1
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Peng B, Huang JJ, Li Z, Zhang LI, Tao HW. Cross-modal enhancement of defensive behavior via parabigemino-collicular projections. Curr Biol 2024:S0960-9822(24)00836-4. [PMID: 39019036 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.06.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
Effective detection and avoidance from environmental threats are crucial for animals' survival. Integration of sensory cues associated with threats across different modalities can significantly enhance animals' detection and behavioral responses. However, the neural circuit-level mechanisms underlying the modulation of defensive behavior or fear response under simultaneous multimodal sensory inputs remain poorly understood. Here, we report in mice that bimodal looming stimuli combining coherent visual and auditory signals elicit more robust defensive/fear reactions than unimodal stimuli. These include intensified escape and prolonged hiding, suggesting a heightened defensive/fear state. These various responses depend on the activity of the superior colliculus (SC), while its downstream nucleus, the parabigeminal nucleus (PBG), predominantly influences the duration of hiding behavior. PBG temporally integrates visual and auditory signals and enhances the salience of threat signals by amplifying SC sensory responses through its feedback projection to the visual layer of the SC. Our results suggest an evolutionarily conserved pathway in defense circuits for multisensory integration and cross-modality enhancement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Peng
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Center for Neural Circuits and Sensory Processing Disorders, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Junxiang J Huang
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Center for Neural Circuits and Sensory Processing Disorders, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; Graduate Program in Biomedical and Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Zhong Li
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Center for Neural Circuits and Sensory Processing Disorders, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Li I Zhang
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Center for Neural Circuits and Sensory Processing Disorders, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
| | - Huizhong Whit Tao
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Center for Neural Circuits and Sensory Processing Disorders, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
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2
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Zhu M, Liang J, Wang W, Deng H, Huang Y. Deficits of the "Good" Eye in Amblyopia: Processing Geometric Properties. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2024; 65:33. [PMID: 39028978 PMCID: PMC11262476 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.65.8.33] [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: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Although fellow eyes of amblyopia are typically considered normal, recent studies have revealed impairments in certain aspects of vision. However, it remains unclear at which level of object processing these impairments occur. This study aims to investigate the functional level of visual perception impairment in the fellow eye of children and adults with amblyopia using the geometric functional hierarchy discrimination task based on Klein Mathematics methodology. Methods Seventy-six patients with amblyopia (40 children and 36 adults) and 77 age-matched healthy controls (40 children and 37 adults) were recruited for this study. The participants completed four sets of geometric hierarchies (in ascending order of stability: Euclidean, affine, projective, and topology) and one set of color discrimination tasks. They were instructed to rapidly and accurately select a distinct shape from the four quadrants. Results The participants' performance was evaluated using the inverse efficiency (IE) score (IE = response time (RT)/accuracy). The results of IEs show that the fellow eye of children with amblyopia exhibits normal topological processing, yet displays higher IEs in other geometric properties and color processing, suggesting impairments in these specific discrimination abilities. However, adults with amblyopia did not show deficits on any discrimination types compared with adult controls. Conclusions The lack of compromised topological processing suggests that amblyopia may not have inflicted any damage to the subcortical visual pathways. Furthermore, these deficits observed in the fellow eye tend to diminish significantly during adulthood, implying that amblyopia may potentially hinder the maturation process of the fellow eye.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minjuan Zhu
- Shenzhen Eye Hospital, Jinan University, Shenzhen Eye Institute, Guangdong, China
- Shaoxing People's Hospital, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jianhui Liang
- Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wenbo Wang
- Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Hongwei Deng
- Shenzhen Eye Hospital, Jinan University, Shenzhen Eye Institute, Guangdong, China
| | - Yan Huang
- Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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3
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Ahmadlou M, Giannouli M, van Vierbergen JFM, van Leeuwen T, Bloem W, Houba JHW, Shirazi MY, Cazemier JL, Haak R, Dubey M, de Winter F, Heimel JA. Cell-type-specific hypothalamic pathways to brainstem drive context-dependent strategies in response to stressors. Curr Biol 2024; 34:2448-2459.e4. [PMID: 38754425 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.04.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Adaptive behavioral responses to stressors are critical for survival. However, which brain areas orchestrate switching the appropriate stress responses to distinct contexts is an open question. This study aimed to identify the cell-type-specific brain circuitry governing the selection of distinct behavioral strategies in response to stressors. Through novel mouse behavior paradigms, we observed distinct stressor-evoked behaviors in two psycho-spatially distinct contexts characterized by stressors inside or outside the safe zone. The identification of brain regions activated in both conditions revealed the involvement of the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH). Further investigation using optogenetics, chemogenetics, and photometry revealed that glutamatergic projections from the DMH to periaqueductal gray (PAG) mediated responses to inside stressors, while GABAergic projections, particularly from tachykinin1-expressing neurons, played a crucial role in coping with outside stressors. These findings elucidate the role of cell-type-specific circuitry from the DMH to the PAG in shaping behavioral strategies in response to stressors. These findings have the potential to advance our understanding of fundamental neurobiological processes and inform the development of novel approaches for managing context-dependent and anxiety-associated pathological conditions such as agoraphobia and claustrophobia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehran Ahmadlou
- Circuits, Structure and Function Group, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, W1T4AJ London, UK.
| | - Maria Giannouli
- Circuits, Structure and Function Group, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jacqueline F M van Vierbergen
- Circuits, Structure and Function Group, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tom van Leeuwen
- Circuits, Structure and Function Group, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Wouter Bloem
- Circuits, Structure and Function Group, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Janou H W Houba
- Circuits, Structure and Function Group, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Maryam Yasamin Shirazi
- Circuits, Structure and Function Group, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - J Leonie Cazemier
- Circuits, Structure and Function Group, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Robin Haak
- Circuits, Structure and Function Group, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mohit Dubey
- Department of Axonal Signaling, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Fred de Winter
- Laboratory for Neuroregeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - J Alexander Heimel
- Circuits, Structure and Function Group, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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4
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Skyberg RJ, Niell CM. Natural visual behavior and active sensing in the mouse. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2024; 86:102882. [PMID: 38704868 PMCID: PMC11254345 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2024.102882] [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: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
In the natural world, animals use vision for a wide variety of behaviors not reflected in most laboratory paradigms. Although mice have low-acuity vision, they use their vision for many natural behaviors, including predator avoidance, prey capture, and navigation. They also perform active sensing, moving their head and eyes to achieve behavioral goals and acquire visual information. These aspects of natural vision result in visual inputs and corresponding behavioral outputs that are outside the range of conventional vision studies but are essential aspects of visual function. Here, we review recent studies in mice that have tapped into natural behavior and active sensing to reveal the computational logic of neural circuits for vision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rolf J Skyberg
- Department of Biology and Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene OR 97403, USA. https://twitter.com/SkybergRolf
| | - Cristopher M Niell
- Department of Biology and Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene OR 97403, USA.
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5
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Rind FC. Recent advances in insect vision in a 3D world: looming stimuli and escape behaviour. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 63:101180. [PMID: 38432555 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2024.101180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Detecting looming motion directly towards the insect is vital to its survival. Looming detection in two insects, flies and locusts, is described and contrasted. Pathways using looming detectors to trigger action and their topographical layout in the brain is explored in relation to facilitating behavioural selection. Similar visual stimuli, such as looming motion, are processed by nearby glomeruli in the brain. Insect-inspired looming motion detectors are combined to detect and avoid collision in different scenarios by robots, vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)s.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Claire Rind
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute (NUBI), UK.
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6
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Stempel AV. A conserved brainstem region for instinctive behaviour control: The vertebrate periaqueductal gray. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2024; 86:102878. [PMID: 38663047 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2024.102878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Instinctive behaviours have evolved across animal phyla and ensure the survival of both the individual and species. They include behaviours that achieve defence, feeding, aggression, sexual reproduction, or parental care. Within the vertebrate subphylum, the brain circuits that support instinctive behaviour output are evolutionarily conserved, being present in the oldest group of living vertebrates, the lamprey. Here, I will provide an evolutionary and comparative perspective on the function of a conserved brainstem region central to the initiation and execution of virtually all instinctive behaviours-the periaqueductal gray. In particular, I will focus on recent advances on the neural mechanisms in the periaqueductal gray that underlie the production of different instinctive behaviours within and across species.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Vanessa Stempel
- Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Max-von-Laue-Str. 4, Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany.
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7
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Shang W, Xie S, Feng W, Li Z, Jia J, Cao X, Shen Y, Li J, Shi H, Gu Y, Weng SJ, Lin L, Pan YH, Yuan XB. A non-image-forming visual circuit mediates the innate fear of heights in male mice. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3746. [PMID: 38702319 PMCID: PMC11068790 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48147-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The neural basis of fear of heights remains largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the fear response to heights in male mice and observed characteristic aversive behaviors resembling human height vertigo. We identified visual input as a critical factor in mouse reactions to heights, while peripheral vestibular input was found to be nonessential for fear of heights. Unexpectedly, we found that fear of heights in naïve mice does not rely on image-forming visual processing by the primary visual cortex. Instead, a subset of neurons in the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus (vLGN), which connects to the lateral/ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (l/vlPAG), drives the expression of fear associated with heights. Additionally, we observed that a subcortical visual pathway linking the superior colliculus to the lateral posterior thalamic nucleus inhibits the defensive response to height threats. These findings highlight a rapid fear response to height threats through a subcortical visual and defensive pathway from the vLGN to the l/vlPAG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Shang
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics of Shanghai and Ministry of Education, Institute of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Life Science and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Shuangyi Xie
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics of Shanghai and Ministry of Education, Institute of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Life Science and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Wenbo Feng
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics of Shanghai and Ministry of Education, Institute of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Life Science and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Zhuangzhuang Li
- Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Otolaryngology Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Jingyan Jia
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics of Shanghai and Ministry of Education, Institute of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Life Science and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Cao
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics of Shanghai and Ministry of Education, Institute of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Life Science and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Yanting Shen
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics of Shanghai and Ministry of Education, Institute of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Life Science and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Jing Li
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics of Shanghai and Ministry of Education, Institute of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Life Science and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Haibo Shi
- Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Otolaryngology Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Yiran Gu
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics of Shanghai and Ministry of Education, Institute of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Life Science and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Shi-Jun Weng
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Longnian Lin
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics of Shanghai and Ministry of Education, Institute of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Life Science and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Yi-Hsuan Pan
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics of Shanghai and Ministry of Education, Institute of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Life Science and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China.
| | - Xiao-Bing Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics of Shanghai and Ministry of Education, Institute of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Life Science and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China.
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8
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Liu M, Wang Y, Jiang L, Zhang X, Wang C, Zhang T. Research progress of the inferior colliculus: from Neuron, neural circuit to auditory disease. Brain Res 2024; 1828:148775. [PMID: 38244755 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2024.148775] [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: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
The auditory midbrain, also known as the inferior colliculus (IC), serves as a crucial hub in the auditory pathway. Comprising diverse cell types, the IC plays a pivotal role in various auditory functions, including sound localization, auditory plasticity, sound detection, and sound-induced behaviors. Notably, the IC is implicated in several auditory central disorders, such as tinnitus, age-related hearing loss, autism and Fragile X syndrome. Accurate classification of IC neurons is vital for comprehending both normal and dysfunctional aspects of IC function. Various parameters, including dendritic morphology, neurotransmitter synthesis, potassium currents, biomarkers, and axonal targets, have been employed to identify distinct neuron types within the IC. However, the challenge persists in effectively classifying IC neurons into functional categories due to the limited clustering capabilities of most parameters. Recent studies utilizing advanced neuroscience technologies have begun to shed light on biomarker-based approaches in the IC, providing insights into specific cellular properties and offering a potential avenue for understanding IC functions. This review focuses on recent advancements in IC research, spanning from neurons and neural circuits to aspects related to auditory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengting Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China
| | - Yuyao Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China
| | - Li Jiang
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China
| | - Xiaopeng Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China
| | - Chunrui Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China
| | - Tianhong Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China.
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9
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Zhao Y, Huang CX, Gu Y, Zhao Y, Ren W, Wang Y, Chen J, Guan NN, Song J. Serotonergic modulation of vigilance states in zebrafish and mice. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2596. [PMID: 38519480 PMCID: PMC10959952 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47021-0] [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: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Vigilance refers to being alertly watchful or paying sustained attention to avoid potential threats. Animals in vigilance states reduce locomotion and have an enhanced sensitivity to aversive stimuli so as to react quickly to dangers. Here we report that an unconventional 5-HT driven mechanism operating at neural circuit level which shapes the internal state underlying vigilance behavior in zebrafish and male mice. The neural signature of internal vigilance state was characterized by persistent low-frequency high-amplitude neuronal synchrony in zebrafish dorsal pallium and mice prefrontal cortex. The neuronal synchronization underlying vigilance was dependent on intense release of 5-HT induced by persistent activation of either DRN 5-HT neuron or local 5-HT axon terminals in related brain regions via activation of 5-HTR7. Thus, we identify a mechanism of vigilance behavior across species that illustrates the interplay between neuromodulators and neural circuits necessary to shape behavior states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation, Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200434, China
- Clinical Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200092, Shanghai, China
| | - Chun-Xiao Huang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation, Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200434, China
- Clinical Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200092, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiming Gu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation, Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200434, China
- Clinical Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200092, Shanghai, China
| | - Yacong Zhao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation, Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200434, China
- Clinical Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200092, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenjie Ren
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation, Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200434, China
- Clinical Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200092, Shanghai, China
| | - Yutong Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation, Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200434, China
- Clinical Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200092, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinjin Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation, Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200434, China
- Clinical Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200092, Shanghai, China
| | - Na N Guan
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation, Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200434, China.
- Clinical Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200092, Shanghai, China.
- Frontiers Science Center for Intelligent Autonomous Systems, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Jianren Song
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation, Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200434, China.
- Clinical Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200092, Shanghai, China.
- Frontiers Science Center for Intelligent Autonomous Systems, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
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10
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Liu M, Gao Y, Xin F, Hu Y, Wang T, Xie F, Shao C, Li T, Wang N, Yuan K. Parvalbumin and Somatostatin: Biomarkers for Two Parallel Tectothalamic Pathways in the Auditory Midbrain. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1655232024. [PMID: 38326037 PMCID: PMC10919325 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1655-23.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The inferior colliculus (IC) represents a crucial relay station in the auditory pathway, located in the midbrain's tectum and primarily projecting to the thalamus. Despite the identification of distinct cell classes based on various biomarkers in the IC, their specific contributions to the organization of auditory tectothalamic pathways have remained poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate that IC neurons expressing parvalbumin (ICPV+) or somatostatin (ICSOM+) represent two minimally overlapping cell classes throughout the three IC subdivisions in mice of both sexes. Strikingly, regardless of their location within the IC, these neurons predominantly project to the primary and secondary auditory thalamic nuclei, respectively. Cell class-specific input tracing suggested that ICPV+ neurons primarily receive auditory inputs, whereas ICSOM+ neurons receive significantly more inputs from the periaqueductal gray and the superior colliculus (SC), which are sensorimotor regions critically involved in innate behaviors. Furthermore, ICPV+ neurons exhibit significant heterogeneity in both intrinsic electrophysiological properties and presynaptic terminal size compared with ICSOM+ neurons. Notably, approximately one-quarter of ICPV+ neurons are inhibitory neurons, whereas all ICSOM+ neurons are excitatory neurons. Collectively, our findings suggest that parvalbumin and somatostatin expression in the IC can serve as biomarkers for two functionally distinct, parallel tectothalamic pathways. This discovery suggests an alternative way to define tectothalamic pathways and highlights the potential usefulness of Cre mice in understanding the multifaceted roles of the IC at the circuit level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengting Liu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China
| | - Yixiao Gao
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Fengyuan Xin
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Ying Hu
- Zhili College, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Fenghua Xie
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Tsinghua Laboratory of Brain and Intelligence, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Chengjun Shao
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Tianyu Li
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Ningyu Wang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China
| | - Kexin Yuan
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Tsinghua Laboratory of Brain and Intelligence, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Tsinghua University, Beijing 10084, China
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11
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Wang H, Wang Q, Cui L, Feng X, Dong P, Tan L, Lin L, Lian H, Cao S, Huang H, Cao P, Li XM. A molecularly defined amygdala-independent tetra-synaptic forebrain-to-hindbrain pathway for odor-driven innate fear and anxiety. Nat Neurosci 2024; 27:514-526. [PMID: 38347199 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01562-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Fear-related disorders (for example, phobias and anxiety) cause a substantial public health problem. To date, studies of the neural basis of fear have mostly focused on the amygdala. Here we identify a molecularly defined amygdala-independent tetra-synaptic pathway for olfaction-evoked innate fear and anxiety in male mice. This pathway starts with inputs from the olfactory bulb mitral and tufted cells to pyramidal neurons in the dorsal peduncular cortex that in turn connect to cholecystokinin-expressing (Cck+) neurons in the superior part of lateral parabrachial nucleus, which project to tachykinin 1-expressing (Tac1+) neurons in the parasubthalamic nucleus. Notably, the identified pathway is specifically involved in odor-driven innate fear. Selective activation of this pathway induces innate fear, while its inhibition suppresses odor-driven innate fear. In addition, the pathway is both necessary and sufficient for stress-induced anxiety-like behaviors. These findings reveal a forebrain-to-hindbrain neural substrate for sensory-triggered fear and anxiety that bypasses the amygdala.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Wang
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Affiliated Mental Health Center and Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine / Nanhu Brain-computer Interface Institute, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qin Wang
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Liuzhe Cui
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyang Feng
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ping Dong
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Liheng Tan
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lin Lin
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hong Lian
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shuxia Cao
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Huiqian Huang
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Peng Cao
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Ming Li
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
- National Health Commission and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Ministry of Education Frontier Center of Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
- Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Research Units for Emotion and Emotion Disorders, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences / Nanhu Brain-Computer Interface Institute, Hangzhou, China.
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12
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Yuan M, Jin S, Tan G, Song S, Liu Y, Wang H, Shen Y. A Non-canonical Excitatory PV RGC-PV SC Visual Pathway for Mediating the Looming-evoked Innate Defensive Response. Neurosci Bull 2024; 40:310-324. [PMID: 37302108 PMCID: PMC10912393 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-023-01076-z] [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: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Parvalbumin-positive retinal ganglion cells (PV+ RGCs) are an essential subset of RGCs found in various species. However, their role in transmitting visual information remains unclear. Here, we characterized PV+ RGCs in the retina and explored the functions of the PV+ RGC-mediated visual pathway. By applying multiple viral tracing strategies, we investigated the downstream of PV+ RGCs across the whole brain. Interestingly, we found that the PV+ RGCs provided direct monosynaptic input to PV+ excitatory neurons in the superficial layers of the superior colliculus (SC). Ablation or suppression of SC-projecting PV+ RGCs abolished or severely impaired the flight response to looming visual stimuli in mice without affecting visual acuity. Furthermore, using transcriptome expression profiling of individual cells and immunofluorescence colocalization for RGCs, we found that PV+ RGCs are predominant glutamatergic neurons. Thus, our findings indicate the critical role of PV+ RGCs in an innate defensive response and suggest a non-canonical subcortical visual pathway from excitatory PV+ RGCs to PV+ SC neurons that regulates looming visual stimuli. These results provide a potential target for intervening and treating diseases related to this circuit, such as schizophrenia and autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Yuan
- Eye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Sen Jin
- The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Viral Vectors for Biomedicine, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, National Medical Products Administration Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Viral Vector Technology in Cell and Gene Therapy Medicinal Products, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Quality Control Technology for Virus-Based Therapeutics, Guangdong Provincial Medical Products Administration, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, Wuhan Center for Magnetic Resonance, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, CAS, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Gao Tan
- Eye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Siyuan Song
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, 77030, USA
| | - Yizong Liu
- Eye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Huadong Wang
- The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Viral Vectors for Biomedicine, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, National Medical Products Administration Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Viral Vector Technology in Cell and Gene Therapy Medicinal Products, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Quality Control Technology for Virus-Based Therapeutics, Guangdong Provincial Medical Products Administration, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, Wuhan Center for Magnetic Resonance, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, CAS, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Yin Shen
- Eye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China.
- Frontier Science Center of Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.
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13
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Yu T, Zou Y, Nie H, Li Y, Chen J, Du Y, Peng H, Luo Q. The role of the thalamic subregions in major depressive disorder with childhood maltreatment: Evidences from dynamic and static functional connectivity. J Affect Disord 2024; 347:237-248. [PMID: 38000476 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.11.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Major depressive disorder (MDD) with a history of childhood maltreatment represents a highly prevalent clinical phenotype. Previous studies have demonstrated functional alterations of the thalamus among MDD. However, no study has investigated the static and dynamic changes in functional connectivity (FC) within thalamic subregions among MDD with childhood maltreatment. METHODS This study included four groups: MDD with childhood maltreatment (n = 48), MDD without childhood maltreatment (n = 30), healthy controls with childhood maltreatment (n = 57), and healthy controls without childhood maltreatment (n = 46). Sixteen thalamic subregions were selected as seed to investigate group-differences in dynamic FC (dFC) and static FC (sFC). Correlation analyses were performed to assess the associations between abnormal FC and maltreatment severity. Eventually, moderation analyses were employed to explore the moderating role of abnormal FC in the relationship between maltreatment and depressive severity. RESULTS MDD with childhood maltreatment exhibit abnormal thalamic subregions FC compared to MDD without childhood maltreatment, characterized by abnormalities with the sFC of the rostral anterior cingulate cortex, with the dFC of the calcarine, middle cingulate cortex, precuneus cortex and superior temporal gyrus. Furthermore, sFC with the rostral anterior cingulate cortex and dFC with the middle cingulate cortex were correlated with the severity of maltreatment. Additionally, dFC with the superior temporal gyrus moderates the relationship between maltreatment and depression severity. LIMITATIONS The cross-sectional designs fail to infer causality. CONCLUSIONS Our findings support thalamic dysfunction as neurobiological features of childhood maltreatment as well as vulnerability to MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Yu
- Department of Clinical Psychology, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510370, China; Department of Psychiatry, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511436, China
| | - Yurong Zou
- Department of Clinical Psychology, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510370, China
| | - Huiqin Nie
- Department of Clinical Psychology, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510370, China
| | - Yuhong Li
- Department of Publicity and Health Education, Shenzhen Longhua District Central Hospital, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Juran Chen
- The Zhongshan Torch Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone Community Health Service, Zhongshan 528437, China
| | - Yingying Du
- Department of Clinical Psychology, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510370, China
| | - Hongjun Peng
- Department of Clinical Psychology, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510370, China; Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Translational Medicine of Mental Disorders, Guangzhou 510370, China.
| | - Qianyi Luo
- Department of Clinical Psychology, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510370, China; Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Translational Medicine of Mental Disorders, Guangzhou 510370, China.
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14
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Hu G, Chen A, Ye J, Liu Q, Wang J, Fan C, Wang X, Huang M, Dai M, Shi X, Gu Y. A developmental critical period for ocular dominance plasticity of binocular neurons in mouse superior colliculus. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113667. [PMID: 38184852 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113667] [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: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Detecting visual features in the environment is crucial for animals' survival. The superior colliculus (SC) is implicated in motion detection and processing, whereas how the SC integrates visual inputs from the two eyes remains unclear. Using in vivo electrophysiology, we show that mouse SC contains many binocular neurons that display robust ocular dominance (OD) plasticity in a critical period during early development, which is similar to, but not dependent on, the primary visual cortex. NR2A- and NR2B-containing N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors play an essential role in the regulation of SC plasticity. Blocking NMDA receptors can largely prevent the impairment of predatory hunting caused by monocular deprivation, indicating that maintaining the binocularity of SC neurons is required for efficient hunting behavior. Together, our studies reveal the existence and function of OD plasticity in SC, which broadens our understanding of the development of subcortical visual circuitry relating to motion detection and predatory hunting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanglei Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Ailin Chen
- Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin Eye Institute, Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300020, China
| | - Jingjing Ye
- Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin Eye Institute, Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300020, China; Medical College of Optometry and Ophthalmology, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Qiong Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Jiafeng Wang
- Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin Eye Institute, Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300020, China
| | - Cunxiu Fan
- Jiading Branch of Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 800 Huangjiahuayuan Road, Shanghai 201803, China
| | - Xiaoqing Wang
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Mengqi Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Menghan Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xuefeng Shi
- Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin Eye Institute, Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300020, China; Medical College of Optometry and Ophthalmology, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250014, China; Institute of Ophthalmology, Nankai University, Tianjin 300020, China.
| | - Yu Gu
- 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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15
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Cheung G, Pauler FM, Koppensteiner P, Krausgruber T, Streicher C, Schrammel M, Gutmann-Özgen N, Ivec AE, Bock C, Shigemoto R, Hippenmeyer S. Multipotent progenitors instruct ontogeny of the superior colliculus. Neuron 2024; 112:230-246.e11. [PMID: 38096816 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.11.009] [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: 07/29/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
The superior colliculus (SC) in the mammalian midbrain is essential for multisensory integration and is composed of a rich diversity of excitatory and inhibitory neurons and glia. However, the developmental principles directing the generation of SC cell-type diversity are not understood. Here, we pursued systematic cell lineage tracing in silico and in vivo, preserving full spatial information, using genetic mosaic analysis with double markers (MADM)-based clonal analysis with single-cell sequencing (MADM-CloneSeq). The analysis of clonally related cell lineages revealed that radial glial progenitors (RGPs) in SC are exceptionally multipotent. Individual resident RGPs have the capacity to produce all excitatory and inhibitory SC neuron types, even at the stage of terminal division. While individual clonal units show no pre-defined cellular composition, the establishment of appropriate relative proportions of distinct neuronal types occurs in a PTEN-dependent manner. Collectively, our findings provide an inaugural framework at the single-RGP/-cell level of the mammalian SC ontogeny.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giselle Cheung
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), Am Campus 1, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Florian M Pauler
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), Am Campus 1, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Peter Koppensteiner
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), Am Campus 1, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Thomas Krausgruber
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Austrian Academy of Sciences; 1090 Vienna, Austria; Medical University of Vienna, Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Center for Medical Data Science, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Carmen Streicher
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), Am Campus 1, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Martin Schrammel
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), Am Campus 1, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Natalie Gutmann-Özgen
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), Am Campus 1, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Alexis E Ivec
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), Am Campus 1, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Christoph Bock
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Austrian Academy of Sciences; 1090 Vienna, Austria; Medical University of Vienna, Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Center for Medical Data Science, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ryuichi Shigemoto
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), Am Campus 1, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Simon Hippenmeyer
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), Am Campus 1, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria.
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16
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Guo F, Zou J, Wang Y, Fang B, Zhou H, Wang D, He S, Zhang P. Human subcortical pathways automatically detect collision trajectory without attention and awareness. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002375. [PMID: 38236815 PMCID: PMC10795999 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Detecting imminent collisions is essential for survival. Here, we used high-resolution fMRI at 7 Tesla to investigate the role of attention and consciousness for detecting collision trajectory in human subcortical pathways. Healthy participants can precisely discriminate collision from near-miss trajectory of an approaching object, with pupil size change reflecting collision sensitivity. Subcortical pathways from the superior colliculus (SC) to the ventromedial pulvinar (vmPul) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) exhibited collision-sensitive responses even when participants were not paying attention to the looming stimuli. For hemianopic patients with unilateral lesions of the geniculostriate pathway, the ipsilesional SC and VTA showed significant activation to collision stimuli in their scotoma. Furthermore, stronger SC responses predicted better behavioral performance in collision detection even in the absence of awareness. Therefore, human tectofugal pathways could automatically detect collision trajectories without the observers' attention to and awareness of looming stimuli, supporting "blindsight" detection of impending visual threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanhua Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jinyou Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Aier Institute of Optometry and Vision Science, Aier Eye Hospital Group, Changsha, China
| | - Ye Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Boyan Fang
- Neurological Rehabilitation Center, Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Huanfen Zhou
- Division of Ophthalmology, The Third Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Dajiang Wang
- Division of Ophthalmology, The Third Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Sheng He
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, China
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17
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Huo L, Ye Z, Liu M, He Z, Huang M, Li D, Wu Q, Wang Q, Wang X, Cao P, Dong J, Shang C. Brain circuits for retching-like behavior. Natl Sci Rev 2024; 11:nwad256. [PMID: 38288368 PMCID: PMC10824557 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwad256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Nausea and vomiting are important defensive responses to cope with pathogens and toxins that invade the body. The nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) is important for initiating these responses. However, the molecular heterogeneities and cellular diversities of the NTS occlude a better understanding of these defensive responses. Here, we constructed the single-nucleus transcriptomic atlas of NTS cells and found multiple populations of NTS neurons that may be involved in these defensive responses. Among these, we identified Calbindin1-positive (Calb1+) NTS neurons that are molecularly distinct from Tac1+ neurons. These Calb1+ neurons are critical for nausea and retching induced by cereulide; an emetic toxin secreted by Bacillus Cereus. Strikingly, we found that cereulide can directly modulate vagal sensory neurons that innervate Calb1+ NTS neurons, a novel mechanism distinct from that for nausea and retching induced by Staphylococcal enterotoxin A. Together, our transcriptomic atlas of NTS neurons and the functional analyses revealed the neural mechanism for cereulide-induced retching-like behavior. These results demonstrate the molecular and cellular complexities in the brain that underlie defensive responses to the diversities of pathogens and toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lifang Huo
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou National Laboratory, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510799, China
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou 510320, China
| | - Zhimin Ye
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou National Laboratory, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510799, China
| | - Meiling Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou National Laboratory, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510799, China
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou 510320, China
| | - Ziqing He
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou National Laboratory, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510799, China
| | - Meizhu Huang
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou 510320, China
| | - Dapeng Li
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Qian Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Changping Life Science Laboratory, Beijing 102299, China
| | - Xiaoqun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Peng Cao
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Ji Dong
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou National Laboratory, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510799, China
| | - Congping Shang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou National Laboratory, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510799, China
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou 510320, China
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18
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Melleu FF, Canteras NS. Pathways from the Superior Colliculus to the Basal Ganglia. Curr Neuropharmacol 2024; 22:1431-1453. [PMID: 37702174 PMCID: PMC11097988 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x21666230911102118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The present work aims to review the structural organization of the mammalian superior colliculus (SC), the putative pathways connecting the SC and the basal ganglia, and their role in organizing complex behavioral output. First, we review how the complex intrinsic connections between the SC's laminae projections allow for the construction of spatially aligned, visual-multisensory maps of the surrounding environment. Moreover, we present a summary of the sensory-motor inputs of the SC, including a description of the integration of multi-sensory inputs relevant to behavioral control. We further examine the major descending outputs toward the brainstem and spinal cord. As the central piece of this review, we provide a thorough analysis covering the putative interactions between the SC and the basal ganglia. To this end, we explore the diverse thalamic routes by which information from the SC may reach the striatum, including the pathways through the lateral posterior, parafascicular, and rostral intralaminar thalamic nuclei. We also examine the interactions between the SC and subthalamic nucleus, representing an additional pathway for the tectal modulation of the basal ganglia. Moreover, we discuss how information from the SC might also be relayed to the basal ganglia through midbrain tectonigral and tectotegmental projections directed at the substantia nigra compacta and ventrotegmental area, respectively, influencing the dopaminergic outflow to the dorsal and ventral striatum. We highlight the vast interplay between the SC and the basal ganglia and raise several missing points that warrant being addressed in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Newton Sabino Canteras
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
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19
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Stubbendorff C, Hale E, Day HLL, Smith J, Alvaro GS, Large CH, Stevenson CW. Pharmacological modulation of Kv3 voltage-gated potassium channels regulates fear discrimination and expression in a response-dependent manner. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2023; 127:110829. [PMID: 37451593 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Various psychiatric diseases are characterized by aberrant cognition and emotional regulation. This includes inappropriately attributing affective salience to innocuous cues, which can be investigated using translationally relevant preclinical models of fear discrimination. Activity in the underpinning corticolimbic circuitry is governed by parvalbumin-expressing GABAergic interneurons, which also regulate fear discrimination. Kv3 voltage-gated potassium channels are highly expressed in these neurons and are important for controlling their activity, suggesting that pharmacological Kv3 modulation may regulate fear discrimination. We determined the effect of the positive Kv3 modulator AUT00206 given systemically to female rats undergoing limited or extended auditory fear discrimination training, which we have previously shown results in more discrimination or generalization, respectively, based on freezing at retrieval. We also characterized darting and other active fear-related responses. We found that limited training resulted in more discrimination based on freezing, which was unaffected by AUT00206. In contrast, extended training resulted in more generalization based on freezing and the emergence of discrimination based on darting during training and, to a lesser extent, at retrieval. Importantly, AUT00206 given before extended training had dissociable effects on fear discrimination and expression at retrieval depending on the response examined. While AUT00206 mitigated generalization without affecting expression based on freezing, it reduced expression without affecting discrimination based on darting, although darting levels were low overall. These results indicate that pharmacological Kv3 modulation regulates fear discrimination and expression in a response-dependent manner. They also raise the possibility that targeting Kv3 channels may ameliorate perturbed cognition and emotional regulation in psychiatric disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Stubbendorff
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Ed Hale
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Harriet L L Day
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Jessica Smith
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Giuseppe S Alvaro
- Autifony Therapeutics Limited, Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage SG1 2FX, UK
| | - Charles H Large
- Autifony Therapeutics Limited, Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage SG1 2FX, UK
| | - Carl W Stevenson
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK.
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20
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Baruchin LJ, Alleman M, Schröder S. Reward Modulates Visual Responses in the Superficial Superior Colliculus of Mice. J Neurosci 2023; 43:8663-8680. [PMID: 37879894 PMCID: PMC7615379 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0089-23.2023] [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: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The processing of sensory input is constantly adapting to behavioral demands and internal states. The drive to obtain reward, e.g., searching for water when thirsty, is a strong behavioral demand and associating the reward with its source, a certain environment or action, is paramount for survival. Here, we show that water reward increases subsequent visual activity in the superficial layers of the superior colliculus (SC), which receive direct input from the retina and belong to the earliest stages of visual processing. We trained mice of either sex to perform a visual decision task and recorded the activity of neurons in the SC using two-photon calcium imaging and high-density electrophysiological recordings. Responses to visual stimuli in around 20% of visually responsive neurons in the superficial SC were affected by reward delivered in the previous trial. Reward mostly increased visual responses independent from modulations due to pupil size changes. The modulation of visual responses by reward could not be explained by movements like licking. It was specific to responses to the following visual stimulus, independent of slow fluctuations in neural activity and independent of how often the stimulus was previously rewarded. Electrophysiological recordings confirmed these results and revealed that reward affected the early phase of the visual response around 80 ms after stimulus onset. Modulation of visual responses by reward, but not pupil size, significantly improved the performance of a population decoder to detect visual stimuli, indicating the relevance of reward modulation for the visual performance of the animal.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT To learn which actions lead to food, water, or safety, it is necessary to integrate the receiving of reward with sensory stimuli related to the reward. Cortical stages of sensory processing have been shown to represent stimulus-reward associations. Here, we show, however, that reward influences neurons at a much earlier stage of sensory processing, the superior colliculus (SC), receiving direct input from the retina. Visual responses were increased shortly after the animal received the water reward, which led to an improved stimulus signal in the population of these visual neurons. Reward modulation of early visual responses may thus improve perception of visual environments predictive of reward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liad J Baruchin
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QG, United Kingdom
| | - Matteo Alleman
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Sylvia Schröder
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QG, United Kingdom
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
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21
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Shan L, Yuan L, Zhang B, Ma J, Xu X, Gu F, Jiang Y, Dai J. Neural Integration of Audiovisual Sensory Inputs in Macaque Amygdala and Adjacent Regions. Neurosci Bull 2023; 39:1749-1761. [PMID: 36920645 PMCID: PMC10661144 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-023-01043-8] [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: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Integrating multisensory inputs to generate accurate perception and guide behavior is among the most critical functions of the brain. Subcortical regions such as the amygdala are involved in sensory processing including vision and audition, yet their roles in multisensory integration remain unclear. In this study, we systematically investigated the function of neurons in the amygdala and adjacent regions in integrating audiovisual sensory inputs using a semi-chronic multi-electrode array and multiple combinations of audiovisual stimuli. From a sample of 332 neurons, we showed the diverse response patterns to audiovisual stimuli and the neural characteristics of bimodal over unimodal modulation, which could be classified into four types with differentiated regional origins. Using the hierarchical clustering method, neurons were further clustered into five groups and associated with different integrating functions and sub-regions. Finally, regions distinguishing congruent and incongruent bimodal sensory inputs were identified. Overall, visual processing dominates audiovisual integration in the amygdala and adjacent regions. Our findings shed new light on the neural mechanisms of multisensory integration in the primate brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Shan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Liu Yuan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- Key Laboratory of Brain Science, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, China
| | - Jian Ma
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Xiao Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Fei Gu
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Yi Jiang
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, 102206, China.
| | - Ji Dai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
- Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
- Shenzhen Technological Research Center for Primate Translational Medicine, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
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22
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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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23
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Jiang S, Honnuraiah S, Stuart GJ. Characterization of primary visual cortex input to specific cell types in the superior colliculus. Front Neuroanat 2023; 17:1282941. [PMID: 38020214 PMCID: PMC10667433 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2023.1282941] [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: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The superior colliculus is a critical brain region involved in processing visual information. It receives visual input directly from the retina, as well as via a projection from primary visual cortex. Here we determine which cell types in the superficial superior colliculus receive visual input from primary visual cortex in mice. Neurons in the superficial layers of the superior colliculus were classified into four groups - Wide-field, narrow-field, horizontal and stellate - based on their morphological and electrophysiological properties. To determine functional connections between V1 and these four different cell types we expressed Channelrhodopsin2 in primary visual cortex and then optically stimulated these axons while recording from different neurons in the superficial superior colliculus using whole-cell patch-clamp recording in vitro. We found that all four cell types in the superficial layers of the superior colliculus received monosynaptic (direct) input from V1. Wide-field neurons were more likely than other cell types to receive primary visual cortex input. Our results provide information on the cell specificity of the primary visual cortex to superior colliculus projection, increasing our understanding of how visual information is processed in the superior colliculus at the single cell level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Jiang
- Eccles Institute for Neuroscience, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Suraj Honnuraiah
- Eccles Institute for Neuroscience, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Greg J. Stuart
- Eccles Institute for Neuroscience, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
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24
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Tseng YT, Schaefke B, Wei P, Wang L. Defensive responses: behaviour, the brain and the body. Nat Rev Neurosci 2023; 24:655-671. [PMID: 37730910 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-023-00736-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Most animals live under constant threat from predators, and predation has been a major selective force in shaping animal behaviour. Nevertheless, defence responses against predatory threats need to be balanced against other adaptive behaviours such as foraging, mating and recovering from infection. This behavioural balance in ethologically relevant contexts requires adequate integration of internal and external signals in a complex interplay between the brain and the body. Despite this complexity, research has often considered defensive behaviour as entirely mediated by the brain processing threat-related information obtained via perception of the external environment. However, accumulating evidence suggests that the endocrine, immune, gastrointestinal and reproductive systems have important roles in modulating behavioural responses to threat. In this Review, we focus on how predatory threat defence responses are shaped by threat imminence and review the circuitry between subcortical brain regions involved in mediating defensive behaviours. Then, we discuss the intersection of peripheral systems involved in internal states related to infection, hunger and mating with the neurocircuits that underlie defence responses against predatory threat. Through this process, we aim to elucidate the interconnections between the brain and body as an integrated network that facilitates appropriate defensive responses to threat and to discuss the implications for future behavioural research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Ting Tseng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behaviour, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bernhard Schaefke
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Pengfei Wei
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Liping Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behaviour, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China.
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25
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Gehr C, Sibille J, Kremkow J. Retinal input integration in excitatory and inhibitory neurons in the mouse superior colliculus in vivo. eLife 2023; 12:RP88289. [PMID: 37682267 PMCID: PMC10491433 DOI: 10.7554/elife.88289] [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] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The superior colliculus (SC) is a midbrain structure that receives inputs from retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). The SC contains one of the highest densities of inhibitory neurons in the brain but whether excitatory and inhibitory SC neurons differentially integrate retinal activity in vivo is still largely unknown. We recently established a recording approach to measure the activity of RGCs simultaneously with their postsynaptic SC targets in vivo, to study how SC neurons integrate RGC activity. Here, we employ this method to investigate the functional properties that govern retinocollicular signaling in a cell type-specific manner by identifying GABAergic SC neurons using optotagging in VGAT-ChR2 mice. Our results demonstrate that both excitatory and inhibitory SC neurons receive comparably strong RGC inputs and similar wiring rules apply for RGCs innervation of both SC cell types, unlike the cell type-specific connectivity in the thalamocortical system. Moreover, retinal activity contributed more to the spiking activity of postsynaptic excitatory compared to inhibitory SC neurons. This study deepens our understanding of cell type-specific retinocollicular functional connectivity and emphasizes that the two major brain areas for visual processing, the visual cortex and the SC, differently integrate sensory afferent inputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolin Gehr
- Neuroscience Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin BerlinBerlinGermany
- Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience BerlinBerlinGermany
- Institute for Theoretical Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu BerlinBerlinGermany
- Einstein Center for Neurosciences BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Jeremie Sibille
- Neuroscience Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin BerlinBerlinGermany
- Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience BerlinBerlinGermany
- Institute for Theoretical Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu BerlinBerlinGermany
- Einstein Center for Neurosciences BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Jens Kremkow
- Neuroscience Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin BerlinBerlinGermany
- Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience BerlinBerlinGermany
- Institute for Theoretical Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu BerlinBerlinGermany
- Einstein Center for Neurosciences BerlinBerlinGermany
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26
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Li C, Kühn NK, Alkislar I, Sans-Dublanc A, Zemmouri F, Paesmans S, Calzoni A, Ooms F, Reinhard K, Farrow K. Pathway-specific inputs to the superior colliculus support flexible responses to visual threat. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eade3874. [PMID: 37647395 PMCID: PMC10468139 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ade3874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Behavioral flexibility requires directing feedforward sensory information to appropriate targets. In the superior colliculus, divergent outputs orchestrate different responses to visual threats, but the circuit organization enabling the flexible routing of sensory information remains unknown. To determine this structure, we focused on inhibitory projection (Gad2) neurons. Trans-synaptic tracing and neuronal recordings revealed that Gad2 neurons projecting to the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and the parabigeminal nucleus (PBG) form two separate populations, each receiving a different set of non-retinal inputs. Inhibiting the LGN- or PBG-projecting Gad2 neurons resulted in opposing effects on behavior; increasing freezing or escape probability to visual looming, respectively. Optogenetic activation of selected inputs to the LGN- and PBG-projecting Gad2 cells predictably regulated responses to visual threat. These data suggest that projection-specific sampling of brain-wide inputs provides a circuit design principle that enables visual inputs to be selectively routed to produce context-specific behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Li
- Neuro-Electronics Research Flanders, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Norma K. Kühn
- Neuro-Electronics Research Flanders, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ilayda Alkislar
- Neuro-Electronics Research Flanders, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Arnau Sans-Dublanc
- Neuro-Electronics Research Flanders, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Firdaouss Zemmouri
- Neuro-Electronics Research Flanders, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical, and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Soraya Paesmans
- Neuro-Electronics Research Flanders, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Alex Calzoni
- Neuro-Electronics Research Flanders, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Frédérique Ooms
- Neuro-Electronics Research Flanders, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Imec, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Katja Reinhard
- Neuro-Electronics Research Flanders, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Karl Farrow
- Neuro-Electronics Research Flanders, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Imec, Leuven, Belgium
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27
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Liang Y, Lu R, Borges K, Ji N. Stimulus edges induce orientation tuning in superior colliculus. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4756. [PMID: 37553352 PMCID: PMC10409754 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40444-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Orientation columns exist in the primary visual cortex (V1) of cat and primates but not mouse. Intriguingly, some recent studies reported the presence of orientation and direction columns in the mouse superficial superior colliculus (sSC), while others reported a lack of columnar organization therein. Using in vivo calcium imaging of sSC in the awake mouse brain, we found that the presence of columns is highly stimulus dependent. Specifically, we observed orientation and direction columns formed by sSC neurons retinotopically mapped to the edge of grating stimuli. For both excitatory and inhibitory neurons in sSC, orientation selectivity can be induced by the edge with their preferred orientation perpendicular to the edge orientation. Furthermore, we found that this edge-induced orientation selectivity is associated with saliency encoding. These findings indicate that the tuning properties of sSC neurons are not fixed by circuit architecture but rather dependent on the spatiotemporal properties of the stimulus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajie Liang
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, 20148, USA
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Rongwen Lu
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, 20148, USA
| | - Katharine Borges
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Na Ji
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, 20148, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
- Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
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28
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Khalil V, Faress I, Mermet-Joret N, Kerwin P, Yonehara K, Nabavi S. Subcortico-amygdala pathway processes innate and learned threats. eLife 2023; 12:e85459. [PMID: 37526552 PMCID: PMC10449383 DOI: 10.7554/elife.85459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Behavioral flexibility and timely reactions to salient stimuli are essential for survival. The subcortical thalamic-basolateral amygdala (BLA) pathway serves as a shortcut for salient stimuli ensuring rapid processing. Here, we show that BLA neuronal and thalamic axonal activity in mice mirror the defensive behavior evoked by an innate visual threat as well as an auditory learned threat. Importantly, perturbing this pathway compromises defensive responses to both forms of threats, in that animals fail to switch from exploratory to defensive behavior. Despite the shared pathway between the two forms of threat processing, we observed noticeable differences. Blocking β-adrenergic receptors impairs the defensive response to the innate but not the learned threats. This reduced defensive response, surprisingly, is reflected in the suppression of the activity exclusively in the BLA as the thalamic input response remains intact. Our side-by-side examination highlights the similarities and differences between innate and learned threat-processing, thus providing new fundamental insights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Khalil
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
- DANDRITE, The Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience, Aarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
- Center for Proteins in Memory – PROMEMO, Danish National Research Foundation, Aarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
| | - Islam Faress
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
- DANDRITE, The Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience, Aarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
- Center for Proteins in Memory – PROMEMO, Danish National Research Foundation, Aarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
| | - Noëmie Mermet-Joret
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
- DANDRITE, The Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience, Aarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
- Center for Proteins in Memory – PROMEMO, Danish National Research Foundation, Aarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
| | - Peter Kerwin
- DANDRITE, The Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience, Aarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
| | - Keisuke Yonehara
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
- Multiscale Sensory Structure Laboratory, National Institute of GeneticsMishimaJapan
- Department of Genetics, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI)MishimaJapan
| | - Sadegh Nabavi
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
- DANDRITE, The Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience, Aarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
- Center for Proteins in Memory – PROMEMO, Danish National Research Foundation, Aarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
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29
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Baier F, Reinhard K, Tong V, Murmann J, Farrow K, Hoekstra HE. The neural basis of defensive behaviour evolution in Peromyscus mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.04.547734. [PMID: 37461474 PMCID: PMC10350006 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.04.547734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Evading imminent predator threat is critical for survival. Effective defensive strategies can vary, even between closely related species. However, the neural basis of such species-specific behaviours is still poorly understood. Here we find that two sister species of deer mice (genus Peromyscus) show different responses to the same looming stimulus: P. maniculatus, which occupy densely vegetated habitats, predominantly dart to escape, while the open field specialist, P. polionotus, pause their movement. This difference arises from species-specific escape thresholds, is largely context-independent, and can be triggered by both visual and auditory threat stimuli. Using immunohistochemistry and electrophysiological recordings, we find that although visual threat activates the superior colliculus in both species, the role of the dorsal periaqueductal gray (dPAG) in driving behaviour differs. While dPAG activity scales with running speed and involves both excitatory and inhibitory neurons in P. maniculatus, the dPAG is largely silent in P. polionotus, even when darting is triggered. Moreover, optogenetic activation of excitatory dPAG neurons reliably elicits darting behaviour in P. maniculatus but not P. polionotus. Together, we trace the evolution of species-specific escape thresholds to a central circuit node, downstream of peripheral sensory neurons, localizing an ecologically relevant behavioural difference to a specific region of the complex mammalian brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Baier
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Department of Organismic & Evolutionary Biology, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Center for Brain Science, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Present address: Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Katja Reinhard
- Neuro-Electronics Research Flanders, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Present address: Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, Trieste, Italy
| | - Victoria Tong
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Department of Organismic & Evolutionary Biology, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Center for Brain Science, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Julie Murmann
- Neuro-Electronics Research Flanders, Leuven, Belgium
- Present address: Institute of Science & Technology Austria, Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Karl Farrow
- Neuro-Electronics Research Flanders, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- imec, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hopi E. Hoekstra
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Department of Organismic & Evolutionary Biology, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Center for Brain Science, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
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30
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Liu Y, Savier EL, DePiero VJ, Chen C, Schwalbe DC, Abraham-Fan RJ, Chen H, Campbell JN, Cang J. Mapping visual functions onto molecular cell types in the mouse superior colliculus. Neuron 2023; 111:1876-1886.e5. [PMID: 37086721 PMCID: PMC10330256 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.03.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2023]
Abstract
The superficial superior colliculus (sSC) carries out diverse roles in visual processing and behaviors, but how these functions are delegated among collicular neurons remains unclear. Here, using single-cell transcriptomics, we identified 28 neuron subtypes and subtype-enriched marker genes from tens of thousands of adult mouse sSC neurons. We then asked whether the sSC's molecular subtypes are tuned to different visual stimuli. Specifically, we imaged calcium dynamics in single sSC neurons in vivo during visual stimulation and then mapped marker gene transcripts onto the same neurons ex vivo. Our results identify a molecular subtype of inhibitory neuron accounting for ∼50% of the sSC's direction-selective cells, suggesting a genetic logic for the functional organization of the sSC. In addition, our studies provide a comprehensive molecular atlas of sSC neuron subtypes and a multimodal mapping method that will facilitate investigation of their respective functions, connectivity, and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanming Liu
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
| | - Elise L Savier
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
| | - Victor J DePiero
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
| | - Dana C Schwalbe
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
| | | | - Hui Chen
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
| | - John N Campbell
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA.
| | - Jianhua Cang
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA.
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31
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Wang D, Tang L, Xi C, Luo D, Liang Y, Huang Q, Wang Z, Chen J, Zhao X, Zhou H, Wang F, Hu S. Targeted visual cortex stimulation (TVCS): a novel neuro-navigated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation mode for improving cognitive function in bipolar disorder. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:193. [PMID: 37291106 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02498-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
A more effective and better-tolerated site for repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for treating cognitive dysfunction in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) is needed. The primary visual cortex (V1) may represent a suitable site. To investigate the use of the V1, which is functionally linked to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), as a potential site for improving cognitive function in BD. Seed-based functional connectivity (FC) analysis was used to locate targets in the V1 that had significant FC with the DLPFC and ACC. Subjects were randomly assigned to 4 groups, namely, the DLPFC active-sham rTMS (A1), DLPFC sham-active rTMS (A2), ACC active-sham rTMS (B1), and ACC sham-active rTMS groups (B2). The intervention included the rTMS treatment once daily, with five treatments a week for four weeks. The A1 and B1 groups received 10 days of active rTMS treatment followed by 10 days of sham rTMS treatment. The A2 and B2 groups received the opposite. The primary outcomes were changes in the scores of five tests in the THINC-integrated tool (THINC-it) at week 2 (W2) and week 4 (W4). The secondary outcomes were changes in the FC between the DLPFC/ACC and the whole brain at W2 and W4. Of the original 93 patients with BD recruited, 86 were finally included, and 73 finished the trial. Significant interactions between time and intervention type (Active/Sham) were observed in the scores of the accuracy of the Symbol Check in the THINC-it tests at baseline (W0) and W2 in groups B1 and B2 (F = 4.736, p = 0.037) using a repeated-measures analysis of covariance approach. Group B1 scored higher in the accuracy of Symbol Check at W2 compared with W0 (p < 0.001), while the scores of group B2 did not differ significantly between W0 and W2. No significant interactions between time and intervention mode were seen between groups A1 and A2, nor was any within-group significance of FC between DLPFC/ACC and the whole brain observed between baseline (W0) and W2/W4 in any group. One participant in group B1 experienced disease progression after 10 active and 2 sham rTMS sessions. The present study demonstrated that V1, functionally correlated with ACC, is a potentially effective rTMS stimulation target for improving neurocognitive function in BD patients. Further investigation using larger samples is required to confirm the clinical efficacy of TVCS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
- The Key Laboratory of Mental Disorder's Management in Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Lili Tang
- Early Intervention Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Nanjing Brain Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210000, P.R. China
- Functional Brain Imaging Institute of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210000, P.R. China
| | - Caixi Xi
- Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
- The Key Laboratory of Mental Disorder's Management in Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Dan Luo
- Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
- Ward Five of The Third People's Hospital of Jiashan County, Jiaxing, 314000, China
| | - Yin Liang
- Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
- Taizhou Second People's Hospital, Taizhou, 318000, China
| | - Qi Huang
- Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
- Nanchong Psychosomatic Hospital, Nanchong, 637000, China
| | - Zhong Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
- The Key Laboratory of Mental Disorder's Management in Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Jingkai Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
- The Key Laboratory of Mental Disorder's Management in Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Xudong Zhao
- Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
- Huzhou Third municipal hospital, Huzhou, 313000, China
| | - Hetong Zhou
- Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
- The Key Laboratory of Mental Disorder's Management in Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Early Intervention Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Nanjing Brain Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210000, P.R. China.
- Functional Brain Imaging Institute of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210000, P.R. China.
| | - Shaohua Hu
- Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China.
- The Key Laboratory of Mental Disorder's Management in Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310003, China.
- Brain Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310003, China.
- Zhejiang Engineering Center for Mathematical Mental Health, Hangzhou, 310003, China.
- MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science & Brain-Machine Integration, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310003, China.
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32
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Wu Q, Zhang Y. Neural Circuit Mechanisms Involved in Animals' Detection of and Response to Visual Threats. Neurosci Bull 2023; 39:994-1008. [PMID: 36694085 PMCID: PMC10264346 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-023-01021-0] [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: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Evading or escaping from predators is one of the most crucial issues for survival across the animal kingdom. The timely detection of predators and the initiation of appropriate fight-or-flight responses are innate capabilities of the nervous system. Here we review recent progress in our understanding of innate visually-triggered defensive behaviors and the underlying neural circuit mechanisms, and a comparison among vinegar flies, zebrafish, and mice is included. This overview covers the anatomical and functional aspects of the neural circuits involved in this process, including visual threat processing and identification, the selection of appropriate behavioral responses, and the initiation of these innate defensive behaviors. The emphasis of this review is on the early stages of this pathway, namely, threat identification from complex visual inputs and how behavioral choices are influenced by differences in visual threats. We also briefly cover how the innate defensive response is processed centrally. Based on these summaries, we discuss coding strategies for visual threats and propose a common prototypical pathway for rapid innate defensive responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiwen Wu
- Institute of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yifeng Zhang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China.
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33
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Whyland KL, Masterson SP, Slusarczyk AS, Bickford ME. Synaptic properties of mouse tecto-parabigeminal pathways. Front Syst Neurosci 2023; 17:1181052. [PMID: 37251004 PMCID: PMC10213440 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2023.1181052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The superior colliculus (SC) is a critical hub for the generation of visually-evoked orienting and defensive behaviors. Among the SC's myriad downstream targets is the parabigeminal nucleus (PBG), the mammalian homolog of the nucleus isthmi, which has been implicated in motion processing and the production of defensive behaviors. The inputs to the PBG are thought to arise exclusively from the SC but little is known regarding the precise synaptic relationships linking the SC to the PBG. In the current study, we use optogenetics as well as viral tracing and electron microscopy in mice to better characterize the anatomical and functional properties of the SC-PBG circuit, as well as the morphological and ultrastructural characteristics of neurons residing in the PBG. We characterized GABAergic SC-PBG projections (that do not contain parvalbumin) and glutamatergic SC-PBG projections (which include neurons that contain parvalbumin). These two terminal populations were found to converge on different morphological populations of PBG neurons and elicit opposing postsynaptic effects. Additionally, we identified a population of non-tectal GABAergic terminals in the PBG that partially arise from neurons in the surrounding tegmentum, as well as several organizing principles that divide the nucleus into anatomically distinct regions and preserve a coarse retinotopy inherited from its SC-derived inputs. These studies provide an essential first step toward understanding how PBG circuits contribute to the initiation of behavior in response to visual signals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Martha E. Bickford
- Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States
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34
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Zhao ZD, Zhang L, Xiang X, Kim D, Li H, Cao P, Shen WL. Neurocircuitry of Predatory Hunting. Neurosci Bull 2023; 39:817-831. [PMID: 36705845 PMCID: PMC10170020 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-022-01018-1] [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: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Predatory hunting is an important type of innate behavior evolutionarily conserved across the animal kingdom. It is typically composed of a set of sequential actions, including prey search, pursuit, attack, and consumption. This behavior is subject to control by the nervous system. Early studies used toads as a model to probe the neuroethology of hunting, which led to the proposal of a sensory-triggered release mechanism for hunting actions. More recent studies have used genetically-trackable zebrafish and rodents and have made breakthrough discoveries in the neuroethology and neurocircuits underlying this behavior. Here, we review the sophisticated neurocircuitry involved in hunting and summarize the detailed mechanism for the circuitry to encode various aspects of hunting neuroethology, including sensory processing, sensorimotor transformation, motivation, and sequential encoding of hunting actions. We also discuss the overlapping brain circuits for hunting and feeding and point out the limitations of current studies. We propose that hunting is an ideal behavioral paradigm in which to study the neuroethology of motivated behaviors, which may shed new light on epidemic disorders, including binge-eating, obesity, and obsessive-compulsive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng-Dong Zhao
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
- Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Li Zhang
- National Institute of Biological Sciences (NIBS), Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Xinkuan Xiang
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
- MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Sciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Daesoo Kim
- Department of Cognitive Brain Science, Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology, Daejeon, 34141, South Korea.
| | - Haohong Li
- MOE Frontier Research Center of Brain & Brain-machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Affiliated Mental Health Centre and Hangzhou Seventh People`s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310013, China.
| | - Peng Cao
- National Institute of Biological Sciences (NIBS), Beijing, 102206, China.
| | - Wei L Shen
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.
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35
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Zhong J, Liu Q, Yang X, Su J, Li X, Luo M, Wang L. Mice learn from the predator-attack experience to accelerate flight behavior via optimizing the strategy of environment exploration. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 665:26-34. [PMID: 37148743 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.04.060] [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: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Efficiently avoiding predators is critical for animal survival. However, little is known about how the experience of predator attack affects behaviors in predator defense. Here, we caught mice by tail to simulate a predator attack. We found that the experienced mice accelerated the flight in response to the visual threaten cue. Single predator attack didn't induce anxiety but increased the activity of innate fear or learning related nucleus. The predator attack induced acceleration of flight was partly rescued when we used drug to block protein synthesis which is critical in the learning process. The experienced mice significantly reduced the focused exploration on the floor during the environment exploration, which might facilitate the discovery of predator. These results suggest that mice could learn from the experience of predator attack to optimize their behavioral pattern to detect the predator cue immediately and response intensely, and therefore increase the probability of survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinling Zhong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Qingqing Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Xing Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Junying Su
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Xiaofen Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Moxuan Luo
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China; Department of Electrical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong, China; University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Liping Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
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36
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Wang X, Leong ATL, Tan SZK, Wong EC, Liu Y, Lim LW, Wu EX. Functional MRI reveals brain-wide actions of thalamically-initiated oscillatory activities on associative memory consolidation. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2195. [PMID: 37069169 PMCID: PMC10110623 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37682-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023] Open
Abstract
As a key oscillatory activity in the brain, thalamic spindle activities are long believed to support memory consolidation. However, their propagation characteristics and causal actions at systems level remain unclear. Using functional MRI (fMRI) and electrophysiology recordings in male rats, we found that optogenetically-evoked somatosensory thalamic spindle-like activities targeted numerous sensorimotor (cortex, thalamus, brainstem and basal ganglia) and non-sensorimotor limbic regions (cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus) in a stimulation frequency- and length-dependent manner. Thalamic stimulation at slow spindle frequency (8 Hz) and long spindle length (3 s) evoked the most robust brain-wide cross-modal activities. Behaviorally, evoking these global cross-modal activities during memory consolidation improved visual-somatosensory associative memory performance. More importantly, parallel visual fMRI experiments uncovered response potentiation in brain-wide sensorimotor and limbic integrative regions, especially superior colliculus, periaqueductal gray, and insular, retrosplenial and frontal cortices. Our study directly reveals that thalamic spindle activities propagate in a spatiotemporally specific manner and that they consolidate associative memory by strengthening multi-target memory representation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xunda Wang
- Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging and Signal Processing, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Alex T L Leong
- Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging and Signal Processing, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Shawn Z K Tan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Eddie C Wong
- Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging and Signal Processing, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yilong Liu
- Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging and Signal Processing, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Lee-Wei Lim
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ed X Wu
- Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging and Signal Processing, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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37
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Wang F, Chen Y, Lin Y, Wang X, Li K, Han Y, Wu J, Shi X, Zhu Z, Long C, Hu X, Duan S, Gao Z. A parabrachial to hypothalamic pathway mediates defensive behavior. eLife 2023; 12:85450. [PMID: 36930206 PMCID: PMC10023160 DOI: 10.7554/elife.85450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Defensive behaviors are critical for animal's survival. Both the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) and the parabrachial nucleus (PBN) have been shown to be involved in defensive behaviors. However, whether there are direct connections between them to mediate defensive behaviors remains unclear. Here, by retrograde and anterograde tracing, we uncover that cholecystokinin (CCK)-expressing neurons in the lateral PBN (LPBCCK) directly project to the PVN. By in vivo fiber photometry recording, we find that LPBCCK neurons actively respond to various threat stimuli. Selective photoactivation of LPBCCK neurons promotes aversion and defensive behaviors. Conversely, photoinhibition of LPBCCK neurons attenuates rat or looming stimuli-induced flight responses. Optogenetic activation of LPBCCK axon terminals within the PVN or PVN glutamatergic neurons promotes defensive behaviors. Whereas chemogenetic and pharmacological inhibition of local PVN neurons prevent LPBCCK-PVN pathway activation-driven flight responses. These data suggest that LPBCCK neurons recruit downstream PVN neurons to actively engage in flight responses. Our study identifies a previously unrecognized role for the LPBCCK-PVN pathway in controlling defensive behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Wang
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, State Key Labotatory of Brain-machine intelligence, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Yuge Chen
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, State Key Labotatory of Brain-machine intelligence, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Yuxin Lin
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, State Key Labotatory of Brain-machine intelligence, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Xuze Wang
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, State Key Labotatory of Brain-machine intelligence, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Kaiyuan Li
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, State Key Labotatory of Brain-machine intelligence, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Yong Han
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, State Key Labotatory of Brain-machine intelligence, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Jintao Wu
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, State Key Labotatory of Brain-machine intelligence, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Xingyi Shi
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, State Key Labotatory of Brain-machine intelligence, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Zhenggang Zhu
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, State Key Labotatory of Brain-machine intelligence, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Chaoying Long
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, State Key Labotatory of Brain-machine intelligence, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Xiaojun Hu
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Shumin Duan
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, State Key Labotatory of Brain-machine intelligence, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- Institute for Translational Brain Research, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- The Institute of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Zhejiang University City CollegeHangzhouChina
- Chuanqi Research and Development Center of Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Zhihua Gao
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, State Key Labotatory of Brain-machine intelligence, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
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38
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Zhou J, Hormigo S, Busel N, Castro-Alamancos MA. The Orienting Reflex Reveals Behavioral States Set by Demanding Contexts: Role of the Superior Colliculus. J Neurosci 2023; 43:1778-1796. [PMID: 36750370 PMCID: PMC10010463 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1643-22.2023] [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: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Sensory stimuli can trigger an orienting reflex (response) by which animals move the head to position their sensors (e.g., eyes, pinna, whiskers). Orienting responses may be important to evaluate stimuli that call for action (e.g., approach, escape, ignore), but little is known about the dynamics of orienting responses in the context of goal-directed actions. Using mice of either sex, we found that, during a signaled avoidance action, the orienting response evoked by the conditioned stimulus (CS) consisted of a fast head movement containing rotational and translational components that varied substantially as a function of the behavioral and underlying brain states of the animal set by different task contingencies. Larger CS-evoked orienting responses were associated with high-intensity auditory stimuli, failures to produce the appropriate signaled action, and behavioral states resulting from uncertain or demanding situations and the animal's ability to cope with them. As a prototypical orienting neural circuit, we confirmed that the superior colliculus controls and codes the direction of spontaneous exploratory orienting movements. In addition, superior colliculus activity correlated with CS-evoked orienting responses, and either its optogenetic inhibition or excitation potentiated CS-evoked orienting responses, which are likely generated downstream in the medulla. CS-evoked orienting responses may be a useful probe to assess behavioral and related brain states, and state-dependent modulation of orienting responses may involve the superior colliculus.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Humans and other animals produce an orienting reflex (also known as orienting response) by which they rapidly orient their head and sensors to evaluate novel or salient stimuli. Spontaneous orienting movements also occur during exploration of the environment in the absence of explicit, salient stimuli. We monitored stimulus-evoked orienting responses in mice performing signaled avoidance behaviors and found that these responses reflect the behavioral state of the animal set by contextual demands and the animal's ability to cope with them. Various experiments involving the superior colliculus revealed a well-established role in spontaneous orienting but only an influencing effect over orienting responses. Stimulus-evoked orienting responses may be a useful probe of behavioral and related brain states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Zhou
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut 06001
| | - Sebastian Hormigo
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut 06001
| | - Natan Busel
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut 06001
| | - Manuel A Castro-Alamancos
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut 06001
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Wang W, Zhou T, Chen L, Huang Y. A subcortical magnocellular pathway is responsible for the fast processing of topological properties of objects: A transcranial magnetic stimulation study. Hum Brain Mapp 2023; 44:1617-1628. [PMID: 36426867 PMCID: PMC9921224 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapid object recognition has survival significance. The extraction of topological properties (TP) is proposed as the starting point of object perception. Behavioral evidence shows that TP processing takes precedence over other geometric properties and can accelerate object recognition. However, the mechanism of the fast TP processing remains unclear. The magnocellular (M) pathway is well known as a fast route to convey "coarse" information, compared with the slow parvocellular (P) pathway. Here, we hypothesize that the fast processing of TP occurs in a subcortical M pathway. We applied single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the primary visual cortex to temporarily disrupt cortical processing. Besides, stimuli were designed to preferentially engage M or P pathways (M- or P-biased conditions). We found that, when TMS disrupted cortical function at the early stages of stimulus processing, non-TP shape discrimination was strongly impaired in both M- and P-biased conditions, whereas TP discrimination was not affected in the M-biased condition, suggesting that early M processing of TP is independent of the visual cortex, but probably occurs in a subcortical M pathway. Using an unconscious priming paradigm, we further found that early M processing of TP can accelerate object recognition by speeding up the processing of other properties, e.g., orientation. Our findings suggest that the human visual system achieves efficient object recognition by rapidly processing TP in the subcortical M pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Tiangang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Beijing, China.,Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Hefei, China
| | - Lin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Beijing, China.,Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Hefei, China
| | - Yan Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China, Shenzhen, China
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Cain CK. Beyond Fear, Extinction, and Freezing: Strategies for Improving the Translational Value of Animal Conditioning Research. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2023; 64:19-57. [PMID: 37532965 PMCID: PMC10840073 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2023_434] [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] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Translational neuroscience for anxiety has had limited success despite great progress in understanding the neurobiology of Pavlovian fear conditioning and extinction. This chapter explores the idea that conditioning paradigms have had a modest impact on translation because studies in animals and humans are misaligned in important ways. For instance, animal conditioning studies typically use imminent threats to assess short-duration fear states with single behavioral measures (e.g., freezing), whereas human studies typically assess weaker or more prolonged anxiety states with physiological (e.g., skin conductance) and self-report measures. A path forward may be more animal research on conditioned anxiety phenomena measuring dynamic behavioral and physiological responses in more complex environments. Exploring transitions between defensive brain states during extinction, looming threats, and post-threat recovery may be particularly informative. If care is taken to align paradigms, threat levels, and measures, this strategy may reveal stable patterns of non-conscious defense in animals and humans that correlate better with conscious anxiety. This shift in focus is also warranted because anxiety is a bigger problem than fear, even in disorders defined by dysfunctional fear or panic reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher K Cain
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA.
- Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA.
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Male and female mice display consistent lifelong ability to address potential life-threatening cues using different post-threat coping strategies. BMC Biol 2022; 20:281. [PMID: 36522765 PMCID: PMC9753375 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01486-x] [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: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sex differences ranging from physiological functions to pathological disorders are developmentally hard-wired in a broad range of animals, from invertebrates to humans. These differences ensure that animals can display appropriate behaviors under a variety of circumstances, such as aggression, hunting, sleep, mating, and parental care, which are often thought to be important in the acquisition of resources, including territory, food, and mates. Although there are reports of an absence of sexual dimorphism in the context of innate fear, the question of whether there is sexual dimorphism of innate defensive behavior is still an open question. Therefore, an in-depth investigation to determine whether there are sex differences in developmentally hard-wired innate defensive behaviors in life-threatening circumstances is warranted. RESULTS We found that innate defensive behavioral responses to potentially life-threatening stimuli between males and females were indistinguishable over their lifespan. However, by using 3 dimensional (3D)-motion learning framework analysis, we found that males and females showed different behavioral patterns after escaping to the refuge. Specifically, the defensive "freezing" occurred primarily in males, whereas females were more likely to return directly to exploration. Moreover, there were also no estrous phase differences in innate defensive behavioral responses after looming stimuli. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that visually-evoked innate fear behavior is highly conserved throughout the lifespan in both males and females, while specific post-threat coping strategies depend on sex. These findings indicate that innate fear behavior is essential to both sexes and as such, there are no evolutionary-driven sex differences in defensive ability.
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Whyland KL, Hernandez Y, Slusarczyk AS, Guido W, Bickford ME. The parabigeminal nucleus is a source of "retinogeniculate replacement terminals" in mice that lack retinofugal input. J Comp Neurol 2022; 530:3179-3192. [PMID: 36066425 PMCID: PMC9588688 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25401] [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: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
In the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) of mice that lack retinal input, a population of large terminals supplants the synaptic arrangements normally made by the missing retinogeniculate terminals. To identify potential sources of these "retinogeniculate replacement terminals," we used mutant mice (math5-/- ) which lack retinofugal projections due to the failure of retinal ganglion cells to develop. In this line, we labeled LGN terminals that originate from the primary visual cortex (V1) or the parabigeminal nucleus (PBG), and compared their ultrastructure to retinogeniculate, V1 or PBG terminals in the dLGN of C57Blk6 (WT) mice (schematically depicted above graph). Corticogeniculate terminals labeled in WT and math5-/- mice were similar in size and both groups were significantly smaller than WT retinogeniculate terminals. In contrast, the PBG projection in math5-/- mice was extensive and there was considerable overlap in the sizes of retinogeniculate terminals in WT mice and PBG terminals in math5-/- mice (summarized in histogram). The data indicate that V1 is not a source of "retinogeniculate replacement terminals" and suggests that large PBG terminals expand their innervation territory to replace retinogeniculate terminals in their absence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle L. Whyland
- Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292
| | - Yanio Hernandez
- Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292
| | - Arkadiusz S. Slusarczyk
- Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292
| | - William Guido
- Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292
| | - Martha E. Bickford
- Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292
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Liu X, Huang H, Zhang Y, Wang L, Wang F. Sexual Dimorphism of Inputs to the Lateral Habenula in Mice. Neurosci Bull 2022; 38:1439-1456. [PMID: 35644002 PMCID: PMC9723051 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-022-00885-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The lateral habenula (LHb), which is a critical neuroanatomical hub and a regulator of midbrain monoaminergic centers, is activated by events resulting in negative valence and contributes to the expression of both appetitive and aversive behaviors. However, whole-brain cell-type-specific monosynaptic inputs to the LHb in both sexes remain incompletely elucidated. In this study, we used viral tracing combined with in situ hybridization targeting vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (vGlut2) and glutamic acid decarboxylase 2 (Gad2) to generate a comprehensive whole-brain atlas of inputs to glutamatergic and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurons in the LHb. We found >30 ipsilateral and contralateral brain regions that projected to the LHb. Of these, there were significantly more monosynaptic LHb-projecting neurons from the lateral septum, anterior hypothalamus, dorsomedial hypothalamus, and ventromedial hypothalamus in females than in males. More interestingly, we found a stronger GABAergic projection from the medial septum to the LHb in males than in females. Our results reveal a comprehensive connectivity atlas of glutamatergic and GABAergic inputs to the LHb in both sexes, which may facilitate a better understanding of sexual dimorphism in physiological and pathological brain functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Liu
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Hongren Huang
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yulin Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Liping Wang
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
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Sawant Y, Kundu JN, Radhakrishnan VB, Sridharan D. A Midbrain Inspired Recurrent Neural Network Model for Robust Change Detection. J Neurosci 2022; 42:8262-8283. [PMID: 36123120 PMCID: PMC9653281 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0164-22.2022] [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: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
We present a biologically inspired recurrent neural network (RNN) that efficiently detects changes in natural images. The model features sparse, topographic connectivity (st-RNN), closely modeled on the circuit architecture of a "midbrain attention network." We deployed the st-RNN in a challenging change blindness task, in which changes must be detected in a discontinuous sequence of images. Compared with a conventional RNN, the st-RNN learned 9x faster and achieved state-of-the-art performance with 15x fewer connections. An analysis of low-dimensional dynamics revealed putative circuit mechanisms, including a critical role for a global inhibitory (GI) motif, for successful change detection. The model reproduced key experimental phenomena, including midbrain neurons' sensitivity to dynamic stimuli, neural signatures of stimulus competition, as well as hallmark behavioral effects of midbrain microstimulation. Finally, the model accurately predicted human gaze fixations in a change blindness experiment, surpassing state-of-the-art saliency-based methods. The st-RNN provides a novel deep learning model for linking neural computations underlying change detection with psychophysical mechanisms.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT For adaptive survival, our brains must be able to accurately and rapidly detect changing aspects of our visual world. We present a novel deep learning model, a sparse, topographic recurrent neural network (st-RNN), that mimics the neuroanatomy of an evolutionarily conserved "midbrain attention network." The st-RNN achieved robust change detection in challenging change blindness tasks, outperforming conventional RNN architectures. The model also reproduced hallmark experimental phenomena, both neural and behavioral, reported in seminal midbrain studies. Lastly, the st-RNN outperformed state-of-the-art models at predicting human gaze fixations in a laboratory change blindness experiment. Our deep learning model may provide important clues about key mechanisms by which the brain efficiently detects changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yash Sawant
- Centre for Neuroscience, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Jogendra Nath Kundu
- Department of Computational and Data Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | | | - Devarajan Sridharan
- Centre for Neuroscience, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
- Department of Computer Science and Automation, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
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Post RJ, Bulkin DA, Ebitz RB, Lee V, Han K, Warden MR. Tonic activity in lateral habenula neurons acts as a neutral valence brake on reward-seeking behavior. Curr Biol 2022; 32:4325-4336.e5. [PMID: 36049479 PMCID: PMC9613558 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.08.016] [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: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Survival requires both the ability to persistently pursue goals and the ability to determine when it is time to stop, an adaptive balance of perseverance and disengagement. Neural activity in the lateral habenula (LHb) has been linked to negative valence, but its role in regulating the balance between engaged reward seeking and disengaged behavioral states remains unclear. Here, we show that LHb neural activity is tonically elevated during minutes-long periods of disengagement from reward-seeking behavior, both when due to repeated reward omission (negative valence) and when sufficient reward has been consumed (positive valence). Furthermore, we show that LHb inhibition extends ongoing reward-seeking behavioral states but does not prompt task re-engagement. We find no evidence for similar tonic activity changes in ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons. Our findings support a framework in which tonic activity in LHb neurons suppresses engagement in reward-seeking behavior in response to both negatively and positively valenced factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan J Post
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; Cornell Neurotech, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - David A Bulkin
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; Cornell Neurotech, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - R Becket Ebitz
- Department of Neuroscience, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Vladlena Lee
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Kasey Han
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Melissa R Warden
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; Cornell Neurotech, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
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Somatostatin-Positive Neurons in the Rostral Zona Incerta Modulate Innate Fear-Induced Defensive Response in Mice. Neurosci Bull 2022; 39:245-260. [PMID: 36260252 PMCID: PMC9905479 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-022-00958-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/16/2022] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Defensive behaviors induced by innate fear or Pavlovian fear conditioning are crucial for animals to avoid threats and ensure survival. The zona incerta (ZI) has been demonstrated to play important roles in fear learning and fear memory, as well as modulating auditory-induced innate defensive behavior. However, whether the neuronal subtypes in the ZI and specific circuits can mediate the innate fear response is largely unknown. Here, we found that somatostatin (SST)-positive neurons in the rostral ZI of mice were activated by a visual innate fear stimulus. Optogenetic inhibition of SST-positive neurons in the rostral ZI resulted in reduced flight responses to an overhead looming stimulus. Optogenetic activation of SST-positive neurons in the rostral ZI induced fear-like defensive behavior including increased immobility and bradycardia. In addition, we demonstrated that manipulation of the GABAergic projections from SST-positive neurons in the rostral ZI to the downstream nucleus reuniens (Re) mediated fear-like defensive behavior. Retrograde trans-synaptic tracing also revealed looming stimulus-activated neurons in the superior colliculus (SC) that projected to the Re-projecting SST-positive neurons in the rostral ZI (SC-ZIrSST-Re pathway). Together, our study elucidates the function of SST-positive neurons in the rostral ZI and the SC-ZIrSST-Re tri-synaptic circuit in mediating the innate fear response.
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Phylogenetic view of the compensatory mechanisms in motor and sensory systems after neuronal injury. CURRENT RESEARCH IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2022; 3:100058. [PMID: 36304591 PMCID: PMC9593282 DOI: 10.1016/j.crneur.2022.100058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Through phylogeny, novel neural circuits are added on top of ancient circuits. Upon injury of a novel circuit which enabled fine control, the ancient circuits can sometimes take over its function for recovery; however, the recovered function is limited according to the capacity of the ancient circuits. In this review, we discuss two examples of functional recovery after neural injury in nonhuman primate models. The first is the recovery of dexterous hand movements following damage to the corticospinal tract. The second is the recovery of visual function after injury to the primary visual cortex (V1). In the former case, the functions of the direct cortico-motoneuronal pathway, which specifically developed in higher primates for the control of fractionated digit movements, can be partly compensated for by other descending motor pathways mediated by rubrospinal, reticulospinal, and propriospinal neurons. However, the extent of recovery depends on the location of the damage and which motor systems take over its function. In the latter case, after damage to V1, which is highly developed in primates, either the direct pathway from the lateral geniculate nucleus to extrastriate visual cortices or that from the midbrain superior colliculus-pulvinar-extrastriate/parietal cortices partly takes over the function of V1. However, the state of visual awareness is no longer the same as in the intact state, which might reflect the limited capacity of the compensatory pathways in visual recognition. Such information is valuable for determining the targets of neuromodulatory therapies and setting treatment goals after brain and spinal cord injuries.
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Prefrontal cortical circuits in anxiety and fear: an overview. Front Med 2022; 16:518-539. [PMID: 35943704 DOI: 10.1007/s11684-022-0941-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Pathological anxiety is among the most difficult neuropsychiatric diseases to treat pharmacologically, and it represents a major societal problem. Studies have implicated structural changes within the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and functional changes in the communication of the PFC with distal brain structures in anxiety disorders. Treatments that affect the activity of the PFC, including cognitive therapies and transcranial magnetic stimulation, reverse anxiety- and fear-associated circuit abnormalities through mechanisms that remain largely unclear. While the subjective experience of a rodent cannot be precisely determined, rodent models hold great promise in dissecting well-conserved circuits. Newly developed genetic and viral tools and optogenetic and chemogenetic techniques have revealed the intricacies of neural circuits underlying anxiety and fear by allowing direct examination of hypotheses drawn from existing psychological concepts. This review focuses on studies that have used these circuit-based approaches to gain a more detailed, more comprehensive, and more integrated view on how the PFC governs anxiety and fear and orchestrates adaptive defensive behaviors to hopefully provide a roadmap for the future development of therapies for pathological anxiety.
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Juvenile depletion of microglia reduces orientation but not high spatial frequency selectivity in mouse V1. Sci Rep 2022; 12:12779. [PMID: 35896554 PMCID: PMC9329297 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15503-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Microglia contain multiple mechanisms that shape the synaptic landscape during postnatal development. Whether the synaptic changes mediated by microglia reflect the developmental refinement of neuronal responses in sensory cortices, however, remains poorly understood. In postnatal life, the development of increased orientation and spatial frequency selectivity of neuronal responses in primary visual cortex (V1) supports the emergence of high visual acuity. Here, we used the colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) inhibitor PLX5622 to rapidly and durably deplete microglia in mice during the juvenile period in which increased orientation and spatial frequency selectivity emerge. Excitatory and inhibitory tuning properties were measured simultaneously using multi-photon calcium imaging in layer II/III of mouse V1. We found that microglia depletion generally increased evoked activity which, in turn, reduced orientation selectivity. Surprisingly, microglia were not required for the emergence of high spatial frequency tuned responses. In addition, microglia depletion did not perturb cortical binocularity, suggesting normal depth processing. Together, our finding that orientation and high spatial frequency selectivity in V1 are differentially supported by microglia reveal that microglia are required normal sensory processing, albeit selectively.
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Kalinowska M, van der Lei MB, Kitiashvili M, Mamcarz M, Oliveira MM, Longo F, Klann E. Deletion of Fmr1 in parvalbumin-expressing neurons results in dysregulated translation and selective behavioral deficits associated with fragile X syndrome. Mol Autism 2022; 13:29. [PMID: 35768828 PMCID: PMC9245312 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-022-00509-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common genetic cause of autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability, is caused by the lack of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) expression. FMRP is an mRNA binding protein with functions in mRNA transport, localization, and translational control. In Fmr1 knockout mice, dysregulated translation has been linked to pathophysiology, including abnormal synaptic function and dendritic morphology, and autistic-like behavioral phenotypes. The role of FMRP in morphology and function of excitatory neurons has been well studied in mice lacking Fmr1, but the impact of Fmr1 deletion on inhibitory neurons remains less characterized. Moreover, the contribution of FMRP in different cell types to FXS pathophysiology is not well defined. We sought to characterize whether FMRP loss in parvalbumin or somatostatin-expressing neurons results in FXS-like deficits in mice. METHODS We used Cre-lox recombinase technology to generate two lines of conditional knockout mice lacking FMRP in either parvalbumin or somatostatin-expressing cells and carried out a battery of behavioral tests to assess motor function, anxiety, repetitive, stereotypic, social behaviors, and learning and memory. In addition, we used fluorescent non-canonical amino acid tagging along with immunostaining to determine whether de novo protein synthesis is dysregulated in parvalbumin or somatostatin-expressing neurons. RESULTS De novo protein synthesis was elevated in hippocampal parvalbumin and somatostatin-expressing inhibitory neurons in Fmr1 knockout mice. Cell type-specific deletion of Fmr1 in parvalbumin-expressing neurons resulted in anxiety-like behavior, impaired social behavior, and dysregulated de novo protein synthesis. In contrast, deletion of Fmr1 in somatostatin-expressing neurons did not result in behavioral abnormalities and did not significantly impact de novo protein synthesis. This is the first report of how loss of FMRP in two specific subtypes of inhibitory neurons is associated with distinct FXS-like abnormalities. LIMITATIONS The mouse models we generated are limited by whole body knockout of FMRP in parvalbumin or somatostatin-expressing cells and further studies are needed to establish a causal relationship between cellular deficits and FXS-like behaviors. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate a cell type-specific role for FMRP in parvalbumin-expressing neurons in regulating distinct behavioral features associated with FXS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Kalinowska
- grid.137628.90000 0004 1936 8753Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY USA
| | - Mathijs B. van der Lei
- grid.5284.b0000 0001 0790 3681Department of Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Michael Kitiashvili
- grid.137628.90000 0004 1936 8753Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY USA
| | - Maggie Mamcarz
- grid.137628.90000 0004 1936 8753Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY USA
| | - Mauricio M. Oliveira
- grid.137628.90000 0004 1936 8753Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY USA
| | - Francesco Longo
- grid.8761.80000 0000 9919 9582Institute for Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden ,grid.8761.80000 0000 9919 9582Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Eric Klann
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY, USA. .,NYU Neuroscience Institute, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
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