10990237 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Safety assessment and threat evaluation are crucial for animals to live and survive in the wilderness. However, neural circuits underlying safety assessment and their transformation to mediate flexibility of fear-induced defensive behaviors remain largely unknown. Here, we report that distinct neuronal populations in mouse anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) encode safety status by selectively responding under different contexts of auditory threats, with one preferably activated when an animal staysing in a self-deemed safe zone and another specifically activated in more dangerous environmental settings that led to escape behavior. The safety-responding neurons preferentially target the zona incerta (ZI), which suppresses the superior colliculus (SC) via its GABAergic projection, while the danger-responding neurons preferentially target and excite SC. These distinct corticofugal pathways antagonistically modulate SC responses to threat, resulting in context-dependent expression of fear reactions. Thus, ACC serves as a critical node to encode safety/danger assessment and mediate behavioral flexibility through differential top-down circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaibin Wu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Department of Anaesthesiology, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510220, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Dijia Wang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Department of Anaesthesiology, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510220, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yuwei Wang
- Department of Psychology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Peiwen Tang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Department of Anaesthesiology, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510220, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Xuan Li
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yidi Pan
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Huizhong W Tao
- Center for Neural Circuits & Sensory Processing Disorders, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; Department of Physiology & Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Li I Zhang
- Center for Neural Circuits & Sensory Processing Disorders, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; Department of Physiology & Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Feixue Liang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Department of Anaesthesiology, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510220, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Department of Psychology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
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15
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Thomas A, Yang W, Wang C, Tipparaju SL, Chen G, Sullivan B, Swiekatowski K, Tatam M, Gerfen C, Li N. Superior colliculus bidirectionally modulates choice activity in frontal cortex. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7358. [PMID: 37963894 PMCID: PMC10645979 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43252-9] [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: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Action selection occurs through competition between potential choice options. Neural correlates of choice competition are observed across frontal cortex and downstream superior colliculus (SC) during decision-making, yet how these regions interact to mediate choice competition remains unresolved. Here we report that SC can bidirectionally modulate choice competition and drive choice activity in frontal cortex. In the mouse, topographically matched regions of frontal cortex and SC formed a descending motor pathway for directional licking and a re-entrant loop via the thalamus. During decision-making, distinct neuronal populations in both frontal cortex and SC encoded opposing lick directions and exhibited competitive interactions. SC GABAergic neurons encoded ipsilateral choice and locally inhibited glutamatergic neurons that encoded contralateral choice. Activating or suppressing these cell types could bidirectionally drive choice activity in frontal cortex. These results thus identify SC as a major locus to modulate choice competition within the broader action selection network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyse Thomas
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Weiguo Yang
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Catherine Wang
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Guang Chen
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Brennan Sullivan
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kylie Swiekatowski
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mahima Tatam
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Charles Gerfen
- Section on Neuroanatomy, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Nuo Li
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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16
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Kim SY, Lee KH, Lee HY, Jeon JE, Park CW, Shin J, Seo MC, Jeon S, Kim SJ, Lee YJ. Circadian misalignment alters resting-state functional connectivity of the salience network in rotating shift workers. Sleep 2023; 46:zsad237. [PMID: 37682120 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsad237] [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: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES This study compared resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) of the salience network (SN) between rotating shift workers (RSWs) and controls. Furthermore, we examined whether rsFC of the SN was correlated with sleep, emotion, cognition, and attention. METHODS The 60 RSWs and 57 controls enrolled in this study completed self-report questionnaires and sleep diaries to assess subjective sleep quality, and polysomnography and actigraphy to evaluate objective sleep and 24-hour rest-activity rhythm parameters. The participants also underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and structural T1 scans. We performed a seed-based rsFC analysis of the SN using the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and anterior insula (AI) as seed regions. Furthermore, AI and ACC rsFC were compared in RSWs and controls, and we analyzed correlations between rsFC and variables of interest showing significant group differences. RESULTS Compared with controls, RSWs showed reduced rsFC between the ACC and right insula, and increased rsFC of the ACC with the left occipital lobe and right superior frontal gyrus extending to the supplementary motor area (SFG/SMA). Moreover, RSWs showed reduced rsFC between the right AI and right superior parietal lobule (SPL). Finally, rsFC between the ACC and right AI was correlated with 24-hour rest-activity rhythmicity. CONCLUSIONS Although RSWs did not show sleep disturbance, emotional distress, cognitive impairment, or attention deficits, alterations of right insula, left occipital lobe, right SFG/SMA, and right SPL rsFC in the SN indicate that impairments in salience detection and top-down attentional control may emerge in shift workers over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sun-Young Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Hwa Lee
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Psychiatry and Center for Sleep and Chronobiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ha Young Lee
- Department of Psychiatry and Center for Sleep and Chronobiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Eun Jeon
- Department of Psychiatry and Center for Sleep and Chronobiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Cho Won Park
- Department of Psychiatry and Center for Sleep and Chronobiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiyoon Shin
- Department of Psychiatry and Center for Sleep and Chronobiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Cheol Seo
- Department of Psychiatry, Veteran Health Service Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sehyun Jeon
- Department of Psychiatry, Sungkyunkwan University College of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seog Ju Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Sungkyunkwan University College of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yu Jin Lee
- Department of Psychiatry and Center for Sleep and Chronobiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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17
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Timme NM, Ardinger CE, Weir SDC, Zelaya-Escobar R, Kruger R, Lapish CC. Non-Consummatory Behavior Signals Predict Aversion-Resistant Alcohol Drinking in Head-Fixed Mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.20.545767. [PMID: 37873153 PMCID: PMC10592797 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.20.545767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
A key facet of alcohol use disorder is continuing to drink alcohol despite negative consequences (so called "aversion-resistant drinking"). In this study, we sought to assess the degree to which head-fixed mice exhibit aversion-resistant drinking and to leverage behavioral analysis techniques available in head-fixture to relate non-consummatory behaviors to aversion-resistant drinking. We assessed aversion-resistant drinking in head-fixed female and male C57BL/6J mice. We adulterated 20% (v/v) alcohol with varying concentrations of the bitter tastant quinine to measure the degree to which mice would continue to drink despite this aversive stimulus. We recorded high-resolution video of the mice during head-fixed drinking, tracked body parts with machine vision tools, and analyzed body movements in relation to consumption. Female and male head-fixed mice exhibited heterogenous levels of aversion-resistant drinking. Additionally, non-consummatory behaviors, such as paw movement and snout movement, were related to the intensity of aversion-resistant drinking. These studies demonstrate that head-fixed mice exhibit aversion-resistant drinking and that non-consummatory behaviors can be used to assess perceived aversiveness in this paradigm. Furthermore, these studies lay the groundwork for future experiments that will utilize advanced electrophysiological techniques to record from large populations of neurons during aversion-resistant drinking to understand the neurocomputational processes that drive this clinically relevant behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas M. Timme
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis, 402 N. Blackford St, LD 124, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Cherish E. Ardinger
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis, 402 N. Blackford St, LD 124, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Seth D. C. Weir
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis, 402 N. Blackford St, LD 124, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Rachel Zelaya-Escobar
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis, 402 N. Blackford St, LD 124, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Rachel Kruger
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis, 402 N. Blackford St, LD 124, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Christopher C. Lapish
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology, and Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635 Barnhill Drive, MSB 5035, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
- Stark Neuroscience Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, 320 W. 15 St, NB 414, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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18
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Zheng QM, Zhou ZR, Hou XY, Lv N, Zhang YQ, Cao H. Transcriptome Analysis of the Mouse Medial Prefrontal Cortex in a Chronic Constriction Injury Model. Neuromolecular Med 2023; 25:375-387. [PMID: 36971954 DOI: 10.1007/s12017-023-08742-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is critical for both the sensory and emotional/cognitive components of pain. However, the underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. Here, we examined changes in the transcriptomic profiles in the mPFC of mice with chronic pain using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technology. A mouse model of peripheral neuropathic pain was established via chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve. CCI mice developed sustained mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia, as well as cognitive impairment four weeks after surgery. RNA-seq was conducted 4 weeks after CCI surgery. Compared with contral group, RNA-seq identified a total 309 and 222 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the ipsilateral and contralateral mPFC of CCI model mice, respectively. GO analysis indicated that the functions of these genes were mainly enriched in immune- and inflammation-related processes such as interferon-gamma production and cytokine secretion. KEGG analysis further showed the enrichment of genes involved in the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction signaling pathway and Parkinson disease pathway that have been reported to be importantly involved in chronic neuralgia and cognitive dysfunction. Our study may provide insights into the possible mechanisms underlying neuropathic pain and pain-related comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi-Min Zheng
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Jing'an District Centre Hospital of Shanghai, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Zi-Rui Zhou
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Jing'an District Centre Hospital of Shanghai, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xin-Yu Hou
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Jing'an District Centre Hospital of Shanghai, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Ning Lv
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Jing'an District Centre Hospital of Shanghai, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yu-Qiu Zhang
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Jing'an District Centre Hospital of Shanghai, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Hong Cao
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Jing'an District Centre Hospital of Shanghai, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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19
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Pang X, Xu Y, Xie S, Zhang T, Cong L, Qi Y, Liu L, Li Q, Mo M, Wang G, Du X, Shen H, Li Y. Gallic Acid Ameliorates Cognitive Impairment Caused by Sleep Deprivation through Antioxidant Effect. Exp Neurobiol 2023; 32:285-301. [PMID: 37749929 PMCID: PMC10569142 DOI: 10.5607/en23015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Sleep deprivation (SD) has a profound impact on the central nervous system, resulting in an array of mood disorders, including depression and anxiety. Despite this, the dynamic alterations in neuronal activity during sleep deprivation have not been extensively investigated. While some researchers propose that sleep deprivation diminishes neuronal activity, thereby leading to depression. Others argue that short-term sleep deprivation enhances neuronal activity and dendritic spine density, potentially yielding antidepressant effects. In this study, a two-photon microscope was utilized to examine the calcium transients of anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) neurons in awake SD mice in vivo at 24-hour intervals. It was observed that SD reduced the frequency and amplitude of Ca2+ transients while increasing the proportions of inactive neurons. Following the cessation of sleep deprivation, neuronal calcium transients demonstrated a gradual recovery. Moreover, whole-cell patch-clamp recordings revealed a significant decrease in the frequency of spontaneous excitatory post-synaptic current (sEPSC) after SD. The investigation also assessed several oxidative stress parameters, finding that sleep deprivation substantially elevated the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), while simultaneously decreasing the expression of Nuclear Factor erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 (Nrf2) and activities of Superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the ACC. Importantly, the administration of gallic acid (GA) notably mitigated the decline of calcium transients in ACC neurons. GA was also shown to alleviate oxidative stress in the brain and improve cognitive impairment caused by sleep deprivation. These findings indicate that the calcium transients of ACC neurons experience a continuous decline during sleep deprivation, a process that is reversible. GA may serve as a potential candidate agent for the prevention and treatment of cognitive impairment induced by sleep deprivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaogang Pang
- Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, China
- Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, China
| | - Yifan Xu
- Department of Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, China
| | - Shuoxin Xie
- Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, China
| | - Tianshu Zhang
- Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, China
| | - Lin Cong
- Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, China
| | - Yuchen Qi
- School of Health, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, China
| | - Lubing Liu
- Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, China
| | - Qingjun Li
- Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, China
| | - Mei Mo
- Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, China
| | - Guimei Wang
- Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, China
| | - Xiuwei Du
- Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, China
| | - Hui Shen
- Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, China
- Department of Cellular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, China
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20
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Wang Y, Chen Z, Ma G, Wang L, Liu Y, Qin M, Fei X, Wu Y, Xu M, Zhang S. A frontal transcallosal inhibition loop mediates interhemispheric balance in visuospatial processing. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5213. [PMID: 37626171 PMCID: PMC10457336 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40985-5] [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: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Interhemispheric communication through the corpus callosum is required for both sensory and cognitive processes. Impaired transcallosal inhibition causing interhemispheric imbalance is believed to underlie visuospatial bias after frontoparietal cortical damage, but the synaptic circuits involved remain largely unknown. Here, we show that lesions in the mouse anterior cingulate area (ACA) cause severe visuospatial bias mediated by a transcallosal inhibition loop. In a visual-change-detection task, ACA callosal-projection neurons (CPNs) were more active with contralateral visual field changes than with ipsilateral changes. Unilateral CPN inactivation impaired contralateral change detection but improved ipsilateral detection by altering interhemispheric interaction through callosal projections. CPNs strongly activated contralateral parvalbumin-positive (PV+) neurons, and callosal-input-driven PV+ neurons preferentially inhibited ipsilateral CPNs, thus mediating transcallosal inhibition. Unilateral PV+ neuron activation caused a similar behavioral bias to contralateral CPN activation and ipsilateral CPN inactivation, and bilateral PV+ neuron activation eliminated this bias. Notably, restoring interhemispheric balance by activating contralesional PV+ neurons significantly improved contralesional detection in ACA-lesioned animals. Thus, a frontal transcallosal inhibition loop comprising CPNs and callosal-input-driven PV+ neurons mediates interhemispheric balance in visuospatial processing, and enhancing contralesional transcallosal inhibition restores interhemispheric balance while also reversing lesion-induced bias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanjie Wang
- Songjiang Research Institute, Shanghai Songjiang District Central Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Zhaonan Chen
- Songjiang Research Institute, Shanghai Songjiang District Central Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Guofen Ma
- Songjiang Research Institute, Shanghai Songjiang District Central Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Lizhao Wang
- Songjiang Research Institute, Shanghai Songjiang District Central Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Yanmei Liu
- Songjiang Research Institute, Shanghai Songjiang District Central Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Meiling Qin
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Xiang Fei
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Yifan Wu
- Songjiang Research Institute, Shanghai Songjiang District Central Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Min Xu
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China.
| | - Siyu Zhang
- Songjiang Research Institute, Shanghai Songjiang District Central Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China.
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21
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Kalelkar A, Sipe G, Costa ARCE, Lorenzo IM, Nguyen M, Linares-Garcia I, Vazey E, Huda R. A paradigm for ethanol consumption in head-fixed mice during prefrontal cortical two-photon calcium imaging. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.20.549846. [PMID: 37503061 PMCID: PMC10370124 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.20.549846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is a hub for higher-level cognitive behaviors and is a key target for neuroadaptations in alcohol use disorders. Preclinical models of ethanol consumption are instrumental for understanding how acute and repeated drinking affects PFC structure and function. Recent advances in genetically encoded sensors of neuronal activity and neuromodulator release combined with functional microscopy (multiphoton and one-photon widefield imaging) allow multimodal in-vivo PFC recordings at subcellular and cellular scales. While these methods could enable a deeper understanding of the relationship between alcohol and PFC function/dysfunction, they require animals to be head-fixed. Here, we present a method in mice for binge-like ethanol consumption during head-fixation. Male and female mice were first acclimated to ethanol by providing home cage access to 20% ethanol (v/v) for 4 or 8 days. After home cage drinking, mice consumed ethanol from a lick spout during head-fixation. We used two-photon calcium imaging during the head-fixed drinking paradigm to record from a large population of PFC neurons (>1000) to explore how acute ethanol affects their activity. Drinking modulated activity rates in a subset of neurons on slow (minutes) and fast (seconds) time scales but the majority of neurons were unaffected. Moreover, ethanol intake did not significantly affect network level interactions in the PFC as assessed through inter-neuronal pairwise correlations. By establishing a method for binge-like drinking in head-fixed mice, we lay the groundwork for leveraging advanced microscopy technologies to study alcohol-induced neuroadaptations in PFC and other brain circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anagha Kalelkar
- WM Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University – New Brunswick, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway NJ, 08904, USA
| | - Grayson Sipe
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 43 Vassar Street, Cambridge MA, 02139, USA
| | - Ana Raquel Castro E Costa
- WM Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University – New Brunswick, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway NJ, 08904, USA
| | - Ilka M. Lorenzo
- WM Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University – New Brunswick, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway NJ, 08904, USA
| | - My Nguyen
- WM Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University – New Brunswick, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway NJ, 08904, USA
| | - Ivan Linares-Garcia
- WM Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University – New Brunswick, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway NJ, 08904, USA
| | - Elena Vazey
- Department of Biology, The University of Massachusetts Amherst, 611 North Pleasant Street, Amherst MA, 01003, USA
| | - Rafiq Huda
- WM Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University – New Brunswick, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway NJ, 08904, USA
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22
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Takemoto M, Kato S, Kobayashi K, Song WJ. Dissection of insular cortex layer 5 reveals two sublayers with opposing modulatory roles in appetitive drinking behavior. iScience 2023; 26:106985. [PMID: 37378339 PMCID: PMC10291511 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106985] [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: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The insular cortex (insula) is known to play a modulatory role in feeding and drinking. Previous studies have revealed anterior-posterior differences of subcortical projections and roles for the insula, yet the anatomical and functional heterogeneity among the cortical layers remains poorly understood. Here, we show that layer 5 of the mouse dysgranular insula has two distinct neuronal subpopulations along the entire anterior-posterior axis: The L5a population, expressing NECAB1, projects bilaterally to the lateral and capsular divisions of the central amygdala, and the L5b population, expressing CTIP2, projects ipsilaterally to the parasubthalamic nucleus and the medial division of the central amygdala. Optogenetically activating L5a and L5b neuronal populations in thirsty male mice led to suppressed and facilitated water spout licking, respectively, without avoidance against or preference for the spout paired with the opto-stimulation. Our results suggest sublayer-specific bidirectional modulatory roles of insula layer 5 in the motivational aspect of appetitive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Takemoto
- Department of Sensory and Cognitive Physiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan
| | - Shigeki Kato
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
| | - Kazuto Kobayashi
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
| | - Wen-Jie Song
- Department of Sensory and Cognitive Physiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan
- Center for Metabolic Regulation of Healthy Aging, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan
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23
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Thomas A, Yang W, Wang C, Tipparaju SL, Chen G, Sullivan B, Swiekatowski K, Tatam M, Gerfen C, Li N. Superior colliculus cell types bidirectionally modulate choice activity in frontal cortex. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.22.537884. [PMID: 37162880 PMCID: PMC10168218 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.22.537884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Action selection occurs through competition between potential choice options. Neural correlates of choice competition are observed across frontal cortex and downstream superior colliculus (SC) during decision-making, yet how these regions interact to mediate choice competition remains unresolved. Here we report that cell types within SC can bidirectionally modulate choice competition and drive choice activity in frontal cortex. In the mouse, topographically matched regions of frontal cortex and SC formed a descending motor pathway for directional licking and a re-entrant loop via the thalamus. During decision-making, distinct neuronal populations in both frontal cortex and SC encoded opposing lick directions and exhibited push-pull dynamics. SC GABAergic neurons encoded ipsilateral choice and glutamatergic neurons encoded contralateral choice, and activating or suppressing these cell types could bidirectionally drive push-pull choice activity in frontal cortex. These results thus identify SC as a major locus to modulate choice competition within the broader action selection network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyse Thomas
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Weiguo Yang
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Catherine Wang
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | | | - Guang Chen
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Brennan Sullivan
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | | | - Mahima Tatam
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Charles Gerfen
- Section on Neuroanatomy, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Nuo Li
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
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24
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Eckert MA, Iuricich F, Harris KC, Hamlett ED, Vazey EM, Aston-Jones G. Locus coeruleus and dorsal cingulate morphology contributions to slowed processing speed. Neuropsychologia 2023; 179:108449. [PMID: 36528219 PMCID: PMC9906468 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2022.108449] [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: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Slowed information processing speed is a defining feature of cognitive aging. Nucleus locus coeruleus (LC) and medial prefrontal regions are targets for understanding slowed processing speed because these brain regions influence neural and behavioral response latencies through their roles in optimizing task performance. Although structural measures of medial prefrontal cortex have been consistently related to processing speed, it is unclear if 1) declines in LC structure underlie this association because of reciprocal connections between LC and medial prefrontal cortex, or 2) if LC declines provide a separate explanation for age-related changes in processing speed. LC and medial prefrontal structural measures were predicted to explain age-dependent individual differences in processing speed in a cross-sectional sample of 43 adults (19-79 years; 63% female). Higher turbo-spin echo LC contrast, based on a persistent homology measure, and greater dorsal cingulate cortical thickness were significantly and each uniquely related to faster processing speed. However, only dorsal cingulate cortical thickness appeared to statistically mediate age-related differences in processing speed. The results suggest that individual differences in cognitive processing speed can be attributed, in part, to structural variation in nucleus LC and medial prefrontal cortex, with the latter key to understanding why older adults exhibit slowed processing speed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Eckert
- Hearing Research Program, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, MSC 550, Charleston, S.C., 29425-5500, USA.
| | - Federico Iuricich
- Visual Computing Division, School of Computing, Clemson University, Clemson, S.C., 29634, USA
| | - Kelly C Harris
- Hearing Research Program, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, MSC 550, Charleston, S.C., 29425-5500, USA
| | - Eric D Hamlett
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, S.C., 29425-5500, USA
| | - Elena M Vazey
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003-9297, USA
| | - Gary Aston-Jones
- Brain Health Institute, Rutgers University/Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
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25
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Probing top-down information in neocortical layer 1. Trends Neurosci 2023; 46:20-31. [PMID: 36428192 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2022.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Accurate perception of the environment is a constructive process that requires integration of external bottom-up sensory signals with internally generated top-down information. Decades of work have elucidated how sensory neocortex processes physical stimulus features. By contrast, examining how top-down information is encoded and integrated with bottom-up signals has been challenging using traditional neuroscience methods. Recent technological advances in functional imaging of brain-wide afferents in behaving mice have enabled the direct measurement of top-down information. Here, we review the emerging literature on encoding of these internally generated signals by different projection systems enriched in neocortical layer 1 during defined brain functions, including memory, attention, and predictive coding. Moreover, we identify gaps in current knowledge and highlight future directions for this rapidly advancing field.
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26
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Peters AJ, Marica AM, Fabre JMJ, Harris KD, Carandini M. Visuomotor learning promotes visually evoked activity in the medial prefrontal cortex. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111487. [PMID: 36261004 PMCID: PMC9631115 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is necessary for executing many learned associations between stimuli and movement. It is unclear, however, how activity in the mPFC evolves across learning, and how this activity correlates with sensory stimuli and the learned movements they evoke. To address these questions, we record cortical activity with widefield calcium imaging while mice learned to associate a visual stimulus with a forelimb movement. After learning, the mPFC shows stimulus-evoked activity both during task performance and during passive viewing, when the stimulus evokes no action. This stimulus-evoked activity closely tracks behavioral performance across training, with both exhibiting a marked increase between days when mice first learn the task, followed by a steady increase with further training. Electrophysiological recordings localized this activity to the secondary motor and anterior cingulate cortex. We conclude that learning a visuomotor task promotes a route for visual information to reach the prefrontal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Peters
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK.
| | | | - Julie M J Fabre
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Kenneth D Harris
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Matteo Carandini
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK.
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27
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Pfefferbaum A, Sullivan EV, Zahr NM, Pohl KM, Saranathan M. Multi-atlas thalamic nuclei segmentation on standard T1-weighed MRI with application to normal aging. Hum Brain Mapp 2022; 44:612-628. [PMID: 36181510 PMCID: PMC9842912 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Specific thalamic nuclei are implicated in healthy aging and age-related neurodegenerative diseases. However, few methods are available for robust automated segmentation of thalamic nuclei. The threefold aims of this study were to validate the use of a modified thalamic nuclei segmentation method on standard T1 MRI data, to apply this method to quantify age-related volume declines, and to test functional meaningfulness by predicting performance on motor testing. A modified version of THalamus Optimized Multi-Atlas Segmentation (THOMAS) generated 22 unilateral thalamic nuclei. For validation, we compared nuclear volumes obtained from THOMAS parcellation of white-matter-nulled (WMn) MRI data to T1 MRI data in 45 participants. To examine the effects of age/sex on thalamic nuclear volumes, T1 MRI available from a second data set of 121 men and 117 women, ages 20-86 years, were segmented using THOMAS. To test for functional ramifications, composite regions and constituent nuclei were correlated with Grooved Pegboard test scores. THOMAS on standard T1 data showed significant quantitative agreement with THOMAS from WMn data, especially for larger nuclei. Sex differences revealing larger volumes in men than women were accounted for by adjustment with supratentorial intracranial volume (sICV). Significant sICV-adjusted correlations between age and thalamic nuclear volumes were detected in 20 of the 22 unilateral nuclei and whole thalamus. Composite Posterior and Ventral regions and Ventral Anterior/Pulvinar nuclei correlated selectively with higher scores from the eye-hand coordination task. These results support the use of THOMAS for standard T1-weighted data as adequately robust for thalamic nuclear parcellation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adolf Pfefferbaum
- Center for Health SciencesSRI InternationalMenlo ParkCaliforniaUSA,Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral SciencesStanford University School of MedicineStanfordCaliforniaUSA
| | - Edith V. Sullivan
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral SciencesStanford University School of MedicineStanfordCaliforniaUSA
| | - Natalie M. Zahr
- Center for Health SciencesSRI InternationalMenlo ParkCaliforniaUSA,Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral SciencesStanford University School of MedicineStanfordCaliforniaUSA
| | - Kilian M. Pohl
- Center for Health SciencesSRI InternationalMenlo ParkCaliforniaUSA,Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral SciencesStanford University School of MedicineStanfordCaliforniaUSA
| | - Manojkumar Saranathan
- Department of RadiologyUniversity of Massachusetts Chan Medical SchoolWorcesterMassachusettsUSA
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28
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Recognition of the Multi-class Schizophrenia Based on the Resting-State EEG Network Topology. Brain Topogr 2022; 35:495-506. [PMID: 35849250 DOI: 10.1007/s10548-022-00907-y] [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: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The clinical therapy of schizophrenia (SCZ) replies on the corresponding accurate and reliable recognition. Although efforts have been paid, the diagnosis of SCZ is still roughly subjective, it is thus urgent to search for related objective physiological parameters. Motivated by the great potential of resting-state networks in underling the brain deficits among different SCZ groups, in this study, we then developed a multi-class feature extraction approach that could effectively extract the spatial network topology and facilitate the recognition of the SCZ, by combining a network structure based supervised learning with an ensemble co-decision strategy. The results demonstrated that the multi-class spatial pattern of the network (MSPN) features outperformed the other conventional electrophysiological features, such as relative power spectrums and network properties, and achieved the highest classification accuracy of 71.58% in the alpha band. These findings did validate that the resting-state MSPN is a promising tool for the clinical assessment of the SCZ.
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29
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Panzeri S, Moroni M, Safaai H, Harvey CD. The structures and functions of correlations in neural population codes. Nat Rev Neurosci 2022; 23:551-567. [PMID: 35732917 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-022-00606-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The collective activity of a population of neurons, beyond the properties of individual cells, is crucial for many brain functions. A fundamental question is how activity correlations between neurons affect how neural populations process information. Over the past 30 years, major progress has been made on how the levels and structures of correlations shape the encoding of information in population codes. Correlations influence population coding through the organization of pairwise-activity correlations with respect to the similarity of tuning of individual neurons, by their stimulus modulation and by the presence of higher-order correlations. Recent work has shown that correlations also profoundly shape other important functions performed by neural populations, including generating codes across multiple timescales and facilitating information transmission to, and readout by, downstream brain areas to guide behaviour. Here, we review this recent work and discuss how the structures of correlations can have opposite effects on the different functions of neural populations, thus creating trade-offs and constraints for the structure-function relationships of population codes. Further, we present ideas on how to combine large-scale simultaneous recordings of neural populations, computational models, analyses of behaviour, optogenetics and anatomy to unravel how the structures of correlations might be optimized to serve multiple functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Panzeri
- Department of Excellence for Neural Information Processing, Center for Molecular Neurobiology (ZMNH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany. .,Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rovereto, Italy.
| | | | - Houman Safaai
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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30
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Recruitment of frontal sensory circuits during visual discrimination. Cell Rep 2022; 39:110932. [PMID: 35675774 PMCID: PMC9247711 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110932] [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: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A long-range circuit linking the medial frontal cortex to the primary visual cortex (V1) has been proposed to mediate visual selective attention in mice during visually guided behavior. Here, we use in vivo two-photon functional imaging to measure the endogenous activity of axons of A24b/M2 neurons from this region projecting to layer 1 of V1 (A24b/M2-V1axons) in mice either passively viewing stimuli or performing a go/no-go visually guided task. We observe that while A24b/M2-V1axons are recruited under these conditions, this is not linked to enhancement of neural or behavioral measures of sensory coding. Instead, A24b/M2-V1axon activity is associated with licking behavior, modulated by reward, and biased toward the sensory cortical hemisphere representing the stimulus currently being discriminated. Endogenous A24b/M2-V1 axon activity elevation does not enhance sensory processing A24b/M2-V1 axon activity is correlated with licking A24b/M2-V1 axon lick-correlated activity is modulated by reward
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31
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Jure R. The “Primitive Brain Dysfunction” Theory of Autism: The Superior Colliculus Role. Front Integr Neurosci 2022; 16:797391. [PMID: 35712344 PMCID: PMC9194533 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2022.797391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A better understanding of the pathogenesis of autism will help clarify our conception of the complexity of normal brain development. The crucial deficit may lie in the postnatal changes that vision produces in the brainstem nuclei during early life. The superior colliculus is the primary brainstem visual center. Although difficult to examine in humans with present techniques, it is known to support behaviors essential for every vertebrate to survive, such as the ability to pay attention to relevant stimuli and to produce automatic motor responses based on sensory input. From birth to death, it acts as a brain sentinel that influences basic aspects of our behavior. It is the main brainstem hub that lies between the environment and the rest of the higher neural system, making continuous, implicit decisions about where to direct our attention. The conserved cortex-like organization of the superior colliculus in all vertebrates allows the early appearance of primitive emotionally-related behaviors essential for survival. It contains first-line specialized neurons enabling the detection and tracking of faces and movements from birth. During development, it also sends the appropriate impulses to help shape brain areas necessary for social-communicative abilities. These abilities require the analysis of numerous variables, such as the simultaneous evaluation of incoming information sustained by separate brain networks (visual, auditory and sensory-motor, social, emotional, etc.), and predictive capabilities which compare present events to previous experiences and possible responses. These critical aspects of decision-making allow us to evaluate the impact that our response or behavior may provoke in others. The purpose of this review is to show that several enigmas about the complexity of autism might be explained by disruptions of collicular and brainstem functions. The results of two separate lines of investigation: 1. the cognitive, etiologic, and pathogenic aspects of autism on one hand, and two. the functional anatomy of the colliculus on the other, are considered in order to bridge the gap between basic brain science and clinical studies and to promote future research in this unexplored area.
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32
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Lee JY, You T, Lee CH, Im GH, Seo H, Woo CW, Kim SG. Role of anterior cingulate cortex inputs to periaqueductal gray for pain avoidance. Curr Biol 2022; 32:2834-2847.e5. [PMID: 35609604 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.04.090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Although pain-related excessive fear is known to be a key factor in chronic pain disability, which involves the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), little is known about the downstream circuits of the ACC for fear avoidance in pain processing. Using behavioral experiments and functional magnetic resonance imaging with optogenetics at 15.2 T, we demonstrate that the ACC is a part of the abnormal circuit changes in chronic pain and its downstream circuits are closely related to modulating sensorimotor integration and generating active movement rather than carrying sensory information. The projection from the ACC to the dorsolateral and lateral parts of the periaqueductal gray (dl/lPAG) especially enhances both reflexive and active avoidance behavior toward pain. Collectively, our results indicate that increased signals from the ACC to the dl/lPAG might be critical for excessive fear avoidance in chronic pain disability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeong-Yun Lee
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research (CNIR), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea.
| | - Taeyi You
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research (CNIR), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea; Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Choong-Hee Lee
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research (CNIR), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Geun Ho Im
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research (CNIR), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Heewon Seo
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research (CNIR), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH 44704, USA
| | - Choong-Wan Woo
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research (CNIR), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea; Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong-Gi Kim
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research (CNIR), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea; Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea.
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Wheatcroft T, Saleem AB, Solomon SG. Functional Organisation of the Mouse Superior Colliculus. Front Neural Circuits 2022; 16:792959. [PMID: 35601532 PMCID: PMC9118347 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2022.792959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The superior colliculus (SC) is a highly conserved area of the mammalian midbrain that is widely implicated in the organisation and control of behaviour. SC receives input from a large number of brain areas, and provides outputs to a large number of areas. The convergence and divergence of anatomical connections with different areas and systems provides challenges for understanding how SC contributes to behaviour. Recent work in mouse has provided large anatomical datasets, and a wealth of new data from experiments that identify and manipulate different cells within SC, and their inputs and outputs, during simple behaviours. These data offer an opportunity to better understand the roles that SC plays in these behaviours. However, some of the observations appear, at first sight, to be contradictory. Here we review this recent work and hypothesise a simple framework which can capture the observations, that requires only a small change to previous models. Specifically, the functional organisation of SC can be explained by supposing that three largely distinct circuits support three largely distinct classes of simple behaviours-arrest, turning towards, and the triggering of escape or capture. These behaviours are hypothesised to be supported by the optic, intermediate and deep layers, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Samuel G. Solomon
- Institute of Behavioural Neuroscience, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Leow YN, Zhou B, Sullivan HA, Barlowe AR, Wickersham IR, Sur M. Brain-wide mapping of inputs to the mouse lateral posterior (LP/Pulvinar) thalamus-anterior cingulate cortex network. J Comp Neurol 2022; 530:1992-2013. [PMID: 35383929 PMCID: PMC9167239 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The rodent homolog of the primate pulvinar, the lateral posterior (LP) thalamus, is extensively interconnected with multiple cortical areas. While these cortical interactions can span the entire LP, subdivisions of the LP are characterized by differential connections with specific cortical regions. In particular, the medial LP has reciprocal connections with frontoparietal cortical areas, including the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). The ACC plays an integral role in top‐down sensory processing and attentional regulation, likely exerting some of these functions via the LP. However, little is known about how ACC and LP interact, and about the information potentially integrated in this reciprocal network. Here, we address this gap by employing a projection‐specific monosynaptic rabies tracing strategy to delineate brain‐wide inputs to bottom‐up LP→ACC and top‐down ACC→LP neurons. We find that LP→ACC neurons receive inputs from widespread cortical regions, including primary and higher order sensory and motor cortical areas. LP→ACC neurons also receive extensive subcortical inputs, particularly from the intermediate and deep layers of the superior colliculus (SC). Sensory inputs to ACC→LP neurons largely arise from visual cortical areas. In addition, ACC→LP neurons integrate cross‐hemispheric prefrontal cortex inputs as well as inputs from higher order medial cortex. Our brain‐wide anatomical mapping of inputs to the reciprocal LP‐ACC pathways provides a roadmap for understanding how LP and ACC communicate different sources of information to mediate attentional control and visuomotor functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Ning Leow
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Blake Zhou
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Heather A Sullivan
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Alexandria R Barlowe
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ian R Wickersham
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mriganka Sur
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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35
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Shi W, Xue M, Wu F, Fan K, Chen QY, Xu F, Li X, Bi G, Lu J, Zhuo M. Whole-brain mapping of efferent projections of the anterior cingulate cortex in adult male mice. Mol Pain 2022; 18:17448069221094529. [PMID: 35354345 PMCID: PMC9083044 DOI: 10.1177/17448069221094529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is a key cortical region that plays an important role in pain perception and emotional functions. Previous studies of the ACC projections have been collected primarily from monkeys, rabbits and rats. Due to technological advances, such as gene manipulation, recent progress has been made in our understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of the ACC-related chronic pain and emotion is mainly obtained from adult mice. Few anatomic studies have examined the whole-brain projections of the ACC in adult mice. In the present study, we examined the continuous axonal outputs of the ACC in the whole brain of adult male mice. We used the virus anterograde tracing technique and an ultrahigh-speed imaging method of Volumetric Imaging with Synchronized on-the-fly-scan and Readout (VISoR). We created a three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of mouse brains. We found that the ACC projected ipsilaterally primarily to the caudate putamen (CPu), ventral thalamic nucleus, zona incerta (ZI), periaqueductal gray (PAG), superior colliculus (SC), interpolar spinal trigeminal nucleus (Sp5I), and dorsal medullary reticular nucleus (MdD). The ACC also projected to contralateral brain regions, including the ACC, reuniens thalamic nucleus (Re), PAG, Sp5I, and MdD. Our results provide a whole-brain mapping of efferent projections from the ACC in adult male mice, and these findings are critical for future studies of the molecular and synaptic mechanisms of the ACC and its related network in mouse models of brain diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Man Xue
- 12480Xi'an Jiaotong University
| | - Fengyi Wu
- 85411Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology
| | - Kexin Fan
- 598900Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Basic Medical Sciences
| | - Qi-Yu Chen
- 85411Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology
| | - Fang Xu
- 85411Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology
| | | | - Guoqiang Bi
- 85411Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology
| | | | - Min Zhuo
- Physiology7938University of Toronto
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Sun W, Tang P, Liang Y, Li J, Feng J, Zhang N, Lu D, He J, Chen X. The anterior cingulate cortex directly enhances auditory cortical responses in air-puffing-facilitated flight behavior. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110506. [PMID: 35263590 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
For survival, animals encode prominent events in complex environments, which modulates their defense behavior. Here, we design a paradigm that assesses how a mild aversive cue (i.e., mild air puff) interacts with sound-evoked flight behavior in mice. We find that air puffing facilitates sound-evoked flight behavior by enhancing the auditory responses of auditory cortical neurons. We then find that the anterior part of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) encodes the valence of air puffing and modulates the auditory cortex through anatomical examination, physiological recordings, and optogenetic/chemogenetic manipulations. Activating ACC projections to the auditory cortex simulates the facilitating effect of air puffing, whereas inhibiting the ACC or its projections to the auditory cortex neutralizes this facilitating effect. These findings show that the ACC regulates sound-evoked flight behavior by potentiating neuronal responses in the auditory cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjian Sun
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000 Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China; Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 0000 Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
| | - Peng Tang
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000 Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China; Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 0000 Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
| | - Ye Liang
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000 Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000 Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China; Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 0000 Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
| | - Jingyu Feng
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000 Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000 Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China; Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 0000 Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
| | - Danyi Lu
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000 Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
| | - Jufang He
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000 Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China; City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518507, P.R. China.
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, 0000 Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China; City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518507, P.R. China.
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37
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Bucci-Mansilla G, Vicencio-Jimenez S, Concha-Miranda M, Loyola-Navarro R. Challenging Paradigms Through Ecological Neuroscience: Lessons From Visual Models. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:758388. [PMID: 34858130 PMCID: PMC8631428 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.758388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Giuliana Bucci-Mansilla
- Neurosystems Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Ecological Cognitive Neuroscience Group, Santiago, Chile
| | - Sergio Vicencio-Jimenez
- The Center for Hearing and Balance, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Miguel Concha-Miranda
- Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Rocio Loyola-Navarro
- Neuroscience, Cognition and Educational Lab, Center for Advanced Research in Education, Institute of Education, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Departamento de Educación Diferencial, Facultad de Filosofía y Educación, Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación, Santiago, Chile
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38
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Ibrahim LA, Huang S, Fernandez-Otero M, Sherer M, Qiu Y, Vemuri S, Xu Q, Machold R, Pouchelon G, Rudy B, Fishell G. Bottom-up inputs are required for establishment of top-down connectivity onto cortical layer 1 neurogliaform cells. Neuron 2021; 109:3473-3485.e5. [PMID: 34478630 PMCID: PMC9316418 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Higher-order projections to sensory cortical areas converge on layer 1 (L1), the primary site for integration of top-down information via the apical dendrites of pyramidal neurons and L1 GABAergic interneurons. Here we investigated the contribution of early thalamic inputs onto L1 interneurons for establishment of top-down connectivity in the primary visual cortex. We find that bottom-up thalamic inputs predominate during L1 development and preferentially target neurogliaform cells. We show that these projections are critical for the subsequent strengthening of top-down inputs from the anterior cingulate cortex onto L1 neurogliaform cells. Sensory deprivation or selective removal of thalamic afferents blocked this phenomenon. Although early activation of the anterior cingulate cortex resulted in premature strengthening of these top-down afferents, this was dependent on thalamic inputs. Our results demonstrate that proper establishment of top-down connectivity in the visual cortex depends critically on bottom-up inputs from the thalamus during postnatal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leena Ali Ibrahim
- Harvard Medical School, Blavatnik Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Cambridge, MA, USA; King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Shuhan Huang
- Harvard Medical School, Blavatnik Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Cambridge, MA, USA; Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marian Fernandez-Otero
- Harvard Medical School, Blavatnik Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Mia Sherer
- Harvard Medical School, Blavatnik Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA, USA; Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yanjie Qiu
- Harvard Medical School, Blavatnik Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Qing Xu
- Center for Genomics & Systems Biology, New York University, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Robert Machold
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gabrielle Pouchelon
- Harvard Medical School, Blavatnik Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bernardo Rudy
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gord Fishell
- Harvard Medical School, Blavatnik Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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39
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Speed A, Haider B. Probing mechanisms of visual spatial attention in mice. Trends Neurosci 2021; 44:822-836. [PMID: 34446296 PMCID: PMC8484049 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2021.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The role of spatial attention for visual perception has been thoroughly studied in primates, but less so in mice. Several behavioral tasks in mice reveal spatial attentional effects, with similarities to observations in primates. Pairing these tasks with large-scale, cell-type-specific techniques could enable deeper access to underlying mechanisms, and help define the utility and limitations of resolving attentional effects on visual perception and neural activity in mice. In this Review, we evaluate behavioral and neural evidence for visual spatial attention in mice; assess how specializations of the mouse visual system and behavioral repertoire impact interpretation of spatial attentional effects; and outline how several measurement and manipulation techniques in mice could precisely test and refine models of attentional modulation across scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anderson Speed
- Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Bilal Haider
- Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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40
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A visuomotor microcircuit in frontal cortex. Nat Neurosci 2021; 24:1345-1347. [PMID: 34413511 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-021-00915-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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41
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Xie Z, Wang M, Liu Z, Shang C, Zhang C, Sun L, Gu H, Ran G, Pei Q, Ma Q, Huang M, Zhang J, Lin R, Zhou Y, Zhang J, Zhao M, Luo M, Wu Q, Cao P, Wang X. Transcriptomic encoding of sensorimotor transformation in the midbrain. eLife 2021; 10:e69825. [PMID: 34318750 PMCID: PMC8341986 DOI: 10.7554/elife.69825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensorimotor transformation, a process that converts sensory stimuli into motor actions, is critical for the brain to initiate behaviors. Although the circuitry involved in sensorimotor transformation has been well delineated, the molecular logic behind this process remains poorly understood. Here, we performed high-throughput and circuit-specific single-cell transcriptomic analyses of neurons in the superior colliculus (SC), a midbrain structure implicated in early sensorimotor transformation. We found that SC neurons in distinct laminae expressed discrete marker genes. Of particular interest, Cbln2 and Pitx2 were key markers that define glutamatergic projection neurons in the optic nerve (Op) and intermediate gray (InG) layers, respectively. The Cbln2+ neurons responded to visual stimuli mimicking cruising predators, while the Pitx2+ neurons encoded prey-derived vibrissal tactile cues. By forming distinct input and output connections with other brain areas, these neuronal subtypes independently mediated behaviors of predator avoidance and prey capture. Our results reveal that, in the midbrain, sensorimotor transformation for different behaviors may be performed by separate circuit modules that are molecularly defined by distinct transcriptomic codes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyong Xie
- National Institute of Biological SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Mengdi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology (Shanghai), Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Zeyuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology (Shanghai), Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Congping Shang
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory)GuangzhouChina
| | - Changjiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology (Shanghai), Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Le Sun
- Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Huating Gu
- National Institute of Biological SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Gengxin Ran
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology (Shanghai), Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Qing Pei
- National Institute of Biological SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Qiang Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology (Shanghai), Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Meizhu Huang
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory)GuangzhouChina
| | - Junjing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Rui Lin
- National Institute of Biological SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Youtong Zhou
- National Institute of Biological SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Jiyao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Miao Zhao
- National Institute of Biological SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Minmin Luo
- National Institute of Biological SciencesBeijingChina
- Chinese Institute for Brain ResearchBeijingChina
| | - Qian Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Peng Cao
- National Institute of Biological SciencesBeijingChina
- Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research, Tsinghua UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Xiaoqun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology (Shanghai), Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory)GuangzhouChina
- Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
- Chinese Institute for Brain ResearchBeijingChina
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Beihang University & Capital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
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42
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Over-representation of fundamental decision variables in the prefrontal cortex underlies decision bias. Neurosci Res 2021; 173:1-13. [PMID: 34274406 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2021.07.002] [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: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The brain is organized into anatomically distinct structures consisting of a variety of projection neurons. While such evolutionarily conserved neural circuit organization underlies the innate ability of animals to swiftly adapt to environments, they can cause biased cognition and behavior. Although recent studies have begun to address the causal importance of projection-neuron types as distinct computational units, it remains unclear how projection types are functionally organized in encoding variables during cognitive tasks. This review focuses on the neural computation of decision making in the prefrontal cortex and discusses what decision variables are encoded by single neurons, neuronal populations, and projection type, alongside how specific projection types constrain decision making. We focus particularly on "over-representations" of distinct decision variables in the prefrontal cortex that reflect the biological and subjective significance of the variables for the decision makers. We suggest that task-specific over-representation in the prefrontal cortex involves the refinement of the given decision making, while generalized over-representation of fundamental decision variables is associated with suboptimal decision biases, including pathological ones such as those in patients with psychiatric disorders. Such over-representation of the fundamental decision variables in the prefrontal cortex appear to be tightly constrained by afferent and efferent connections that can be optogenetically intervened on. These ideas may provide critical insights into potential therapeutic targets for psychiatric disorders, including addiction and depression.
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Essig J, Hunt JB, Felsen G. Inhibitory neurons in the superior colliculus mediate selection of spatially-directed movements. Commun Biol 2021; 4:719. [PMID: 34117346 PMCID: PMC8196039 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02248-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Decision making is a cognitive process that mediates behaviors critical for survival. Choosing spatial targets is an experimentally-tractable form of decision making that depends on the midbrain superior colliculus (SC). While physiological and computational studies have uncovered the functional topographic organization of the SC, the role of specific SC cell types in spatial choice is unknown. Here, we leveraged behavior, optogenetics, neural recordings and modeling to directly examine the contribution of GABAergic SC neurons to the selection of opposing spatial targets. Although GABAergic SC neurons comprise a heterogeneous population with local and long-range projections, our results demonstrate that GABAergic SC neurons do not locally suppress premotor output, suggesting that functional long-range inhibition instead plays a dominant role in spatial choice. An attractor model requiring only intrinsic SC circuitry was sufficient to account for our experimental observations. Overall, our study elucidates the role of GABAergic SC neurons in spatial choice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaclyn Essig
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, and Neuroscience Program University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Joshua B Hunt
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, and Neuroscience Program University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Gidon Felsen
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, and Neuroscience Program University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.
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Interference of commissural connections through the genu of the corpus callosum specifically impairs sensorimotor gating. Behav Brain Res 2021; 411:113383. [PMID: 34048871 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
White matter abnormalities in schizophrenic patients are characterized as regional tract-specific. Myelin loss at the genu of the corpus callosum (GCC) is one of the most consistent findings in schizophrenic patients across the different populations. We characterized the axons that pass through the GCC by stereotactically injecting an anterograde axonal tracing viral vector into the forceps minor of the corpus callosum in one hemisphere, and identified the homotopic brain structures that have commissural connections in the two hemispheres of the prefrontal cortex, including the anterior cingulate area, the prelimbic area, the secondary motor area, and the dorsal part of the agranular insular area, along with commissural connections with the primary motor area, caudoputamen, and claustrum. To investigate whether dysmyelination in these commissural connections is critical for the development of schizophrenia symptoms, we generated a mouse model with focal demyelination at the GCC by stereotactically injecting demyelinating agent lysolecithin into this site, and tested these mice in a battery of behavioral tasks that are used to model the schizophrenia-like symptom domains. We found that demyelination at the GCC influenced neither the social interest or mood state, nor the locomotive activity or motor coordination. Nevertheless, it specifically reduced the prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle that is a well-known measure of sensorimotor gating. This study advances our understanding of the pathophysiological contributions of the GCC-specific white matter lesion to the related disease, and demonstrates an indispensable role of interhemispheric communication between the frontal cortices for the top-down regulation of the sensorimotor gating.
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45
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Le Merre P, Ährlund-Richter S, Carlén M. The mouse prefrontal cortex: Unity in diversity. Neuron 2021; 109:1925-1944. [PMID: 33894133 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.03.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is considered to constitute the highest stage of neural integration and to be devoted to representation and production of actions. Studies in primates have laid the foundation for theories regarding the principles of prefrontal function and provided mechanistic insights. The recent surge of studies of the PFC in mice holds promise for evolvement of present theories and development of novel concepts, particularly regarding principles shared across mammals. Here we review recent empirical work on the mouse PFC capitalizing on the experimental toolbox currently privileged to studies in this species. We conclude that this line of research has revealed cellular and structural distinctions of the PFC and neuronal activity with direct relevance to theories regarding the functions of the PFC. We foresee that data-rich mouse studies will be key to shed light on the general prefrontal architecture and mechanisms underlying cognitive aspects of organized actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Le Merre
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Marie Carlén
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83 Huddinge, Sweden.
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Reinert S, Hübener M, Bonhoeffer T, Goltstein PM. Mouse prefrontal cortex represents learned rules for categorization. Nature 2021; 593:411-417. [PMID: 33883745 PMCID: PMC8131197 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03452-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
The ability to categorize sensory stimuli is crucial for an animal’s survival in a complex environment. Memorizing categories instead of individual exemplars enables greater behavioural flexibility and is computationally advantageous. Neurons that show category selectivity have been found in several areas of the mammalian neocortex1–4, but the prefrontal cortex seems to have a prominent role4,5 in this context. Specifically, in primates that are extensively trained on a categorization task, neurons in the prefrontal cortex rapidly and flexibly represent learned categories6,7. However, how these representations first emerge in naive animals remains unexplored, leaving it unclear whether flexible representations are gradually built up as part of semantic memory or assigned more or less instantly during task execution8,9. Here we investigate the formation of a neuronal category representation throughout the entire learning process by repeatedly imaging individual cells in the mouse medial prefrontal cortex. We show that mice readily learn rule-based categorization and generalize to novel stimuli. Over the course of learning, neurons in the prefrontal cortex display distinct dynamics in acquiring category selectivity and are differentially engaged during a later switch in rules. A subset of neurons selectively and uniquely respond to categories and reflect generalization behaviour. Thus, a category representation in the mouse prefrontal cortex is gradually acquired during learning rather than recruited ad hoc. This gradual process suggests that neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex are part of a specific semantic memory for visual categories. Neurons in the mouse medial prefrontal cortex acquire category-selective responses with learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Reinert
- Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany.,Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Mark Hübener
- Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany
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Evaluating Visual Cues Modulates Their Representation in Mouse Visual and Cingulate Cortex. J Neurosci 2021; 41:3531-3544. [PMID: 33687964 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1828-20.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Choosing an action in response to visual cues relies on cognitive processes, such as perception, evaluation, and prediction, which can modulate visual representations even at early processing stages. In the mouse, it is challenging to isolate cognitive modulations of sensory signals because concurrent overt behavior patterns, such as locomotion, can also have brainwide influences. To address this challenge, we designed a task, in which head-fixed mice had to evaluate one of two visual cues. While their global shape signaled the opportunity to earn reward, the cues provided equivalent local stimulation to receptive fields of neurons in primary visual (V1) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). We found that mice evaluated these cues within few hundred milliseconds. During this period, ∼30% of V1 neurons became cue-selective, with preferences for either cue being balanced across the recorded population. This selectivity emerged in response to the behavioral demands because the same neurons could not discriminate the cues in sensory control measurements. In ACC, cue evaluation affected a similar fraction of neurons; emerging selectivity, however, was stronger than in V1, and preferences in the recorded population were biased toward the cue promising reward. Such a biased selectivity regime might allow the mouse to infer the promise of reward simply by the overall level of activity. Together, these experiments isolate the impact of task demands on neural responses in mouse cerebral cortex, and document distinct neural signatures of cue evaluation in V1 and ACC.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Performing a cognitive task, such as evaluating visual cues, not only recruits frontal and parietal brain regions, but also modulates sensory processing stages. We trained mice to evaluate two visual cues, and show that, during this task, ∼30% of neurons recorded in V1 became selective for either cue, although they provided equivalent visual stimulation. We also show that, during cue evaluation, mice frequently move their eyes, even under head fixation, and that ignoring systematic differences in eye position can substantially obscure the modulations seen in V1 neurons. Finally, we document that modulations are stronger in ACC, and biased toward the reward-predicting cue, suggesting a transition in the neural representation of task-relevant information across processing stages in mouse cerebral cortex.
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