1
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Meneghetti N, Vannini E, Mazzoni A. Rodents' visual gamma as a biomarker of pathological neural conditions. J Physiol 2024; 602:1017-1048. [PMID: 38372352 DOI: 10.1113/jp283858] [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: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Neural gamma oscillations (indicatively 30-100 Hz) are ubiquitous: they are associated with a broad range of functions in multiple cortical areas and across many animal species. Experimental and computational works established gamma rhythms as a global emergent property of neuronal networks generated by the balanced and coordinated interaction of excitation and inhibition. Coherently, gamma activity is strongly influenced by the alterations of synaptic dynamics which are often associated with pathological neural dysfunctions. We argue therefore that these oscillations are an optimal biomarker for probing the mechanism of cortical dysfunctions. Gamma oscillations are also highly sensitive to external stimuli in sensory cortices, especially the primary visual cortex (V1), where the stimulus dependence of gamma oscillations has been thoroughly investigated. Gamma manipulation by visual stimuli tuning is particularly easy in rodents, which have become a standard animal model for investigating the effects of network alterations on gamma oscillations. Overall, gamma in the rodents' visual cortex offers an accessible probe on dysfunctional information processing in pathological conditions. Beyond vision-related dysfunctions, alterations of gamma oscillations in rodents were indeed also reported in neural deficits such as migraine, epilepsy and neurodegenerative or neuropsychiatric conditions such as Alzheimer's, schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders. Altogether, the connections between visual cortical gamma activity and physio-pathological conditions in rodent models underscore the potential of gamma oscillations as markers of neuronal (dys)functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolò Meneghetti
- The Biorobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Excellence for Robotics and AI, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - Eleonora Vannini
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy
| | - Alberto Mazzoni
- The Biorobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Excellence for Robotics and AI, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
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2
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Zhang WH. Decentralized Neural Circuits of Multisensory Information Integration in the Brain. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2024; 1437:1-21. [PMID: 38270850 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-99-7611-9_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
The brain combines multisensory inputs together to obtain a complete and reliable description of the world. Recent experiments suggest that several interconnected multisensory brain areas are simultaneously involved to integrate multisensory information. It was unknown how these mutually connected multisensory areas achieve multisensory integration. To answer this question, using biologically plausible neural circuit models we developed a decentralized system for information integration that comprises multiple interconnected multisensory brain areas. Through studying an example of integrating visual and vestibular cues to infer heading direction, we show that such a decentralized system is well consistent with experimental observations. In particular, we demonstrate that this decentralized system can optimally integrate information by implementing sampling-based Bayesian inference. The Poisson variability of spike generation provides appropriate variability to drive sampling, and the interconnections between multisensory areas store the correlation prior between multisensory stimuli. The decentralized system predicts that optimally integrated information emerges locally from the dynamics of the communication between brain areas and sheds new light on the interpretation of the connectivity between multisensory brain areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Hao Zhang
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics and O'Donnell Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
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3
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Zayyad ZA, Maunsell JHR, MacLean JN. Normalization in mouse primary visual cortex. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0295140. [PMID: 38109430 PMCID: PMC10727357 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295140] [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: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
When multiple stimuli appear together in the receptive field of a visual cortical neuron, the response is typically close to the average of that neuron's response to each individual stimulus. The departure from a linear sum of each individual response is referred to as normalization. In mammals, normalization has been best characterized in the visual cortex of macaques and cats. Here we study visually evoked normalization in the visual cortex of awake mice using imaging of calcium indicators in large populations of layer 2/3 (L2/3) V1 excitatory neurons and electrophysiological recordings across layers in V1. Regardless of recording method, mouse visual cortical neurons exhibit normalization to varying degrees. The distributions of normalization strength are similar to those described in cats and macaques, albeit slightly weaker on average.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaina A. Zayyad
- Interdisciplinary Scientist Training Program, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States of America
- Committee on Computational Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - John H. R. Maunsell
- Committee on Computational Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Jason N. MacLean
- Committee on Computational Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
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4
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Petro LS, Smith FW, Abbatecola C, Muckli L. The Spatial Precision of Contextual Feedback Signals in Human V1. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1022. [PMID: 37508451 PMCID: PMC10376409 DOI: 10.3390/biology12071022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Neurons in the primary visual cortex (V1) receive sensory inputs that describe small, local regions of the visual scene and cortical feedback inputs from higher visual areas processing the global scene context. Investigating the spatial precision of this visual contextual modulation will contribute to our understanding of the functional role of cortical feedback inputs in perceptual computations. We used human functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to test the spatial precision of contextual feedback inputs to V1 during natural scene processing. We measured brain activity patterns in the stimulated regions of V1 and in regions that we blocked from direct feedforward input, receiving information only from non-feedforward (i.e., feedback and lateral) inputs. We measured the spatial precision of contextual feedback signals by generalising brain activity patterns across parametrically spatially displaced versions of identical images using an MVPA cross-classification approach. We found that fMRI activity patterns in cortical feedback signals predicted our scene-specific features in V1 with a precision of approximately 4 degrees. The stimulated regions of V1 carried more precise scene information than non-stimulated regions; however, these regions also contained information patterns that generalised up to 4 degrees. This result shows that contextual signals relating to the global scene are similarly fed back to V1 when feedforward inputs are either present or absent. Our results are in line with contextual feedback signals from extrastriate areas to V1, describing global scene information and contributing to perceptual computations such as the hierarchical representation of feature boundaries within natural scenes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy S Petro
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QB, UK
- Imaging Centre for Excellence (ICE), College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G51 4LB, UK
| | - Fraser W Smith
- School of Psychology, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Clement Abbatecola
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QB, UK
- Imaging Centre for Excellence (ICE), College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G51 4LB, UK
| | - Lars Muckli
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QB, UK
- Imaging Centre for Excellence (ICE), College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G51 4LB, UK
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5
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Mimica B, Tombaz T, Battistin C, Fuglstad JG, Dunn BA, Whitlock JR. Behavioral decomposition reveals rich encoding structure employed across neocortex in rats. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3947. [PMID: 37402724 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39520-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The cortical population code is pervaded by activity patterns evoked by movement, but it remains largely unknown how such signals relate to natural behavior or how they might support processing in sensory cortices where they have been observed. To address this we compared high-density neural recordings across four cortical regions (visual, auditory, somatosensory, motor) in relation to sensory modulation, posture, movement, and ethograms of freely foraging male rats. Momentary actions, such as rearing or turning, were represented ubiquitously and could be decoded from all sampled structures. However, more elementary and continuous features, such as pose and movement, followed region-specific organization, with neurons in visual and auditory cortices preferentially encoding mutually distinct head-orienting features in world-referenced coordinates, and somatosensory and motor cortices principally encoding the trunk and head in egocentric coordinates. The tuning properties of synaptically coupled cells also exhibited connection patterns suggestive of area-specific uses of pose and movement signals, particularly in visual and auditory regions. Together, our results indicate that ongoing behavior is encoded at multiple levels throughout the dorsal cortex, and that low-level features are differentially utilized by different regions to serve locally relevant computations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bartul Mimica
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Washington Road, Princeton, 100190, NJ, USA.
| | - Tuçe Tombaz
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Olav Kyrres Gate 9, 7030, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Claudia Battistin
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Olav Kyrres Gate 9, 7030, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Jingyi Guo Fuglstad
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Olav Kyrres Gate 9, 7030, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Benjamin A Dunn
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Olav Kyrres Gate 9, 7030, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Jonathan R Whitlock
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Olav Kyrres Gate 9, 7030, Trondheim, Norway.
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Xu A, Hou Y, Niell CM, Beyeler M. Multimodal Deep Learning Model Unveils Behavioral Dynamics of V1 Activity in Freely Moving Mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.30.542912. [PMID: 37398256 PMCID: PMC10312557 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.30.542912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Despite their immense success as a model of macaque visual cortex, deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have struggled to predict activity in visual cortex of the mouse, which is thought to be strongly dependent on the animal's behavioral state. Furthermore, most computational models focus on predicting neural responses to static images presented under head fixation, which are dramatically different from the dynamic, continuous visual stimuli that arise during movement in the real world. Consequently, it is still unknown how natural visual input and different behavioral variables may integrate over time to generate responses in primary visual cortex (V1). To address this, we introduce a multimodal recurrent neural network that integrates gaze-contingent visual input with behavioral and temporal dynamics to explain V1 activity in freely moving mice. We show that the model achieves state-of-the-art predictions of V1 activity during free exploration and demonstrate the importance of each component in an extensive ablation study. Analyzing our model using maximally activating stimuli and saliency maps, we reveal new insights into cortical function, including the prevalence of mixed selectivity for behavioral variables in mouse V1. In summary, our model offers a comprehensive deep-learning framework for exploring the computational principles underlying V1 neurons in freely-moving animals engaged in natural behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aiwen Xu
- Department of Computer Science University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 93117
| | - Yuchen Hou
- Department of Computer Science University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 93117
| | - Cristopher M Niell
- Department of Biology, Institute of Neuroscience University of Oregon Eugene, OR 97403
| | - Michael Beyeler
- Department of Computer Science, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 93117
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7
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Hovde K, Rautio IV, Hegstad AM, Witter MP, Whitlock JR. Visuomotor interactions in the mouse forebrain mediated by extrastriate cortico-cortical pathways. Front Neuroanat 2023; 17:1188808. [PMID: 37228422 PMCID: PMC10203190 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2023.1188808] [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: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The mammalian visual system can be broadly divided into two functional processing pathways: a dorsal stream supporting visually and spatially guided actions, and a ventral stream enabling object recognition. In rodents, the majority of visual signaling in the dorsal stream is transmitted to frontal motor cortices via extrastriate visual areas surrounding V1, but exactly where and to what extent V1 feeds into motor-projecting visual regions is not well known. Methods We employed a dual labeling strategy in male and female mice in which efferent projections from V1 were labeled anterogradely, and motor-projecting neurons in higher visual areas were labeled with retrogradely traveling adeno-associated virus (rAAV-retro) injected in M2. We characterized the labeling in both flattened and coronal sections of dorsal cortex and made high-resolution 3D reconstructions to count putative synaptic contacts in different extrastriate areas. Results The most pronounced colocalization V1 output and M2 input occurred in extrastriate areas AM, PM, RL and AL. Neurons in both superficial and deep layers in each project to M2, but high resolution volumetric reconstructions indicated that the majority of putative synaptic contacts from V1 onto M2-projecting neurons occurred in layer 2/3. Discussion These findings support the existence of a dorsal processing stream in the mouse visual system, where visual signals reach motor cortex largely via feedforward projections in anteriorly and medially located extrastriate areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karoline Hovde
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ida V. Rautio
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Andrea M. Hegstad
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Menno P. Witter
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Jonathan R. Whitlock
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
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8
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Zayyad ZA, Maunsell JHR, MacLean JN. Normalization in mouse primary visual cortex. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.18.537260. [PMID: 37131716 PMCID: PMC10153131 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.18.537260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
When multiple stimuli appear together in the receptive field of a visual cortical neuron, the response is typically close to the average of that neuron's response to each individual stimulus. The departure from a linear sum of each individual response is referred to as normalization. In mammals, normalization has been best characterized in the visual cortex of macaques and cats. Here we study visually evoked normalization in the visual cortex of awake mice using optical imaging of calcium indicators in large populations of layer 2/3 (L2/3) V1 excitatory neurons and electrophysiological recordings across layers in V1. Regardless of recording method, mouse visual cortical neurons exhibit normalization to varying degrees. The distributions of normalization strength are similar to those described in cats and macaques, albeit slightly weaker on average.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaina A. Zayyad
- Interdisciplinary Scientist Training Program, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States of America
- Committee on Computational Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - John H. R. Maunsell
- Committee on Computational Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Jason N. MacLean
- Committee on Computational Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
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9
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Yu Q, Bi Z, Jiang S, Yan B, Chen H, Wang Y, Miao Y, Li K, Wei Z, Xie Y, Tan X, Liu X, Fu H, Cui L, Xing L, Weng S, Wang X, Yuan Y, Zhou C, Wang G, Li L, Ma L, Mao Y, Chen L, Zhang J. Visual cortex encodes timing information in humans and mice. Neuron 2022; 110:4194-4211.e10. [PMID: 36195097 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Despite the importance of timing in our daily lives, our understanding of how the human brain mediates second-scale time perception is limited. Here, we combined intracranial stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) recordings in epileptic patients and circuit dissection in mice to show that visual cortex (VC) encodes timing information. We first asked human participants to perform an interval-timing task and found VC to be a key timing brain area. We then conducted optogenetic experiments in mice and showed that VC plays an important role in the interval-timing behavior. We further found that VC neurons fired in a time-keeping sequential manner and exhibited increased excitability in a timed manner. Finally, we used a computational model to illustrate a self-correcting learning process that generates interval-timed activities with scalar-timing property. Our work reveals how localized oscillations in VC occurring in the seconds to deca-seconds range relate timing information from the external world to guide behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingpeng Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science and Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zedong Bi
- Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai 200031, China; Institute for Future, School of Automation, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China; Department of Physics, Centre for Nonlinear Studies and Institute of Computational and Theoretical Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong; Research Centre, HKBU Institute of Research and Continuing Education, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shize Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science and Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Biao Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science and Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Heming Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science and Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yiting Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science and Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yizhan Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science and Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Kexin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science and Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zixuan Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science and Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yuanting Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science and Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xinrong Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science and Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xiaodi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science and Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Hang Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science and Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Liyuan Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science and Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Lu Xing
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science and Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Shijun Weng
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science and Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Neurology and Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yuanzhi Yuan
- Department of Neurology and Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Changsong Zhou
- Department of Physics, Centre for Nonlinear Studies and Institute of Computational and Theoretical Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong; Research Centre, HKBU Institute of Research and Continuing Education, Shenzhen, China
| | - Gang Wang
- Center of Brain Sciences, Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Liang Li
- Center of Brain Sciences, Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Lan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science and Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Ying Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science and Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
| | - Liang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science and Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute Clinical Translational Research Center, Shanghai 200040, China.
| | - Jiayi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science and Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Institute for Medical and Engineering Innovation, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China.
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10
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Ciganok-Hückels N, Jehasse K, Kricsfalussy-Hrabár L, Ritter M, Rüland T, Kampa BM. Postnatal development of electrophysiological and morphological properties in layer 2/3 and layer 5 pyramidal neurons in the mouse primary visual cortex. Cereb Cortex 2022; 33:5875-5884. [PMID: 36453454 PMCID: PMC10183751 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Eye-opening is a critical point for laminar maturation of pyramidal neurons (PNs) in primary visual cortex. Knowing both the intrinsic properties and morphology of PNs from the visual cortex during development is crucial to contextualize the integration of visual inputs at different age stages. Few studies have reported changes in intrinsic excitability in these neurons but were restricted to only one layer or one stage of cortical development. Here, we used in vitro whole-cell patch-clamp to investigate the developmental impact on electrophysiological properties of layer 2/3 and layer 5 PNs in mouse visual cortex. Additionally, we evaluated the morphological changes before and after eye-opening and compared these in adult mice. Overall, we found a decrease in intrinsic excitability in both layers after eye-opening which remained stable between juvenile and adult mice. The basal dendritic length increased in layer 5 neurons, whereas spine density increased in layer 2/3 neurons after eye-opening. These data show increased number of synapses after onset of sensory input paralleled with a reduced excitability, presumably as homeostatic mechanism. Altogether, we provide a database of the properties of PNs in mouse visual cortex by considering the layer- and time-specific changes of these neurons during sensory development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalja Ciganok-Hückels
- Systems Neurophysiology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University , 52074 Aachen , Germany
- Research Training Group 2416 MultiSenses-MultiScales, RWTH Aachen University , 52074 Aachen , Germany
| | - Kevin Jehasse
- Systems Neurophysiology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University , 52074 Aachen , Germany
| | | | - Mira Ritter
- Systems Neurophysiology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University , 52074 Aachen , Germany
| | - Thomas Rüland
- Systems Neurophysiology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University , 52074 Aachen , Germany
- Research Training Group 2416 MultiSenses-MultiScales, RWTH Aachen University , 52074 Aachen , Germany
- Institute for Biological Information Processing (IBI-1), Forschungszentrum Jülich , 52428 Jülich , Germany
| | - Björn M Kampa
- Systems Neurophysiology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University , 52074 Aachen , Germany
- Research Training Group 2416 MultiSenses-MultiScales, RWTH Aachen University , 52074 Aachen , Germany
- JARA BRAIN, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-10), Forschungszentrum Jülich , 52428 Jülich , Germany
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11
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Lautman Z, Winetraub Y, Blacher E, Yu C, Terem I, Chibukhchyan A, Marshel JH, de la Zerda A. Intravital 3D visualization and segmentation of murine neural networks at micron resolution. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13130. [PMID: 35907928 PMCID: PMC9338956 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14450-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) allows label-free, micron-scale 3D imaging of biological tissues' fine structures with significant depth and large field-of-view. Here we introduce a novel OCT-based neuroimaging setting, accompanied by a feature segmentation algorithm, which enables rapid, accurate, and high-resolution in vivo imaging of 700 μm depth across the mouse cortex. Using a commercial OCT device, we demonstrate 3D reconstruction of microarchitectural elements through a cortical column. Our system is sensitive to structural and cellular changes at micron-scale resolution in vivo, such as those from injury or disease. Therefore, it can serve as a tool to visualize and quantify spatiotemporal brain elasticity patterns. This highly transformative and versatile platform allows accurate investigation of brain cellular architectural changes by quantifying features such as brain cell bodies' density, volume, and average distance to the nearest cell. Hence, it may assist in longitudinal studies of microstructural tissue alteration in aging, injury, or disease in a living rodent brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziv Lautman
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Yonatan Winetraub
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Biophysics Program at Stanford, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- The Bio-X Program, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Eran Blacher
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus Givat-Ram, 9190401, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Caroline Yu
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Itamar Terem
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | | | - James H Marshel
- CNC Department, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Adam de la Zerda
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Biophysics Program at Stanford, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- The Bio-X Program, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- The Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
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12
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Kwon KM, Lee MJ, Chung HS, Pak JH, Jeon CJ. The Organization of Somatostatin-Immunoreactive Cells in the Visual Cortex of the Gerbil. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10010092. [PMID: 35052772 PMCID: PMC8773527 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10010092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Somatostatin (SST) is widely expressed in the brain and plays various, vital roles involved in neuromodulation. The purpose of this study is to characterize the organization of SST neurons in the Mongolian gerbil visual cortex (VC) using immunocytochemistry, quantitative analysis, and confocal microscopy. As a diurnal animal, the Mongolian gerbil provides us with a different perspective to other commonly used nocturnal rodent models. In this study, SST neurons were located in all layers of the VC except in layer I; they were most common in layer V. Most SST neurons were multipolar round/oval or stellate cells. No pyramidal neurons were found. Moreover, 2-color immunofluorescence revealed that only 33.50%, 24.05%, 16.73%, 0%, and 64.57% of SST neurons contained gamma-aminobutyric acid, calbindin-D28K, calretinin, parvalbumin, and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, respectively. In contrast, neuropeptide Y and nitric oxide synthase were abundantly expressed, with 80.07% and 75.41% in SST neurons, respectively. Our immunocytochemical analyses of SST with D1 and D2 dopamine receptors and choline acetyltransferase, α7 and β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors suggest that dopaminergic and cholinergic fibers contact some SST neurons. The results showed some distinguishable features of SST neurons and provided some insight into their afferent circuitry in the gerbil VC. These findings may support future studies investigating the role of SST neurons in visual processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung-Min Kwon
- Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, BK21 FOUR KNU Creative Bio-Research Group, College of Natural Sciences, Brain Science and Engineering Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea; (K.-M.K.); (M.-J.L.)
- Research Institute for Dok-do and Ulleung-do Island, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehak-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu 41566, Korea;
| | - Myung-Jun Lee
- Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, BK21 FOUR KNU Creative Bio-Research Group, College of Natural Sciences, Brain Science and Engineering Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea; (K.-M.K.); (M.-J.L.)
| | - Han-Saem Chung
- Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea;
| | - Jae-Hong Pak
- Research Institute for Dok-do and Ulleung-do Island, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehak-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu 41566, Korea;
- Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea;
| | - Chang-Jin Jeon
- Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, BK21 FOUR KNU Creative Bio-Research Group, College of Natural Sciences, Brain Science and Engineering Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea; (K.-M.K.); (M.-J.L.)
- Research Institute for Dok-do and Ulleung-do Island, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehak-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu 41566, Korea;
- Correspondence:
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13
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Speed A, Haider B. Probing mechanisms of visual spatial attention in mice. Trends Neurosci 2021; 44:822-836. [PMID: 34446296 PMCID: PMC8484049 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2021.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The role of spatial attention for visual perception has been thoroughly studied in primates, but less so in mice. Several behavioral tasks in mice reveal spatial attentional effects, with similarities to observations in primates. Pairing these tasks with large-scale, cell-type-specific techniques could enable deeper access to underlying mechanisms, and help define the utility and limitations of resolving attentional effects on visual perception and neural activity in mice. In this Review, we evaluate behavioral and neural evidence for visual spatial attention in mice; assess how specializations of the mouse visual system and behavioral repertoire impact interpretation of spatial attentional effects; and outline how several measurement and manipulation techniques in mice could precisely test and refine models of attentional modulation across scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anderson Speed
- Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Bilal Haider
- Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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14
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Williams B, Del Rosario J, Muzzu T, Peelman K, Coletta S, Bichler EK, Speed A, Meyer-Baese L, Saleem AB, Haider B. Spatial modulation of dark versus bright stimulus responses in the mouse visual system. Curr Biol 2021; 31:4172-4179.e6. [PMID: 34314675 PMCID: PMC8478832 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.06.094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
A fundamental task of the visual system is to respond to both increases and decreases of luminance with action potentials (ON and OFF responses1-4). OFF responses are stronger, faster, and more salient than ON responses in primary visual cortex (V1) of both cats5,6 and primates,7,8 but in ferrets9 and mice,10 ON responses can be stronger, weaker,11 or balanced12 in comparison to OFF responses. These discrepancies could arise from differences in species, experimental techniques, or stimulus properties, particularly retinotopic location in the visual field, as has been speculated;9 however, the role of retinotopy for ON/OFF dominance has not been systematically tested across multiple scales of neural activity within species. Here, we measured OFF versus ON responses across large portions of visual space with silicon probe and whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in mouse V1 and lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN). We found that OFF responses dominated in the central visual field, whereas ON and OFF responses were more balanced in the periphery. These findings were consistent across local field potential (LFP), spikes, and subthreshold membrane potential in V1, and were aligned with spatial biases in ON and OFF responses in LGN. Our findings reveal that retinotopy may provide a common organizing principle for spatial modulation of OFF versus ON processing in mammalian visual systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brice Williams
- Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Joseph Del Rosario
- Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Tomaso Muzzu
- UCL Institute of Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Experimental Psychology, University College London, London WC1H 0AP, UK
| | - Kayla Peelman
- Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Stefano Coletta
- Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Edyta K Bichler
- Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Anderson Speed
- Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Lisa Meyer-Baese
- Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Aman B Saleem
- UCL Institute of Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Experimental Psychology, University College London, London WC1H 0AP, UK
| | - Bilal Haider
- Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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15
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Barranca VJ. Neural network learning of improved compressive sensing sampling and receptive field structure. Neurocomputing 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neucom.2021.05.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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16
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Deng R, Kao JPY, Kanold PO. Aberrant development of excitatory circuits to inhibitory neurons in the primary visual cortex after neonatal binocular enucleation. Sci Rep 2021; 11:3163. [PMID: 33542365 PMCID: PMC7862622 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-82679-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of GABAergic interneurons is important for the functional maturation of cortical circuits. After migrating into the cortex, GABAergic interneurons start to receive glutamatergic connections from cortical excitatory neurons and thus gradually become integrated into cortical circuits. These glutamatergic connections are mediated by glutamate receptors including AMPA and NMDA receptors and the ratio of AMPA to NMDA receptors decreases during development. Since previous studies have shown that retinal input can regulate the early development of connections along the visual pathway, we investigated if the maturation of glutamatergic inputs to GABAergic interneurons in the visual cortex requires retinal input. We mapped the spatial pattern of glutamatergic connections to layer 4 (L4) GABAergic interneurons in mouse visual cortex at around postnatal day (P) 16 by laser-scanning photostimulation and investigated the effect of binocular enucleations at P1/P2 on these patterns. Gad2-positive interneurons in enucleated animals showed an increased fraction of AMPAR-mediated input from L2/3 and a decreased fraction of input from L5/6. Parvalbumin-expressing (PV) interneurons showed similar changes in relative connectivity. NMDAR-only input was largely unchanged by enucleation. Our results show that retinal input sculpts the integration of interneurons into V1 circuits and suggest that the development of AMPAR- and NMDAR-only connections might be regulated differently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongkang Deng
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.,Biological Sciences Graduate Program, University of Maryland, College Park, 20742, MD, USA
| | - Joseph P Y Kao
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, and Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Patrick O Kanold
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 379 Miller Res. Bldg, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. .,Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.
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17
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Krauzlis RJ. Visual Neuroscience: What to Do with All of These Cortical Visual Areas? Curr Biol 2020; 30:R1428-R1431. [PMID: 33290711 PMCID: PMC11299725 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.09.059] [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] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Visual information is represented across multiple areas in the mouse visual cortex. A new study has revealed that some higher visual areas are important for seeing even simple visual features, whereas other areas have more complex effects on visual decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Krauzlis
- Laboratory of Sensorimotor Research, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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18
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Tan L, Tring E, Ringach DL, Zipursky SL, Trachtenberg JT. Vision Changes the Cellular Composition of Binocular Circuitry during the Critical Period. Neuron 2020; 108:735-747.e6. [PMID: 33091339 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
High acuity stereopsis emerges during an early postnatal critical period when binocular neurons in the primary visual cortex sharpen their receptive field tuning properties. We find that this sharpening is achieved by dismantling the binocular circuit present at critical period onset and building it anew. Longitudinal imaging of receptive field tuning (e.g., orientation selectivity) of thousands of neurons reveals that most binocular neurons present in layer 2/3 at critical period onset are poorly tuned and are rendered monocular. In parallel, new binocular neurons are established by conversion of well-tuned monocular neurons as they gain matched input from the other eye. These improvements in binocular tuning in layer 2/3 are not inherited from layer 4 but are driven by the experience-dependent sharpening of ipsilateral eye responses. Thus, vision builds a new and more sharply tuned binocular circuit in layer 2/3 by cellular exchange and not by refining the original circuit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liming Tan
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute
| | - Elaine Tring
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Dario L Ringach
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - S Lawrence Zipursky
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute
| | - Joshua T Trachtenberg
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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19
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Disparity Sensitivity and Binocular Integration in Mouse Visual Cortex Areas. J Neurosci 2020; 40:8883-8899. [PMID: 33051348 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1060-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Binocular disparity, the difference between the two eyes' images, is a powerful cue to generate the 3D depth percept known as stereopsis. In primates, binocular disparity is processed in multiple areas of the visual cortex, with distinct contributions of higher areas to specific aspects of depth perception. Mice, too, can perceive stereoscopic depth, and neurons in primary visual cortex (V1) and higher-order, lateromedial (LM) and rostrolateral (RL) areas were found to be sensitive to binocular disparity. A detailed characterization of disparity tuning across mouse visual areas is lacking, however, and acquiring such data might help clarifying the role of higher areas for disparity processing and establishing putative functional correspondences to primate areas. We used two-photon calcium imaging in female mice to characterize the disparity tuning properties of neurons in visual areas V1, LM, and RL in response to dichoptically presented binocular gratings, as well as random dot correlograms (RDC). In all three areas, many neurons were tuned to disparity, showing strong response facilitation or suppression at optimal or null disparity, respectively, even in neurons classified as monocular by conventional ocular dominance (OD) measurements. Neurons in higher areas exhibited broader and more asymmetric disparity tuning curves compared with V1, as observed in primate visual cortex. Finally, we probed neurons' sensitivity to true stereo correspondence by comparing responses to correlated RDC (cRDC) and anticorrelated RDC (aRDC). Area LM, akin to primate ventral visual stream areas, showed higher selectivity for correlated stimuli and reduced anticorrelated responses, indicating higher-level disparity processing in LM compared with V1 and RL.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT A major cue for inferring 3D depth is disparity between the two eyes' images. Investigating how binocular disparity is processed in the mouse visual system will not only help delineating the role of mouse higher areas for visual processing, but also shed light on how the mammalian brain computes stereopsis. We found that binocular integration is a prominent feature of mouse visual cortex, as many neurons are selectively and strongly modulated by binocular disparity. Comparison of responses to correlated and anticorrelated random dot correlograms (RDC) revealed that lateromedial area (LM) is more selective to correlated stimuli, while less sensitive to anticorrelated stimuli compared with primary visual cortex (V1) and rostrolateral area (RL), suggesting higher-level disparity processing in LM, resembling primate ventral visual stream areas.
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20
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Abstract
The physiological response properties of neurons in the visual system are inherited mainly from feedforward inputs. Interestingly, feedback inputs often outnumber feedforward inputs. Although they are numerous, feedback connections are weaker, slower, and considered to be modulatory, in contrast to fast, high-efficacy feedforward connections. Accordingly, the functional role of feedback in visual processing has remained a fundamental mystery in vision science. At the core of this mystery are questions about whether feedback circuits regulate spatial receptive field properties versus temporal responses among target neurons, or whether feedback serves a more global role in arousal or attention. These proposed functions are not mutually exclusive, and there is compelling evidence to support multiple functional roles for feedback. In this review, the role of feedback in vision will be explored mainly from the perspective of corticothalamic feedback. Further generalized principles of feedback applicable to corticocortical connections will also be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farran Briggs
- Departments of Neuroscience and Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, and Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14642, USA;
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21
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Groblewski PA, Ollerenshaw DR, Kiggins JT, Garrett ME, Mochizuki C, Casal L, Cross S, Mace K, Swapp J, Manavi S, Williams D, Mihalas S, Olsen SR. Characterization of Learning, Motivation, and Visual Perception in Five Transgenic Mouse Lines Expressing GCaMP in Distinct Cell Populations. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:104. [PMID: 32655383 PMCID: PMC7324787 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.00104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
To study the mechanisms of perception and cognition, neural measurements must be made during behavior. A goal of the Allen Brain Observatory is to map the activity of distinct cortical cell classes underlying visual and behavioral processing. Here we describe standardized methodology for training head-fixed mice on a visual change detection task, and we use our paradigm to characterize learning and behavior of five GCaMP6-expressing transgenic lines. We used automated training procedures to facilitate comparisons across mice. Training times varied, but most transgenic mice learned the behavioral task. Motivation levels also varied across mice. To compare mice in similar motivational states we subdivided sessions into over-, under-, and optimally motivated periods. When motivated, the pattern of perceptual decisions were highly correlated across transgenic lines, although overall performance (d-prime) was lower in one line labeling somatostatin inhibitory cells. These results provide important context for using these mice to map neural activity underlying perception and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Shawn R. Olsen
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, United States
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22
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Sheeran WM, Ahmed OJ. The neural circuitry supporting successful spatial navigation despite variable movement speeds. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 108:821-833. [PMID: 31760048 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Ants who have successfully navigated the long distance between their foraging spot and their nest dozens of times will drastically overshoot their destination if the size of their legs is doubled by the addition of stilts. This observation reflects a navigational strategy called path integration, a strategy also utilized by mammals. Path integration necessitates that animals keep track of their movement speed and use it to precisely and instantly modify where they think they are and where they want to go. Here we review the neural circuitry that has evolved to integrate speed and space. We start with the rate and temporal codes for speed in the hippocampus and work backwards towards the motor and sensory systems. We highlight the need for experiments designed to differentiate the respective contributions of motor efference copy versus sensory inputs. In particular, we discuss the importance of high-resolution tracking of the latency of speed-encoding as a precise way to disentangle the sensory versus motor computations that enable successful spatial navigation at very different speeds.
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Affiliation(s)
- William M Sheeran
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Omar J Ahmed
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Kresge Hearing Research Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Michigan Center for Integrative Research in Critical Care, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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23
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Liu R, Ball N, Brockill J, Kuan L, Millman D, White C, Leon A, Williams D, Nishiwaki S, de Vries S, Larkin J, Sullivan D, Slaughterbeck C, Farrell C, Saggau P. Aberration-free multi-plane imaging of neural activity from the mammalian brain using a fast-switching liquid crystal spatial light modulator. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2019; 10:5059-5080. [PMID: 31646030 PMCID: PMC6788611 DOI: 10.1364/boe.10.005059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
We report a novel two-photon fluorescence microscope based on a fast-switching liquid crystal spatial light modulator and a pair of galvo-resonant scanners for large-scale recording of neural activity from the mammalian brain. The spatial light modulator is used to achieve fast switching between different imaging planes in multi-plane imaging and correct for intrinsic optical aberrations associated with this imaging scheme. The utilized imaging technique is capable of monitoring the neural activity from large populations of neurons with known coordinates spread across different layers of the neocortex in awake and behaving mice, regardless of the fluorescent labeling strategy. During each imaging session, all visual stimulus driven somatic activity could be recorded in the same behavior state. We observed heterogeneous response to different types of visual stimuli from ∼ 3,300 excitatory neurons reaching from layer II/III to V of the striate cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Liu
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, 615 Westlake Ave, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Now with GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences Corp, 1040 12th Ave NW, Issaquah, WA, 98027, USA
| | - Neil Ball
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, 615 Westlake Ave, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - James Brockill
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, 615 Westlake Ave, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Leonard Kuan
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, 615 Westlake Ave, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Daniel Millman
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, 615 Westlake Ave, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Cassandra White
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, 615 Westlake Ave, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Arielle Leon
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, 615 Westlake Ave, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Derric Williams
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, 615 Westlake Ave, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Shig Nishiwaki
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, 615 Westlake Ave, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Saskia de Vries
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, 615 Westlake Ave, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Josh Larkin
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, 615 Westlake Ave, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - David Sullivan
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, 615 Westlake Ave, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | | | - Colin Farrell
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, 615 Westlake Ave, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Peter Saggau
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, 615 Westlake Ave, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Now with Italian Institute of Technology, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
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24
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Abstract
Recent data have shown that sleep plays a beneficial role for cognitive functions such as declarative memory consolidation and perceptual learning. In this article, we review recent findings on the role of sleep in promoting adaptive visual response changes in the lateral geniculate nucleus and primary visual cortex following novel visual experiences. We discuss these findings in the context of what is currently known about how sleep affects the activity and function of thalamocortical circuits and current hypotheses regarding how sleep facilitates synaptic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaclyn M Durkin
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Sara J Aton
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA;
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25
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Ryu SB, Werginz P, Fried SI. Response of Mouse Visual Cortical Neurons to Electric Stimulation of the Retina. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:324. [PMID: 31019449 PMCID: PMC6459047 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal prostheses strive to restore vision to the blind by electrically stimulating the neurons that survive the disease process. Clinical effectiveness has been limited however, and much ongoing effort is devoted toward the development of improved stimulation strategies, especially ones that better replicate physiological patterns of neural signaling. Here, to better understand the potential effectiveness of different stimulation strategies, we explore the responses of neurons in the primary visual cortex to electric stimulation of the retina. A 16-channel implantable microprobe was used to record single unit activities in vivo from each layer of the mouse visual cortex. Layers were identified by electrode depth as well as spontaneous rate. Cell types were classified as excitatory or inhibitory based on their spike waveform and as ON, OFF, or ON-OFF based on the polarity of their light response. After classification, electric stimulation was delivered via a wire electrode placed on the surface of cornea (extraocularly) and responses were recorded from the cortex contralateral to the stimulated eye. Responses to electric stimulation were highly similar across cell types and layers. Responses (spike counts) increased as a function of the amplitude of stimulation, and although there was some variance across cells, the sensitivity to amplitude was largely similar across all cell types. Suppression of responses was observed for pulse rates ≥3 pulses per second (PPS) but did not originate in the retina as RGC responses remained stable to rates up to 5 PPS. Low-frequency sinusoids delivered to the retina replicated the out-of-phase responses that occur naturally in ON vs. OFF RGCs. Intriguingly, out-of-phase signaling persisted in V1 neurons, suggesting key aspects of neural signaling are preserved during transmission along visual pathways. Our results describe an approach to evaluate responses of cortical neurons to electric stimulation of the retina. By examining the responses of single cells, we were able to show that some retinal stimulation strategies can indeed better match the neural signaling patterns used by the healthy visual system. Because cortical signaling is better correlated to psychophysical percepts, the ability to evaluate which strategies produce physiological-like cortical responses may help to facilitate better clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang Baek Ryu
- Boston VA Healthcare System, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Paul Werginz
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Institute for Analysis and Scientific Computing, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Shelley I Fried
- Boston VA Healthcare System, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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26
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Havenith MN, Zijderveld PM, van Heukelum S, Abghari S, Tiesinga P, Glennon JC. The Virtual-Environment-Foraging Task enables rapid training and single-trial metrics of rule acquisition and reversal in head-fixed mice. Sci Rep 2019; 9:4790. [PMID: 30886236 PMCID: PMC6423024 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41250-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Behavioural flexibility is an essential survival skill, yet our understanding of its neuronal substrates is still limited. While mouse research offers unique tools to dissect the neuronal circuits involved, the measurement of flexible behaviour in mice often suffers from long training times, poor experimental control, and temporally imprecise binary (hit/miss) performance readouts. Here we present a virtual-environment task for mice that tackles these limitations. It offers fast training of vision-based rule reversals (~100 trials per reversal) with full stimulus control and continuous behavioural readouts. By generating multiple non-binary performance metrics per trial, it provides single-trial estimates not only of response accuracy and speed, but also of underlying processes like choice certainty and alertness (discussed in detail in a companion paper). Based on these metrics, we show that mice can predict new task rules long before they are able to execute them, and that this delay varies across animals. We also provide and validate single-trial estimates of whether an error was committed with or without awareness of the task rule. By tracking in unprecedented detail the cognitive dynamics underlying flexible behaviour, this task enables new investigations into the neuronal interactions that shape behavioural flexibility moment by moment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha N Havenith
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Kapittelweg, 29 6525EN, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Peter M Zijderveld
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Kapittelweg, 29 6525EN, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Sabrina van Heukelum
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Kapittelweg, 29 6525EN, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Shaghayegh Abghari
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Kapittelweg, 29 6525EN, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Paul Tiesinga
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Kapittelweg, 29 6525EN, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jeffrey C Glennon
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Kapittelweg, 29 6525EN, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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27
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Havenith MN, Zijderveld PM, van Heukelum S, Abghari S, Glennon JC, Tiesinga P. The Virtual-Environment-Foraging Task enables rapid training and single-trial metrics of attention in head-fixed mice. Sci Rep 2018; 8:17371. [PMID: 30478333 PMCID: PMC6255915 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-34966-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Attention - the flexible allocation of processing resources based on behavioural demands - is essential to survival. Mouse research offers unique tools to dissect the underlying pathways, but is hampered by the difficulty of accurately measuring attention in mice. Current attention tasks for mice face several limitations: Binary (hit/miss), temporally imprecise metrics, behavioural confounds and overtraining. Thus, despite the increasing scope of neuronal population measurements, insights are limited without equally precise behavioural measures. Here we present a virtual-environment task for head-fixed mice based on 'foraging-like' navigation. The task requires animals to discriminate gratings at orientation differences from 90° to 5°, and can be learned in only 3-5 sessions (<550 trials). It yields single-trial, non-binary metrics of response speed and accuracy, which generate secondary metrics of choice certainty, visual acuity, and most importantly, of sustained and cued attention - two attentional components studied extensively in humans. This allows us to examine single-trial dynamics of attention in mice, independently of confounds like rule learning. With this approach, we show that C57/BL6 mice have better visual acuity than previously measured, that they rhythmically alternate between states of high and low alertness, and that they can be prompted to adopt different performance strategies using minute changes in reward contingencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha N Havenith
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Kapittelweg, 29 6525EN, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Peter M Zijderveld
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Kapittelweg, 29 6525EN, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Sabrina van Heukelum
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Kapittelweg, 29 6525EN, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Shaghayegh Abghari
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Kapittelweg, 29 6525EN, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jeffrey C Glennon
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Kapittelweg, 29 6525EN, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Paul Tiesinga
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Kapittelweg, 29 6525EN, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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28
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Yu WQ, El-Danaf RN, Okawa H, Pacholec JM, Matti U, Schwarz K, Odermatt B, Dunn FA, Lagnado L, Schmitz F, Huberman AD, Wong ROL. Synaptic Convergence Patterns onto Retinal Ganglion Cells Are Preserved despite Topographic Variation in Pre- and Postsynaptic Territories. Cell Rep 2018; 25:2017-2026.e3. [PMID: 30463000 PMCID: PMC6317877 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.10.089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Revised: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensory processing can be tuned by a neuron's integration area, the types of inputs, and the proportion and number of connections with those inputs. Integration areas often vary topographically to sample space differentially across regions. Here, we highlight two visual circuits in which topographic changes in the postsynaptic retinal ganglion cell (RGC) dendritic territories and their presynaptic bipolar cell (BC) axonal territories are either matched or unmatched. Despite this difference, in both circuits, the proportion of inputs from each BC type, i.e., synaptic convergence between specific BCs and RGCs, remained constant across varying dendritic territory sizes. Furthermore, synapse density between BCs and RGCs was invariant across topography. Our results demonstrate a wiring design, likely engaging homotypic axonal tiling of BCs, that ensures consistency in synaptic convergence between specific BC types onto their target RGCs while enabling independent regulation of pre- and postsynaptic territory sizes and synapse number between cell pairs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Qing Yu
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Rana N El-Danaf
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Haruhisa Okawa
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Justin M Pacholec
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Ulf Matti
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Medical School Homburg/Saar, Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Karin Schwarz
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Medical School Homburg/Saar, Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | | | - Felice A Dunn
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Leon Lagnado
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QG, UK
| | - Frank Schmitz
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Medical School Homburg/Saar, Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Andrew D Huberman
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Departments of Neurobiology and Ophthalmology, Stanford Neurosciences Institute, and BioX, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Rachel O L Wong
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
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29
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Barranca VJ, Zhu XG. A computational study of the role of spatial receptive field structure in processing natural and non-natural scenes. J Theor Biol 2018; 454:268-277. [PMID: 29908188 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2018.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Revised: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
The center-surround receptive field structure, ubiquitous in the visual system, is hypothesized to be evolutionarily advantageous in image processing tasks. We address the potential functional benefits and shortcomings of spatial localization and center-surround antagonism in the context of an integrate-and-fire neuronal network model with image-based forcing. Utilizing the sparsity of natural scenes, we derive a compressive-sensing framework for input image reconstruction utilizing evoked neuronal firing rates. We investigate how the accuracy of input encoding depends on the receptive field architecture, and demonstrate that spatial localization in visual stimulus sampling facilitates marked improvements in natural scene processing beyond uniformly-random excitatory connectivity. However, for specific classes of images, we show that spatial localization inherent in physiological receptive fields combined with information loss through nonlinear neuronal network dynamics may underlie common optical illusions, giving a novel explanation for their manifestation. In the context of signal processing, we expect this work may suggest new sampling protocols useful for extending conventional compressive sensing theory.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xiuqi George Zhu
- Swarthmore College, 500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, PA 19081, USA
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30
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Marques T, Summers MT, Fioreze G, Fridman M, Dias RF, Feller MB, Petreanu L. A Role for Mouse Primary Visual Cortex in Motion Perception. Curr Biol 2018; 28:1703-1713.e6. [PMID: 29779878 PMCID: PMC5988967 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Revised: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Visual motion is an ethologically important stimulus throughout the animal kingdom. In primates, motion perception relies on specific higher-order cortical regions. Although mouse primary visual cortex (V1) and higher-order visual areas show direction-selective (DS) responses, their role in motion perception remains unknown. Here, we tested whether V1 is involved in motion perception in mice. We developed a head-fixed discrimination task in which mice must report their perceived direction of motion from random dot kinematograms (RDKs). After training, mice made around 90% correct choices for stimuli with high coherence and performed significantly above chance for 16% coherent RDKs. Accuracy increased with both stimulus duration and visual field coverage of the stimulus, suggesting that mice in this task integrate motion information in time and space. Retinal recordings showed that thalamically projecting On-Off DS ganglion cells display DS responses when stimulated with RDKs. Two-photon calcium imaging revealed that neurons in layer (L) 2/3 of V1 display strong DS tuning in response to this stimulus. Thus, RDKs engage motion-sensitive retinal circuits as well as downstream visual cortical areas. Contralateral V1 activity played a key role in this motion direction discrimination task because its reversible inactivation with muscimol led to a significant reduction in performance. Neurometric-psychometric comparisons showed that an ideal observer could solve the task with the information encoded in DS L2/3 neurons. Motion discrimination of RDKs presents a powerful behavioral tool for dissecting the role of retino-forebrain circuits in motion processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Marques
- Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Mathew T Summers
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Gabriela Fioreze
- Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Marina Fridman
- Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Rodrigo F Dias
- Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Marla B Feller
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Leopoldo Petreanu
- Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal.
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31
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Cang J, Savier E, Barchini J, Liu X. Visual Function, Organization, and Development of the Mouse Superior Colliculus. Annu Rev Vis Sci 2018; 4:239-262. [PMID: 29852095 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-vision-091517-034142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The superior colliculus (SC) is the most prominent visual center in mice. Studies over the past decade have greatly advanced our understanding of the function, organization, and development of the mouse SC, which has rapidly become a popular model in vision research. These studies have described the diverse and cell-type-specific visual response properties in the mouse SC, revealed their laminar and topographic organizations, and linked the mouse SC and downstream pathways with visually guided behaviors. Here, we summarize these findings, compare them with the rich literature of SC studies in other species, and highlight important gaps and exciting future directions. Given its clear importance in mouse vision and the available modern neuroscience tools, the mouse SC holds great promise for understanding the cellular, circuit, and developmental mechanisms that underlie visual processing, sensorimotor transformation, and, ultimately, behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhua Cang
- Department of Biology and Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, USA;
| | - Elise Savier
- Department of Biology and Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, USA;
| | - Jad Barchini
- Department of Functional Architecture and Development of Cerebral Cortex, Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, Florida 33458, USA
| | - Xiaorong Liu
- Department of Biology and Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, USA;
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32
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How Attention Enhances Spatial Resolution: Preferential Gain Enhancement of High Spatial Frequency Neurons. J Neurosci 2018; 36:12080-12082. [PMID: 27903718 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2691-16.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2016] [Revised: 10/13/2016] [Accepted: 10/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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33
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Vélez-Fort M, Bracey EF, Keshavarzi S, Rousseau CV, Cossell L, Lenzi SC, Strom M, Margrie TW. A Circuit for Integration of Head- and Visual-Motion Signals in Layer 6 of Mouse Primary Visual Cortex. Neuron 2018; 98:179-191.e6. [PMID: 29551490 PMCID: PMC5896233 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.02.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2017] [Revised: 01/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
To interpret visual-motion events, the underlying computation must involve internal reference to the motion status of the observer's head. We show here that layer 6 (L6) principal neurons in mouse primary visual cortex (V1) receive a diffuse, vestibular-mediated synaptic input that signals the angular velocity of horizontal rotation. Behavioral and theoretical experiments indicate that these inputs, distributed over a network of 100 L6 neurons, provide both a reliable estimate and, therefore, physiological separation of head-velocity signals. During head rotation in the presence of visual stimuli, L6 neurons exhibit postsynaptic responses that approximate the arithmetic sum of the vestibular and visual-motion response. Functional input mapping reveals that these internal motion signals arrive into L6 via a direct projection from the retrosplenial cortex. We therefore propose that visual-motion processing in V1 L6 is multisensory and contextually dependent on the motion status of the animal's head.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateo Vélez-Fort
- The Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, 25 Howland Street, London W1T 4JG, UK
| | - Edward F Bracey
- The Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, 25 Howland Street, London W1T 4JG, UK
| | - Sepiedeh Keshavarzi
- The Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, 25 Howland Street, London W1T 4JG, UK
| | - Charly V Rousseau
- The Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, 25 Howland Street, London W1T 4JG, UK
| | - Lee Cossell
- The Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, 25 Howland Street, London W1T 4JG, UK
| | - Stephen C Lenzi
- The Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, 25 Howland Street, London W1T 4JG, UK
| | - Molly Strom
- The Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, 25 Howland Street, London W1T 4JG, UK
| | - Troy W Margrie
- The Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, 25 Howland Street, London W1T 4JG, UK.
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34
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Ehrlich AT, Semache M, Bailly J, Wojcik S, Arefin TM, Colley C, Le Gouill C, Gross F, Lukasheva V, Hogue M, Darcq E, Harsan LA, Bouvier M, Kieffer BL. Mapping GPR88-Venus illuminates a novel role for GPR88 in sensory processing. Brain Struct Funct 2018; 223:1275-1296. [PMID: 29110094 PMCID: PMC5871604 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-017-1547-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 10/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
GPR88 is an orphan G-protein coupled receptor originally characterized as a striatal-enriched transcript and is a potential target for neuropsychiatric disorders. At present, gene knockout studies in the mouse have essentially focused on striatal-related functions and a comprehensive knowledge of GPR88 protein distribution and function in the brain is still lacking. Here, we first created Gpr88-Venus knock-in mice expressing a functional fluorescent receptor to fine-map GPR88 localization in the brain. The receptor protein was detected in neuronal soma, fibers and primary cilia depending on the brain region, and remarkably, whole-brain mapping revealed a yet unreported layer-4 cortical lamination pattern specifically in sensory processing areas. The unique GPR88 barrel pattern in L4 of the somatosensory cortex appeared 3 days after birth and persisted into adulthood, suggesting a potential function for GPR88 in sensory integration. We next examined Gpr88 knockout mice for cortical structure and behavioral responses in sensory tasks. Magnetic resonance imaging of live mice revealed abnormally high fractional anisotropy, predominant in somatosensory cortex and caudate putamen, indicating significant microstructural alterations in these GPR88-enriched areas. Further, behavioral analysis showed delayed responses in somatosensory-, visual- and olfactory-dependent tasks, demonstrating a role for GPR88 in the integration rather than perception of sensory stimuli. In conclusion, our data show for the first time a prominent role for GPR88 in multisensory processing. Because sensory integration is disrupted in many psychiatric diseases, our study definitely positions GPR88 as a target to treat mental disorders perhaps via activity on cortical sensory networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aliza T Ehrlich
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Perry Pavilion Room E-3317.1, 6875 boulevard LaSalle, Montreal, QC, H4H 1R3, Canada
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France
| | - Meriem Semache
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Julie Bailly
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Perry Pavilion Room E-3317.1, 6875 boulevard LaSalle, Montreal, QC, H4H 1R3, Canada
| | - Stefan Wojcik
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Perry Pavilion Room E-3317.1, 6875 boulevard LaSalle, Montreal, QC, H4H 1R3, Canada
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK
| | - Tanzil M Arefin
- Department of Radiology, Medical Physics, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France
| | - Christine Colley
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Perry Pavilion Room E-3317.1, 6875 boulevard LaSalle, Montreal, QC, H4H 1R3, Canada
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK
| | - Christian Le Gouill
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Florence Gross
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Perry Pavilion Room E-3317.1, 6875 boulevard LaSalle, Montreal, QC, H4H 1R3, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Viktoriya Lukasheva
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Mireille Hogue
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Emmanuel Darcq
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Perry Pavilion Room E-3317.1, 6875 boulevard LaSalle, Montreal, QC, H4H 1R3, Canada
| | - Laura-Adela Harsan
- Department of Radiology, Medical Physics, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Engineering Science, Computer Science and Imaging Laboratory (ICube), Integrative Multimodal Imaging in Healthcare, University of Strasbourg, CNRS, Strasbourg, France
- Department of Biophysics and Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Michel Bouvier
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Brigitte L Kieffer
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Perry Pavilion Room E-3317.1, 6875 boulevard LaSalle, Montreal, QC, H4H 1R3, Canada.
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France.
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35
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Accuracy of Rats in Discriminating Visual Objects Is Explained by the Complexity of Their Perceptual Strategy. Curr Biol 2018; 28:1005-1015.e5. [PMID: 29551414 PMCID: PMC5887110 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.02.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2017] [Revised: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Despite their growing popularity as models of visual functions, it remains unclear whether rodents are capable of deploying advanced shape-processing strategies when engaged in visual object recognition. In rats, for instance, pattern vision has been reported to range from mere detection of overall object luminance to view-invariant processing of discriminative shape features. Here we sought to clarify how refined object vision is in rodents, and how variable the complexity of their visual processing strategy is across individuals. To this aim, we measured how well rats could discriminate a reference object from 11 distractors, which spanned a spectrum of image-level similarity to the reference. We also presented the animals with random variations of the reference, and processed their responses to these stimuli to derive subject-specific models of rat perceptual choices. Our models successfully captured the highly variable discrimination performance observed across subjects and object conditions. In particular, they revealed that the animals that succeeded with the most challenging distractors were those that integrated the wider variety of discriminative features into their perceptual strategies. Critically, these strategies were largely preserved when the rats were required to discriminate outlined and scaled versions of the stimuli, thus showing that rat object vision can be characterized as a transformation-tolerant, feature-based filtering process. Overall, these findings indicate that rats are capable of advanced processing of shape information, and point to the rodents as powerful models for investigating the neuronal underpinnings of visual object recognition and other high-level visual functions. The ability of rats to discriminate visual objects varies greatly across subjects Such variability is accounted for by the diversity of rat perceptual strategies Animals building richer perceptual templates achieve higher accuracy Perceptual strategies remain largely invariant across object transformations
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36
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Lean GA, Liu YJ, Lyon DC. Cell type specific tracing of the subcortical input to primary visual cortex from the basal forebrain. J Comp Neurol 2018; 527:589-599. [PMID: 29441578 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2018] [Revised: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 02/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The basal forebrain provides cholinergic inputs to primary visual cortex (V1) that play a key modulatory role on visual function. While basal forebrain afferents terminate in the infragranular layers of V1, acetylcholine is delivered to more superficial layers through volume transmission. Nevertheless, direct synaptic contact in deep layers 5 and 6 may provide a more immediate effect on V1 modulation. Using helper viruses with cell type specific promoters to target retrograde infection of pseudotyped and genetically modified rabies virus evidence was found for direct synaptic input onto V1 inhibitory neurons. These inputs were similar in number to geniculocortical inputs and, therefore, considered robust. In contrast, while clear evidence for dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus input to V1 excitatory neurons was found, there was no evidence of direct synaptic input from the basal forebrain. These results suggest a direct and more immediate influence of the basal forebrain on local V1 inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgina A Lean
- Department of Cognitive Sciences, School of Social Sciences, University of California, Irvine, California.,Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California
| | - Yong-Jun Liu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California
| | - David C Lyon
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California
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37
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Rasmussen R, Yonehara K. Circuit Mechanisms Governing Local vs. Global Motion Processing in Mouse Visual Cortex. Front Neural Circuits 2017; 11:109. [PMID: 29311845 PMCID: PMC5743699 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2017.00109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A withstanding question in neuroscience is how neural circuits encode representations and perceptions of the external world. A particularly well-defined visual computation is the representation of global object motion by pattern direction-selective (PDS) cells from convergence of motion of local components represented by component direction-selective (CDS) cells. However, how PDS and CDS cells develop their distinct response properties is still unresolved. The visual cortex of the mouse is an attractive model for experimentally solving this issue due to the large molecular and genetic toolbox available. Although mouse visual cortex lacks the highly ordered orientation columns of primates, it is organized in functional sub-networks and contains striate- and extrastriate areas like its primate counterparts. In this Perspective article, we provide an overview of the experimental and theoretical literature on global motion processing based on works in primates and mice. Lastly, we propose what types of experiments could illuminate what circuit mechanisms are governing cortical global visual motion processing. We propose that PDS cells in mouse visual cortex appear as the perfect arena for delineating and solving how individual sensory features extracted by neural circuits in peripheral brain areas are integrated to build our rich cohesive sensory experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rune Rasmussen
- The Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience-DANDRITE, Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Keisuke Yonehara
- The Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience-DANDRITE, Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Allen AE, Procyk CA, Brown TM, Lucas RJ. Convergence of visual and whisker responses in the primary somatosensory thalamus (ventral posterior medial region) of the mouse. J Physiol 2016; 595:865-881. [PMID: 27501052 PMCID: PMC5285619 DOI: 10.1113/jp272791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2016] [Accepted: 07/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Key points Using in vivo electrophysiology, we find that a subset of whisker‐responsive neurons in the ventral posterior medial region (VPM) respond to visual stimuli. These light‐responsive neurons in the VPM are particularly sensitive to optic flow. Presentation of optic flow stimuli modulates the amplitude of concurrent whisker responses. Visual information reaches the VPM via a circuit encompassing the visual cortex. These data represent a new example of cross‐modal integration in the primary sensory thalamus.
Abstract Sensory signals reach the cortex via sense‐specific thalamic nuclei. Here we report that neurons in the primary sensory thalamus of the mouse vibrissal system (the ventral posterior medial region; VPM) can be excited by visual as well as whisker stimuli. Using extracellular electrophysiological recordings from anaesthetized mice we first show that simple light steps can excite a subset of VPM neurons. We then test the ability of the VPM to respond to spatial patterns and show that many units are excited by visual motion in a direction‐selective manner. Coherent movement of multiple objects (an artificial recreation of ‘optic flow’ that would usually occur during head rotations or body movements) best engages this visual motion response. We next show that, when co‐applied with visual stimuli, the magnitude of responses to whisker deflections is highest in the presence of optic flow going in the opposite direction. Importantly, whisker response amplitude is also modulated by presentation of a movie recreating the mouse's visual experience during natural exploratory behaviour. We finally present functional and anatomical data indicating a functional connection (probably multisynaptic) from the primary visual cortex to VPM. These data provide a rare example of multisensory integration occurring at the level of the sensory thalamus, and provide evidence for dynamic regulation of whisker responses according to visual experience. Using in vivo electrophysiology, we find that a subset of whisker‐responsive neurons in the ventral posterior medial region (VPM) respond to visual stimuli. These light‐responsive neurons in the VPM are particularly sensitive to optic flow. Presentation of optic flow stimuli modulates the amplitude of concurrent whisker responses. Visual information reaches the VPM via a circuit encompassing the visual cortex. These data represent a new example of cross‐modal integration in the primary sensory thalamus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette E Allen
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | | | - Timothy M Brown
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Robert J Lucas
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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Pakan JM, Lowe SC, Dylda E, Keemink SW, Currie SP, Coutts CA, Rochefort NL. Behavioral-state modulation of inhibition is context-dependent and cell type specific in mouse visual cortex. eLife 2016; 5. [PMID: 27552056 PMCID: PMC5030095 DOI: 10.7554/elife.14985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cortical responses to sensory stimuli are modulated by behavioral state. In the primary visual cortex (V1), visual responses of pyramidal neurons increase during locomotion. This response gain was suggested to be mediated through inhibitory neurons, resulting in the disinhibition of pyramidal neurons. Using in vivo two-photon calcium imaging in layers 2/3 and 4 in mouse V1, we reveal that locomotion increases the activity of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), somatostatin (SST) and parvalbumin (PV)-positive interneurons during visual stimulation, challenging the disinhibition model. In darkness, while most VIP and PV neurons remained locomotion responsive, SST and excitatory neurons were largely non-responsive. Context-dependent locomotion responses were found in each cell type, with the highest proportion among SST neurons. These findings establish that modulation of neuronal activity by locomotion is context-dependent and contest the generality of a disinhibitory circuit for gain control of sensory responses by behavioral state. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.14985.001 How we perceive what we see depends on the context in which we see it, such as what we are doing at the time. For example, we perceive a park landscape differently when we are running through it than when we are sitting on a park bench. Behavior can also alter neuronal responses in the brain. Indeed, the neurons in the part of the brain that receives information related to vision (known as the visual cortex) respond differently to visual stimuli when an animal is moving compared to when the animal is still. However, while some recent studies revealed that specific types of neurons become more or less responsive during movement, others reported the opposite results. One hypothesis that would explain these contradictory findings would be if the way that behavior, in this case movement, affects neuronal responses also depends on the external context in which the movement happens. Now, Pakan et al. have tested this hypothesis by imaging the activity of different types of neurons in the primary visual cortex of mice that were either running on a treadmill or staying still. The experiments were conducted in two different contexts: in total darkness (in which the mice could not see) and in the presence of display screens (which provided the mice with visual stimulation). Pakan et al. confirmed that running does indeed affect the activity of specific neurons in different ways in different contexts. For example, when the mice received visual stimulation, the three main classes of neurons that send inhibitory signals in the visual cortex became more active during running. However, when the mouse ran in the dark, two of these neuron types became more active during running while the third type of neuron was unresponsive. This finding reveals more about the dynamic nature of inhibitory activity that strongly depends on the animal’s behaviour. It also shows how these neurons influence the excitatory neurons in the visual cortex, which send information to the rest of the brain for further processing towards perception. The next step will be to identify what precise mechanism makes these neurons respond differently in unique contexts, and to tease apart how these movement-dependent signals affect the way animals perceive visual stimuli. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.14985.002
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Affiliation(s)
- Janelle Mp Pakan
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Scott C Lowe
- Institute for Adaptive and Neural Computation, School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Evelyn Dylda
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Sander W Keemink
- Institute for Adaptive and Neural Computation, School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,Bernstein Center Freiburg, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Stephen P Currie
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher A Coutts
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Nathalie L Rochefort
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Neuronal expression of c-Fos after epicortical and intracortical electric stimulation of the primary visual cortex. J Chem Neuroanat 2016; 77:121-128. [PMID: 27364963 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2016.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2016] [Accepted: 06/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Electrical stimulation of the primary visual cortex (V1) is an experimental approach for visual prostheses. We here compared the response to intracortical and epicortical stimulation of the primary visual cortex by using c-Fos immunoreactivity as a marker for neuronal activation. The primary visual cortex of male Sprague Dawley rats was unilaterally stimulated for four hours using bipolar electrodes placed either intracortically in layer IV (n=26) or epicortically (n=20). Four different current intensities with a constant pulse width of 200μs and a constant frequency of 10Hz were used, for intracortical stimulation with an intensity of 0μA (sham-stimulation), 10μA, 20μA and 40μA, and for epicortical stimulation 0μA, 400μA, 600μA and 800μA. Subsequently all animals underwent c-Fos immunostaining and c-Fos expression was assessed in layer I-VI of the primary visual cortex within 200μm and 400μm distance to the stimulation site. C-Fos expression was higher after intracortical stimulation compared to epicortical stimulation, even though ten times lower current intensities were applied. Furthermore intracortical stimulation resulted in more focal neuronal activation than epicortical stimulation. C-Fos expression was highest after intracortical stimulation with 20μA compared to all other intensities. Epicortical stimulation showed a linear increase of c-Fos expression with the highest expression at 800μA. Sham stimulation showed similar expression of c-Fos in both hemispheres. The contralateral hemisphere was not affected by intracortical or epicortical stimulation of either intensities. In summary, intracortical stimulation resulted in more focal neuronal activation with less current than epicortical stimulation. This model may be used as a simple but reliable model to evaluate electrodes for microstimulation of the primary visual cortex before testing in more complex settings.
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Thalamus provides layer 4 of primary visual cortex with orientation- and direction-tuned inputs. Nat Neurosci 2015; 19:308-15. [PMID: 26691829 PMCID: PMC4731241 DOI: 10.1038/nn.4196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2015] [Accepted: 11/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the functions of a brain region requires knowing the neural
representations of its myriad inputs, local neurons, and outputs. Primary visual
cortex (V1) has long been thought to compute visual orientation from untuned
thalamic inputs, but very few thalamic inputs have been measured in any mammal.
We determined the response properties of ~28,000 thalamic boutons and
~4,000 cortical neurons in layers 1–5 of awake mouse V1. With
adaptive optics allowing accurate measurement of bouton activity deep in cortex,
we found that around half of the boutons in the main thalamorecipient L4 carry
orientation-tuned information, and their orientation/direction biases are also
dominant in the L4 neuron population, suggesting that these neurons may inherit
their selectivity from tuned thalamic inputs. Cortical neurons in all layers
exhibited sharper tuning than thalamic boutons and a greater diversity of
preferred orientations. Our results provide data-rich constraints for refining
mechanistic models of cortical computation.
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