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Loonen AJM. The putative role of the habenula in animal migration. Physiol Behav 2024; 286:114668. [PMID: 39151652 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2024.114668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2024] [Revised: 07/26/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND When an addicted animal seeks a specific substance, it is based on the perception of internal and external cues that strongly motivate to pursue the acquisition of that compound. In essence, a similar process acts out when an animal leaves its present area to begin its circannual migration. This review article examines the existence of scientific evidence for possible relatedness of migration and addiction by influencing Dorsal Diencephalic Conduction System (DDCS) including the habenula. METHODS For this review especially the databases of Pubmed and Embase were frequently and non-systematically searched. RESULTS The mechanisms of bird migration have been thoroughly investigated. Especially the mechanism of the circannual biorhythm and its associated endocrine regulation has been well elucidated. A typical behavior called "Zugunruhe" marks the moment of leaving in migratory birds. The role of magnetoreception in navigation has also been clarified in recent years. However, how bird migration is regulated at the neuronal level in the forebrain is not well understood. Among mammals, marine mammals are most similar to birds. They use terrestrial magnetic field when navigating and often bridge long distances between breeding and foraging areas. Population migration is further often seen among the large hoofed mammals in different parts of the world. Importantly, learning processes and social interactions with conspecifics play a major role in these ungulates. Considering the evolutionary development of the forebrain in vertebrates, it can be postulated that the DDCS plays a central role in regulating the readiness and intensity of essential (emotional) behaviors. There is manifold evidence that this DDCS plays an important role in relapse to abuse after prolonged periods of abstinence from addictive behavior. It is also possible that the DDCS plays a role in navigation. CONCLUSIONS The role of the DDCS in the neurobiological regulation of bird migration has hardly been investigated. The involvement of this system in relapse to addiction in mammals might suggest to change this. It is recommended that particularly during "Zugunruhe" the role of neuronal regulation via the DDCS will be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton J M Loonen
- Pharmacotherapy, Epidemiology & Economics, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713AV Groningen, the Netherlands.
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2
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Basu J, Nagel K. Neural circuits for goal-directed navigation across species. Trends Neurosci 2024:S0166-2236(24)00177-2. [PMID: 39393938 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2024.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 08/26/2024] [Accepted: 09/17/2024] [Indexed: 10/13/2024]
Abstract
Across species, navigation is crucial for finding both resources and shelter. In vertebrates, the hippocampus supports memory-guided goal-directed navigation, whereas in arthropods the central complex supports similar functions. A growing literature is revealing similarities and differences in the organization and function of these brain regions. We review current knowledge about how each structure supports goal-directed navigation by building internal representations of the position or orientation of an animal in space, and of the location or direction of potential goals. We describe input pathways to each structure - medial and lateral entorhinal cortex in vertebrates, and columnar and tangential neurons in insects - that primarily encode spatial and non-spatial information, respectively. Finally, we highlight similarities and differences in spatial encoding across clades and suggest experimental approaches to compare coding principles and behavioral capabilities across species. Such a comparative approach can provide new insights into the neural basis of spatial navigation and neural computation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayeeta Basu
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA; Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA; Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA; Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA.
| | - Katherine Nagel
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA; Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA; Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA.
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3
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Noorman M, Hulse BK, Jayaraman V, Romani S, Hermundstad AM. Maintaining and updating accurate internal representations of continuous variables with a handful of neurons. Nat Neurosci 2024:10.1038/s41593-024-01766-5. [PMID: 39363052 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01766-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 10/05/2024]
Abstract
Many animals rely on persistent internal representations of continuous variables for working memory, navigation, and motor control. Existing theories typically assume that large networks of neurons are required to maintain such representations accurately; networks with few neurons are thought to generate discrete representations. However, analysis of two-photon calcium imaging data from tethered flies walking in darkness suggests that their small head-direction system can maintain a surprisingly continuous and accurate representation. We thus ask whether it is possible for a small network to generate a continuous, rather than discrete, representation of such a variable. We show analytically that even very small networks can be tuned to maintain continuous internal representations, but this comes at the cost of sensitivity to noise and variations in tuning. This work expands the computational repertoire of small networks, and raises the possibility that larger networks could represent more and higher-dimensional variables than previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcella Noorman
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, USA.
| | - Brad K Hulse
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, USA
| | - Vivek Jayaraman
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, USA
| | - Sandro Romani
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, USA
| | - Ann M Hermundstad
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, USA.
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4
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Luna-Munguia H, Gasca-Martinez D, Garay-Cortes A, Coutiño D, Regalado M, de Los Rios E, Villaseñor P, Hidalgo-Flores F, Flores-Guapo K, Benito BY, Concha L. Selective Medial Septum Lesions in Healthy Rats Induce Longitudinal Changes in Microstructure of Limbic Regions, Behavioral Alterations, and Increased Susceptibility to Status Epilepticus. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:1-21. [PMID: 38443731 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04069-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Septo-hippocampal pathway, crucial for physiological functions and involved in epilepsy. Clinical monitoring during epileptogenesis is complicated. We aim to evaluate tissue changes after lesioning the medial septum (MS) of normal rats and assess how the depletion of specific neuronal populations alters the animals' behavior and susceptibility to establishing a pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected into the MS with vehicle or saporins (to deplete GABAergic or cholinergic neurons; n = 16 per group). Thirty-two animals were used for diffusion tensor imaging (DTI); scanned before surgery and 14 and 49 days post-injection. Fractional anisotropy and apparent diffusion coefficient were evaluated in the fimbria, dorsal hippocampus, ventral hippocampus, dorso-medial thalamus, and amygdala. Between scans 2 and 3, animals were submitted to diverse behavioral tasks. Stainings were used to analyze tissue alterations. Twenty-four different animals received pilocarpine to evaluate the latency and severity of the status epilepticus 2 weeks after surgery. Additionally, eight different animals were only used to evaluate the neuronal damage inflicted on the MS 1 week after the molecular surgery. Progressive changes in DTI parameters in both white and gray matter structures of the four evaluated groups were observed. Behaviorally, the GAT1-saporin injection impacted spatial memory formation, while 192-IgG-saporin triggered anxiety-like behaviors. Histologically, the GABAergic toxin also induced aberrant mossy fiber sprouting, tissue damage, and neuronal death. Regarding the pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus, this agent provoked an increased mortality rate. Selective septo-hippocampal modulation impacts the integrity of limbic regions crucial for certain behavioral skills and could represent a precursor for epilepsy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiram Luna-Munguia
- Departamento de Neurobiologia Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Campus UNAM-Juriquilla, 76230, Queretaro, Mexico.
| | - Deisy Gasca-Martinez
- Departamento de Neurobiologia Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Campus UNAM-Juriquilla, 76230, Queretaro, Mexico
- Unidad de Analisis Conductual, Instituto de Neurobiologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Campus UNAM-Juriquilla, 76230, Queretaro, Mexico
| | - Alejandra Garay-Cortes
- Departamento de Neurobiologia Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Campus UNAM-Juriquilla, 76230, Queretaro, Mexico
| | - Daniela Coutiño
- Departamento de Neurobiologia Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Campus UNAM-Juriquilla, 76230, Queretaro, Mexico
| | - Mirelta Regalado
- Departamento de Neurobiologia Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Campus UNAM-Juriquilla, 76230, Queretaro, Mexico
| | - Ericka de Los Rios
- Departamento de Neurobiologia Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Campus UNAM-Juriquilla, 76230, Queretaro, Mexico
- Unidad de Microscopia, Instituto de Neurobiologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Campus UNAM-Juriquilla, 76230, Queretaro, Mexico
| | - Paulina Villaseñor
- Departamento de Neurobiologia Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Campus UNAM-Juriquilla, 76230, Queretaro, Mexico
| | - Fernando Hidalgo-Flores
- Departamento de Neurobiologia Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Campus UNAM-Juriquilla, 76230, Queretaro, Mexico
| | - Karen Flores-Guapo
- Departamento de Neurobiologia Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Campus UNAM-Juriquilla, 76230, Queretaro, Mexico
| | - Brandon Yair Benito
- Departamento de Neurobiologia Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Campus UNAM-Juriquilla, 76230, Queretaro, Mexico
| | - Luis Concha
- Departamento de Neurobiologia Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Campus UNAM-Juriquilla, 76230, Queretaro, Mexico
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Hike D, Liu X, Xie Z, Zhang B, Choi S, Zhou XA, Liu A, Murstein A, Jiang Y, Devor A, Yu X. High-resolution awake mouse fMRI at 14 Tesla. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.12.08.570803. [PMID: 38106227 PMCID: PMC10723470 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.08.570803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
High-resolution awake mouse fMRI remains challenging despite extensive efforts to address motion-induced artifacts and stress. This study introduces an implantable radiofrequency (RF) surface coil design that minimizes image distortion caused by the air/tissue interface of mouse brains while simultaneously serving as a headpost for fixation during scanning. Furthermore, this study provides a thorough acclimation method used to accustom animals to the MRI environment minimizing motion induced artifacts. Using a 14T scanner, high-resolution fMRI enabled brain-wide functional mapping of visual and vibrissa stimulation at 100×100×200μm resolution with a 2s per frame sampling rate. Besides activated ascending visual and vibrissa pathways, robust BOLD responses were detected in the anterior cingulate cortex upon visual stimulation and spread through the ventral retrosplenial area (VRA) with vibrissa air-puff stimulation, demonstrating higher-order sensory processing in association cortices of awake mice. In particular, the rapid hemodynamic responses in VRA upon vibrissa stimulation showed a strong correlation with the hippocampus, thalamus, and prefrontal cortical areas. Cross-correlation analysis with designated VRA responses revealed early positive BOLD signals at the contralateral barrel cortex (BC) occurring 2 seconds prior to the air-puff in awake mice with repetitive stimulation, which was not detected using a randomized stimulation paradigm. This early BC activation indicated a learned anticipation through the vibrissa system and association cortices in awake mice under continuous training of repetitive air-puff stimulation. This work establishes a high-resolution awake mouse fMRI platform, enabling brain-wide functional mapping of sensory signal processing in higher association cortical areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Hike
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 Thirteenth Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA 02129
| | - Xiaochen Liu
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 Thirteenth Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA 02129
| | - Zeping Xie
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 Thirteenth Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA 02129
| | - Bei Zhang
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 Thirteenth Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA 02129
| | - Sangcheon Choi
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 Thirteenth Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA 02129
| | - Xiaoqing Alice Zhou
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 Thirteenth Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA 02129
| | - Andy Liu
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 Thirteenth Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA 02129
- Graduate program in Neuroscience, Boston University, 610 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 02215
| | - Alyssa Murstein
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 Thirteenth Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA 02129
- Graduate program in Neuroscience, Boston University, 610 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 02215
| | - Yuanyuan Jiang
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 Thirteenth Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA 02129
| | - Anna Devor
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 Thirteenth Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA 02129
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 610 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 02215
| | - Xin Yu
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 Thirteenth Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA 02129
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Street JS, Jeffery KJ. The dorsal thalamic lateral geniculate nucleus is required for visual control of head direction cell firing direction in rats. J Physiol 2024. [PMID: 39235958 DOI: 10.1113/jp286868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Head direction (HD) neurons, signalling facing direction, generate a signal that is primarily anchored to the outside world by visual inputs. We investigated the route for visual landmark information into the HD system in rats. There are two candidates: an evolutionarily older, larger subcortical retino-tectal pathway and a more recently evolved, smaller cortical retino-geniculo-striate pathway. We disrupted the cortical pathway by lesioning the dorsal lateral geniculate thalamic nuclei bilaterally, and recorded HD cells in the postsubicular cortex as rats foraged in a visual-cue-controlled enclosure. In lesioned rats we found the expected number of postsubicular HD cells. Although directional tuning curves were broader across a trial, this was attributable to the increased instability of otherwise normal-width tuning curves. Tuning curves were also poorly responsive to polarizing visual landmarks and did not distinguish cues based on their visual pattern. Thus, the retino-geniculo-striate pathway is not crucial for the generation of an underlying, tightly tuned directional signal but does provide the main route for vision-based anchoring of the signal to the outside world, even when visual cues are high in contrast and low in detail. KEY POINTS: Head direction (HD) cells indicate the facing direction of the head, using visual landmarks to distinguish directions. In rats, we investigated whether this visual information is routed through the thalamus to the visual cortex or arrives via the superior colliculus, which is a phylogenetically older and (in rodents) larger pathway. We lesioned the thalamic dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) in rats and recorded the responsiveness of cortical HD cells to visual cues. We found that cortical HD cells had normal tuning curves, but these were slightly more unstable during a trial. Most notably, HD cells in dLGN-lesioned animals showed little ability to distinguish highly distinct cues and none to distinguish more similar cues. These results suggest that directional processing of visual landmarks in mammals requires the geniculo-cortical pathway, which raises questions about when and how visual directional landmark processing appeared during evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- James S Street
- Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Kate J Jeffery
- School of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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Long X, Wang X, Deng B, Shen R, Lv SQ, Zhang SJ. Intrinsic Bipolar Head-Direction Cells in the Medial Entorhinal Cortex. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024:e2401216. [PMID: 39206928 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202401216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Head-direction (HD) cells are a fundamental component in the hippocampal-entorhinal circuit for spatial navigation and help maintain an internal sense of direction to anchor the orientation in space. A classical HD cell robustly increases its firing rate when the head is oriented toward a specific direction, with each cell tuned to only one direction. Although unidirectional HD cells are reported broadly across multiple brain regions, computation modelling has predicted the existence of multiple equilibrium states of HD network, which has yet to be proven. In this study, a novel HD variant of bipolar HD cells in the medial entorhinal cortex (MEC) are identified that exhibit stable double-peaked directional tuning properties. The bipolar patterns remain stable in the darkness and across environments of distinct geometric shapes. Moreover, bipolar HD cells co-rotate coherently with unipolar HD cells to anchor the external visual cue. The discovery reveals a new spatial cell type of bipolar HD cells, whose unique activity patterns may comprise a potential building block for a sophisticated local neural circuit configuration for the internal representation of direction. These findings may contribute to the understanding of how the brain processes spatial information by shedding light on the role of bipolar HD cells in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyang Long
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Xiaoxia Wang
- Department of Basic Psychology, School of Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Bin Deng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Rui Shen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Sheng-Qing Lv
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Sheng-Jia Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
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Nitzan N, Buzsáki G. Physiological characteristics of neurons in the mammillary bodies align with topographical organization of subicular inputs. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114539. [PMID: 39052483 PMCID: PMC11475818 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The mammillary bodies (MBOs), a group of hypothalamic nuclei, play a pivotal role in memory formation and spatial navigation. They receive extensive inputs from the hippocampus through the fornix, but the physiological significance of these connections remains poorly understood. Damage to the MBOs is associated with various forms of anterograde amnesia. However, information about the physiological characteristics of the MBO is limited, primarily due to the limited number of studies that have directly monitored MBO activity along with population patterns of its upstream partners. Employing large-scale silicon probe recording in mice, we characterize MBO activity and its interaction with the subiculum across various brain states. We find that MBO cells are highly diverse in their relationship to theta, ripple, and slow oscillations. Several of the physiological features are inherited by the topographically organized inputs to MBO cells. Our study provides insights into the functional organization of the MBOs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noam Nitzan
- New York University Neuroscience Institute, New York University, New York, NY 10016, USA; Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - György Buzsáki
- New York University Neuroscience Institute, New York University, New York, NY 10016, USA; Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10016, USA.
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Senzai Y, Scanziani M. The brain simulates actions and their consequences during REM sleep. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.08.13.607810. [PMID: 39211157 PMCID: PMC11361194 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.13.607810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Vivid dreams mostly occur during a phase of sleep called REM 1-5 . During REM sleep, the brain's internal representation of direction keeps shifting like that of an awake animal moving through its environment 6-8 . What causes these shifts, given the immobility of the sleeping animal? Here we show that the superior colliculus of the mouse, a motor command center involved in orienting movements 9-15 , issues motor commands during REM sleep, e.g. turn left, that are similar to those issued in the awake behaving animal. Strikingly, these motor commands, despite not being executed, shift the internal representation of direction as if the animal had turned. Thus, during REM sleep, the brain simulates actions by issuing motor commands that, while not executed, have consequences as if they had been. This study suggests that the sleeping brain, while disengaged from the external world, uses its internal model of the world to simulate interactions with it.
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10
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Asinof SK, Card GM. Neural Control of Naturalistic Behavior Choices. Annu Rev Neurosci 2024; 47:369-388. [PMID: 38724026 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-neuro-111020-094019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/09/2024]
Abstract
In the natural world, animals make decisions on an ongoing basis, continuously selecting which action to undertake next. In the lab, however, the neural bases of decision processes have mostly been studied using artificial trial structures. New experimental tools based on the genetic toolkit of model organisms now make it experimentally feasible to monitor and manipulate neural activity in small subsets of neurons during naturalistic behaviors. We thus propose a new approach to investigating decision processes, termed reverse neuroethology. In this approach, experimenters select animal models based on experimental accessibility and then utilize cutting-edge tools such as connectomes and genetically encoded reagents to analyze the flow of information through an animal's nervous system during naturalistic choice behaviors. We describe how the reverse neuroethology strategy has been applied to understand the neural underpinnings of innate, rapid decision making, with a focus on defensive behavioral choices in the vinegar fly Drosophila melanogaster.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel K Asinof
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, Virginia, USA
| | - Gwyneth M Card
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Neuroscience, and Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA;
- Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, Virginia, USA
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Amaral AC, Lister JP, Rueckemann JW, Wojnarowicz MW, McGaughy JA, Mokler DJ, Galler JR, Rosene DL, Rushmore RJ. Prenatal protein malnutrition decreases neuron numbers in the parahippocampal region but not prefrontal cortex in adult rats. Nutr Neurosci 2024:1-14. [PMID: 39088448 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2024.2371256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/03/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Prenatal protein malnutrition produces anatomical and functional changes in the developing brain that persist despite immediate postnatal nutritional rehabilitation. Brain networks of prenatally malnourished animals show diminished activation of prefrontal areas and an increased activation of hippocampal regions during an attentional task [1]. While a reduction in cell number has been documented in hippocampal subfield CA1, nothing is known about changes in neuron numbers in the prefrontal or parahippocampal cortices. METHODS In the present study, we used unbiased stereology to investigate the effect of prenatal protein malnutrition on the neuron numbers in the medial prefrontal cortex and the cortices of the parahippocampal region that comprise the larger functional network. RESULTS Results show that prenatal protein malnutrition does not cause changes in the neuronal population in the medial prefrontal cortex of adult rats, indicating that the decrease in functional activation during attentional tasks is not due to a reduction in the number of neurons. Results also show that prenatal protein malnutrition is associated with a reduction in neuron numbers in specific parahippocampal subregions: the medial entorhinal cortex and presubiculum. DISCUSSION The affected regions along with CA1 comprise a tightly interconnected circuit, suggesting that prenatal malnutrition confers a vulnerability to specific hippocampal circuits. These findings are consistent with the idea that prenatal protein malnutrition produces a reorganization of structural and functional networks, which may underlie observed alterations in attentional processes and capabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- A C Amaral
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - J P Lister
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - J W Rueckemann
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - M W Wojnarowicz
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - J A McGaughy
- Department of Psychology, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA
| | - D J Mokler
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of New England, Biddeford, ME, USA
| | - J R Galler
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics & Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, USA
| | - D L Rosene
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - R J Rushmore
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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12
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Stentiford R, Knight JC, Nowotny T, Philippides A, Graham P. Estimating orientation in natural scenes: A spiking neural network model of the insect central complex. PLoS Comput Biol 2024; 20:e1011913. [PMID: 39146374 PMCID: PMC11349202 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011913] [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: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 08/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024] Open
Abstract
The central complex of insects contains cells, organised as a ring attractor, that encode head direction. The 'bump' of activity in the ring can be updated by idiothetic cues and external sensory information. Plasticity at the synapses between these cells and the ring neurons, that are responsible for bringing sensory information into the central complex, has been proposed to form a mapping between visual cues and the heading estimate which allows for more accurate tracking of the current heading, than if only idiothetic information were used. In Drosophila, ring neurons have well characterised non-linear receptive fields. In this work we produce synthetic versions of these visual receptive fields using a combination of excitatory inputs and mutual inhibition between ring neurons. We use these receptive fields to bring visual information into a spiking neural network model of the insect central complex based on the recently published Drosophila connectome. Previous modelling work has focused on how this circuit functions as a ring attractor using the same type of simple visual cues commonly used experimentally. While we initially test the model on these simple stimuli, we then go on to apply the model to complex natural scenes containing multiple conflicting cues. We show that this simple visual filtering provided by the ring neurons is sufficient to form a mapping between heading and visual features and maintain the heading estimate in the absence of angular velocity input. The network is successful at tracking heading even when presented with videos of natural scenes containing conflicting information from environmental changes and translation of the camera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael Stentiford
- Department of Informatics, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - James C. Knight
- Department of Informatics, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Nowotny
- Department of Informatics, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Philippides
- Department of Informatics, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Graham
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
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13
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Lu Z, Julian JB, Aguirre GK, Epstein RA. A neural compass in the human brain during naturalistic virtual navigation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.18.590112. [PMID: 38712211 PMCID: PMC11071287 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.18.590112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
A central component of wayfinding is the ability to maintain a consistent representation of one's facing direction when moving about the world. In rodents, head direction cells are believed to support this "neural compass", but identifying a similar mechanism in humans during dynamic naturalistic navigation has been challenging. To address this issue, we acquired fMRI data while participants freely navigated through a virtual reality city. Encoding model analyses revealed voxel clusters in retrosplenial complex and superior parietal lobule that exhibited reliable tuning as a function of facing direction. Crucially, these directional tunings were consistent across perceptually different versions of the city, spatially separated locations within the city, and motivationally distinct phases of the behavioral task. Analysis of the model weights indicated that these regions may represent facing direction relative to the principal axis of the environment. These findings reveal specific mechanisms in the human brain that allow us to maintain a sense of direction during naturalistic, dynamic navigation.
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14
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Mehrotra D, Levenstein D, Duszkiewicz AJ, Carrasco SS, Booker SA, Kwiatkowska A, Peyrache A. Hyperpolarization-activated currents drive neuronal activation sequences in sleep. Curr Biol 2024; 34:3043-3054.e8. [PMID: 38901427 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.05.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Sequential neuronal patterns are believed to support information processing in the cortex, yet their origin is still a matter of debate. We report that neuronal activity in the mouse postsubiculum (PoSub), where a majority of neurons are modulated by the animal's head direction, was sequentially activated along the dorsoventral axis during sleep at the transition from hyperpolarized "DOWN" to activated "UP" states, while representing a stable direction. Computational modeling suggested that these dynamics could be attributed to a spatial gradient of hyperpolarization-activated currents (Ih), which we confirmed in ex vivo slice experiments and corroborated in other cortical structures. These findings open up the possibility that varying amounts of Ih across cortical neurons could result in sequential neuronal patterns and that traveling activity upstream of the entorhinal-hippocampal circuit organizes large-scale neuronal activity supporting learning and memory during sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhruv Mehrotra
- Montréal Neurological Institute and Hospital, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, 3801 Rue University, Montréal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, 3801 Rue University, Montréal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Daniel Levenstein
- Montréal Neurological Institute and Hospital, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, 3801 Rue University, Montréal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; MILA, 6666 Rue Saint-Urbain, Montréal, QC H2S 3H1, Canada
| | - Adrian J Duszkiewicz
- Montréal Neurological Institute and Hospital, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, 3801 Rue University, Montréal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; Division of Psychology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK; Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Sofia Skromne Carrasco
- Montréal Neurological Institute and Hospital, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, 3801 Rue University, Montréal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, 3801 Rue University, Montréal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Sam A Booker
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK; Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK; Patrick Wild Centre for Research into Autism, Fragile X Syndrome & Intellectual Disabilities, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Angelika Kwiatkowska
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK; Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Adrien Peyrache
- Montréal Neurological Institute and Hospital, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, 3801 Rue University, Montréal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada.
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15
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Griffiths BJ, Schreiner T, Schaefer JK, Vollmar C, Kaufmann E, Quach S, Remi J, Noachtar S, Staudigl T. Electrophysiological signatures of veridical head direction in humans. Nat Hum Behav 2024; 8:1334-1350. [PMID: 38710766 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-024-01872-1] [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: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Information about heading direction is critical for navigation as it provides the means to orient ourselves in space. However, given that veridical head-direction signals require physical rotation of the head and most human neuroimaging experiments depend upon fixing the head in position, little is known about how the human brain is tuned to such heading signals. Here we adress this by asking 52 healthy participants undergoing simultaneous electroencephalography and motion tracking recordings (split into two experiments) and 10 patients undergoing simultaneous intracranial electroencephalography and motion tracking recordings to complete a series of orientation tasks in which they made physical head rotations to target positions. We then used a series of forward encoding models and linear mixed-effects models to isolate electrophysiological activity that was specifically tuned to heading direction. We identified a robust posterior central signature that predicts changes in veridical head orientation after regressing out confounds including sensory input and muscular activity. Both source localization and intracranial analysis implicated the medial temporal lobe as the origin of this effect. Subsequent analyses disentangled head-direction signatures from signals relating to head rotation and those reflecting location-specific effects. Lastly, when directly comparing head direction and eye-gaze-related tuning, we found that the brain maintains both codes while actively navigating, with stronger tuning to head direction in the medial temporal lobe. Together, these results reveal a taxonomy of population-level head-direction signals within the human brain that is reminiscent of those reported in the single units of rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J Griffiths
- Department of Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Thomas Schreiner
- Department of Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Julia K Schaefer
- Department of Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Christian Vollmar
- Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Kaufmann
- Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefanie Quach
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Jan Remi
- Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Soheyl Noachtar
- Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Tobias Staudigl
- Department of Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
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16
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Shirdhankar RN, Malkemper EP. Cognitive maps and the magnetic sense in vertebrates. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2024; 86:102880. [PMID: 38657284 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2024.102880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Navigation requires a network of neurons processing inputs from internally generated cues and external landmarks. Most studies on the neuronal basis of navigation in vertebrates have focused on rats and mice and the canonical senses vision, hearing, olfaction, and somatosensation. Some animals have evolved the ability to sense the Earth's magnetic field and use it for orientation. It can be expected that in these animals magnetic cues are integrated with other sensory cues in the cognitive map. We provide an overview of the behavioral evidence and brain regions involved in magnetic sensing in support of this idea, hoping that this will guide future experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runita N Shirdhankar
- Research Group Neurobiology of Magnetoreception, Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior - Caesar, Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2, Bonn 53175, Germany; International Max Planck Research School for Brain and Behavior, Bonn, Germany
| | - E Pascal Malkemper
- Research Group Neurobiology of Magnetoreception, Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior - Caesar, Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2, Bonn 53175, Germany.
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17
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Vilimelis Aceituno P, Dall'Osto D, Pisokas I. Theoretical principles explain the structure of the insect head direction circuit. eLife 2024; 13:e91533. [PMID: 38814703 PMCID: PMC11139481 DOI: 10.7554/elife.91533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
To navigate their environment, insects need to keep track of their orientation. Previous work has shown that insects encode their head direction as a sinusoidal activity pattern around a ring of neurons arranged in an eight-column structure. However, it is unclear whether this sinusoidal encoding of head direction is just an evolutionary coincidence or if it offers a particular functional advantage. To address this question, we establish the basic mathematical requirements for direction encoding and show that it can be performed by many circuits, all with different activity patterns. Among these activity patterns, we prove that the sinusoidal one is the most noise-resilient, but only when coupled with a sinusoidal connectivity pattern between the encoding neurons. We compare this predicted optimal connectivity pattern with anatomical data from the head direction circuits of the locust and the fruit fly, finding that our theory agrees with experimental evidence. Furthermore, we demonstrate that our predicted circuit can emerge using Hebbian plasticity, implying that the neural connectivity does not need to be explicitly encoded in the genetic program of the insect but rather can emerge during development. Finally, we illustrate that in our theory, the consistent presence of the eight-column organisation of head direction circuits across multiple insect species is not a chance artefact but instead can be explained by basic evolutionary principles.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dominic Dall'Osto
- Institute of Neuroinformatics, University of Zürich and ETH ZürichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Ioannis Pisokas
- School of Informatics, University of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
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18
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Yadav N, Toader A, Rajasethupathy P. Beyond hippocampus: Thalamic and prefrontal contributions to an evolving memory. Neuron 2024; 112:1045-1059. [PMID: 38272026 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
The hippocampus has long been at the center of memory research, and rightfully so. However, with emerging technological capabilities, we can increasingly appreciate memory as a more dynamic and brain-wide process. In this perspective, our goal is to begin developing models to understand the gradual evolution, reorganization, and stabilization of memories across the brain after their initial formation in the hippocampus. By synthesizing studies across the rodent and human literature, we suggest that as memory representations initially form in hippocampus, parallel traces emerge in frontal cortex that cue memory recall, and as they mature, with sustained support initially from limbic then diencephalic then cortical circuits, they become progressively independent of hippocampus and dependent on a mature cortical representation. A key feature of this model is that, as time progresses, memory representations are passed on to distinct circuits with progressively longer time constants, providing the opportunity to filter, forget, update, or reorganize memories in the process of committing to long-term storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nakul Yadav
- Laboratory of Neural Dynamics & Cognition, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrew Toader
- Laboratory of Neural Dynamics & Cognition, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Priya Rajasethupathy
- Laboratory of Neural Dynamics & Cognition, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
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19
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Clark BJ, LaChance PA, Winter SS, Mehlman ML, Butler W, LaCour A, Taube JS. Comparison of head direction cell firing characteristics across thalamo-parahippocampal circuitry. Hippocampus 2024; 34:168-196. [PMID: 38178693 PMCID: PMC10950528 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Head direction (HD) cells, which fire persistently when an animal's head is pointed in a particular direction, are widely thought to underlie an animal's sense of spatial orientation and have been identified in several limbic brain regions. Robust HD cell firing is observed throughout the thalamo-parahippocampal system, although recent studies report that parahippocampal HD cells exhibit distinct firing properties, including conjunctive aspects with other spatial parameters, which suggest they play a specialized role in spatial processing. Few studies, however, have quantified these apparent differences. Here, we performed a comparative assessment of HD cell firing characteristics across the anterior dorsal thalamus (ADN), postsubiculum (PoS), parasubiculum (PaS), medial entorhinal (MEC), and postrhinal (POR) cortices. We report that HD cells with a high degree of directional specificity were observed in all five brain regions, but ADN HD cells display greater sharpness and stability in their preferred directions, and greater anticipation of future headings compared to parahippocampal regions. Additional analysis indicated that POR HD cells were more coarsely modulated by other spatial parameters compared to PoS, PaS, and MEC. Finally, our analyses indicated that the sharpness of HD tuning decreased as a function of laminar position and conjunctive coding within the PoS, PaS, and MEC, with cells in the superficial layers along with conjunctive firing properties showing less robust directional tuning. The results are discussed in relation to theories of functional organization of HD cell tuning in thalamo-parahippocampal circuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J Clark
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Patrick A LaChance
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Shawn S Winter
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Max L Mehlman
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Will Butler
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Ariyana LaCour
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Jeffrey S Taube
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
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20
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Duszkiewicz AJ, Orhan P, Skromne Carrasco S, Brown EH, Owczarek E, Vite GR, Wood ER, Peyrache A. Local origin of excitatory-inhibitory tuning equivalence in a cortical network. Nat Neurosci 2024; 27:782-792. [PMID: 38491324 PMCID: PMC11001581 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01588-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
The interplay between excitation and inhibition determines the fidelity of cortical representations. The receptive fields of excitatory neurons are often finely tuned to encoded features, but the principles governing the tuning of inhibitory neurons remain elusive. In this study, we recorded populations of neurons in the mouse postsubiculum (PoSub), where the majority of excitatory neurons are head-direction (HD) cells. We show that the tuning of fast-spiking (FS) cells, the largest class of cortical inhibitory neurons, was broad and frequently radially symmetrical. By decomposing tuning curves using the Fourier transform, we identified an equivalence in tuning between PoSub-FS and PoSub-HD cell populations. Furthermore, recordings, optogenetic manipulations of upstream thalamic populations and computational modeling provide evidence that the tuning of PoSub-FS cells has a local origin. These findings support the notion that the equivalence of neuronal tuning between excitatory and inhibitory cell populations is an intrinsic property of local cortical networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian J Duszkiewicz
- Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
- Department of Psychology, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK.
| | - Pierre Orhan
- Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Ecole normale supérieure, PSL University, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Sofia Skromne Carrasco
- Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Eleanor H Brown
- Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Eliott Owczarek
- Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Gilberto R Vite
- Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Emma R Wood
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Adrien Peyrache
- Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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21
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Jiang Q, Wu KLK, Hu XQ, Cheung MH, Chen W, Ma CW, Shum DKY, Chan YS. Neonatal GABAergic transmission primes vestibular gating of output for adult spatial navigation. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:147. [PMID: 38502309 PMCID: PMC10951018 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05170-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
GABAergic interneurons are poised with the capacity to shape circuit output via inhibitory gating. How early in the development of medial vestibular nucleus (MVN) are GABAergic neurons recruited for feedforward shaping of outputs to higher centers for spatial navigation? The role of early GABAergic transmission in assembling vestibular circuits for spatial navigation was explored by neonatal perturbation. Immunohistochemistry and confocal imaging were utilized to reveal the expression of parvalbumin (PV)-expressing MVN neurons and their perineuronal nets. Whole-cell patch-clamp recording, coupled with optogenetics, was conducted in vitro to examine the synaptic function of MVN circuitry. Chemogenetic targeting strategy was also employed in vivo to manipulate neuronal activity during navigational tests. We found in rats a neonatal critical period before postnatal day (P) 8 in which competitive antagonization of GABAergic transmission in the MVN retarded maturation of inhibitory neurotransmission, as evidenced by deranged developmental trajectory for excitation/inhibition ratio and an extended period of critical period-like plasticity in GABAergic transmission. Despite increased number of PV-expressing GABAergic interneurons in the MVN, optogenetic-coupled patch-clamp recording indicated null-recruitment of these neurons in tuning outputs along the ascending vestibular pathway. Such perturbation not only offset output dynamics of ascending MVN output neurons, but was further accompanied by impaired vestibular-dependent navigation in adulthood. The same perturbations were however non-consequential when applied after P8. Results highlight neonatal GABAergic transmission as key to establishing feedforward output dynamics to higher brain centers for spatial cognition and navigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiufen Jiang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kenneth Lap-Kei Wu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Xiao-Qian Hu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Man-Him Cheung
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenqiang Chen
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
- Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chun-Wai Ma
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Daisy Kwok-Yan Shum
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China.
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ying-Shing Chan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China.
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China.
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22
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LaChance PA, Taube JS. The Anterior Thalamus Preferentially Drives Allocentric But Not Egocentric Orientation Tuning in Postrhinal Cortex. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e0861232024. [PMID: 38286624 PMCID: PMC10919204 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0861-23.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Navigating a complex world requires integration of multiple spatial reference frames, including information about one's orientation in both allocentric and egocentric coordinates. Combining these two information sources can provide additional information about one's spatial location. Previous studies have demonstrated that both egocentric and allocentric spatial signals are reflected by the firing of neurons in the rat postrhinal cortex (POR), an area that may serve as a hub for integrating allocentric head direction (HD) cell information with egocentric information from center-bearing and center-distance cells. However, we have also demonstrated that POR HD cells are uniquely influenced by the visual properties and locations of visual landmarks, bringing into question whether the POR HD signal is truly allocentric as opposed to simply being a response to visual stimuli. To investigate this issue, we recorded HD cells from the POR of female rats while bilaterally inactivating the anterior thalamus (ATN), a region critical for expression of the "classic" HD signal in cortical areas. We found that ATN inactivation led to a significant decrease in both firing rate and tuning strength for POR HD cells, as well as a disruption in the encoding of allocentric location by conjunctive HD/egocentric cells. In contrast, POR egocentric cells without HD tuning were largely unaffected in a consistent manner by ATN inactivation. These results indicate that the POR HD signal originates at least partially from projections from the ATN and supports the view that the POR acts as a hub for the integration of egocentric and allocentric spatial representations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick A LaChance
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755
| | - Jeffrey S Taube
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755
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23
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Nardone S, De Luca R, Zito A, Klymko N, Nicoloutsopoulos D, Amsalem O, Brannigan C, Resch JM, Jacobs CL, Pant D, Veregge M, Srinivasan H, Grippo RM, Yang Z, Zeidel ML, Andermann ML, Harris KD, Tsai LT, Arrigoni E, Verstegen AMJ, Saper CB, Lowell BB. A spatially-resolved transcriptional atlas of the murine dorsal pons at single-cell resolution. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1966. [PMID: 38438345 PMCID: PMC10912765 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45907-7] [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: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The "dorsal pons", or "dorsal pontine tegmentum" (dPnTg), is part of the brainstem. It is a complex, densely packed region whose nuclei are involved in regulating many vital functions. Notable among them are the parabrachial nucleus, the Kölliker Fuse, the Barrington nucleus, the locus coeruleus, and the dorsal, laterodorsal, and ventral tegmental nuclei. In this study, we applied single-nucleus RNA-seq (snRNA-seq) to resolve neuronal subtypes based on their unique transcriptional profiles and then used multiplexed error robust fluorescence in situ hybridization (MERFISH) to map them spatially. We sampled ~1 million cells across the dPnTg and defined the spatial distribution of over 120 neuronal subtypes. Our analysis identified an unpredicted high transcriptional diversity in this region and pinpointed the unique marker genes of many neuronal subtypes. We also demonstrated that many neuronal subtypes are transcriptionally similar between humans and mice, enhancing this study's translational value. Finally, we developed a freely accessible, GPU and CPU-powered dashboard ( http://harvard.heavy.ai:6273/ ) that combines interactive visual analytics and hardware-accelerated SQL into a data science framework to allow the scientific community to query and gain insights into the data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Nardone
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Roberto De Luca
- Department of Neurology, Division of Sleep Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Antonino Zito
- Department of Twin Research & Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, The Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nataliya Klymko
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | | | - Oren Amsalem
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Cory Brannigan
- HEAVY.AI, 100 Montgomery St Fl 5, San Francisco, California, 94104, USA
| | - Jon M Resch
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center. University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Christopher L Jacobs
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Deepti Pant
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Molly Veregge
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Harini Srinivasan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ryan M Grippo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zongfang Yang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mark L Zeidel
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Mark L Andermann
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kenneth D Harris
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Linus T Tsai
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Elda Arrigoni
- Department of Neurology, Division of Sleep Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Anne M J Verstegen
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
| | - Clifford B Saper
- Department of Neurology, Division of Sleep Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
| | - Bradford B Lowell
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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24
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Cheng N, Dong Q, Zhang Z, Wang L, Chen X, Wang C. Egocentric processing of items in spines, dendrites, and somas in the retrosplenial cortex. Neuron 2024; 112:646-660.e8. [PMID: 38101396 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Egocentric representations of external items are essential for spatial navigation and memory. Here, we explored the neural mechanisms underlying egocentric processing in the retrosplenial cortex (RSC), a pivotal area for memory and navigation. Using one-photon and two-photon calcium imaging, we identified egocentric tuning for environment boundaries in dendrites, spines, and somas of RSC neurons (egocentric boundary cells) in the open-field task. Dendrites with egocentric tuning tended to have similarly tuned spines. We further identified egocentric neurons representing landmarks in a virtual navigation task or remembered cue location in a goal-oriented task, respectively. These neurons formed an independent population with egocentric boundary cells, suggesting that dedicated neurons with microscopic clustering of functional inputs shaped egocentric boundary processing in RSC and that RSC adopted a labeled line code with distinct classes of egocentric neurons responsible for representing different items in specific behavioral contexts, which could lead to efficient and flexible computation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Cheng
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Depression, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Qiqi Dong
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Depression, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Li Wang
- Brain Research Centre, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xiaojing Chen
- Brain Research Centre, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| | - Cheng Wang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Depression, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; CAS Centre for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligent Technology, Shanghai, China.
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25
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Wheeler DW, Banduri S, Sankararaman S, Vinay S, Ascoli GA. Unsupervised classification of brain-wide axons reveals the presubiculum neuronal projection blueprint. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1555. [PMID: 38378961 PMCID: PMC10879163 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45741-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
We present a quantitative strategy to identify all projection neuron types from a given region with statistically different patterns of anatomical targeting. We first validate the technique with mouse primary motor cortex layer 6 data, yielding two clusters consistent with cortico-thalamic and intra-telencephalic neurons. We next analyze the presubiculum, a less-explored region, identifying five classes of projecting neurons with unique patterns of divergence, convergence, and specificity. We report several findings: individual classes target multiple subregions along defined functions; all hypothalamic regions are exclusively targeted by the same class also invading midbrain and agranular retrosplenial cortex; Cornu Ammonis receives input from a single class of presubicular axons also projecting to granular retrosplenial cortex; path distances from the presubiculum to the same targets differ significantly between classes, as do the path distances to distinct targets within most classes; the identified classes have highly non-uniform abundances; and presubicular somata are topographically segregated among classes. This study thus demonstrates that statistically distinct projections shed light on the functional organization of their circuit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diek W Wheeler
- Center for Neural Informatics, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Studies and Bioengineering Department, College of Engineering & Computing, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA.
| | - Shaina Banduri
- Center for Neural Informatics, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Studies and Bioengineering Department, College of Engineering & Computing, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Sruthi Sankararaman
- Center for Neural Informatics, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Studies and Bioengineering Department, College of Engineering & Computing, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Samhita Vinay
- Center for Neural Informatics, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Studies and Bioengineering Department, College of Engineering & Computing, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Giorgio A Ascoli
- Center for Neural Informatics, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Studies and Bioengineering Department, College of Engineering & Computing, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA.
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26
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Qiu S, Hu Y, Huang Y, Gao T, Wang X, Wang D, Ren B, Shi X, Chen Y, Wang X, Wang D, Han L, Liang Y, Liu D, Liu Q, Deng L, Chen Z, Zhan L, Chen T, Huang Y, Wu Q, Xie T, Qian L, Jin C, Huang J, Deng W, Jiang T, Li X, Jia X, Yuan J, Li A, Yan J, Xu N, Xu L, Luo Q, Poo MM, Sun Y, Li CT, Yao H, Gong H, Sun YG, Xu C. Whole-brain spatial organization of hippocampal single-neuron projectomes. Science 2024; 383:eadj9198. [PMID: 38300992 DOI: 10.1126/science.adj9198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Mapping single-neuron projections is essential for understanding brain-wide connectivity and diverse functions of the hippocampus (HIP). Here, we reconstructed 10,100 single-neuron projectomes of mouse HIP and classified 43 projectome subtypes with distinct projection patterns. The number of projection targets and axon-tip distribution depended on the soma location along HIP longitudinal and transverse axes. Many projectome subtypes were enriched in specific HIP subdomains defined by spatial transcriptomic profiles. Furthermore, we delineated comprehensive wiring diagrams for HIP neurons projecting exclusively within the HIP formation (HPF) and for those projecting to both intra- and extra-HPF targets. Bihemispheric projecting neurons generally projected to one pair of homologous targets with ipsilateral preference. These organization principles of single-neuron projectomes provide a structural basis for understanding the function of HIP neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shou Qiu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yachuang Hu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yiming Huang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai 200031, China
- School of Life Sciences and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Taosha Gao
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Xiaofei Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Danying Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Biyu Ren
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Xiaoxue Shi
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Yu Chen
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Xinran Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Dan Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Luyao Han
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Yikai Liang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Dechen Liu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Qingxu Liu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Li Deng
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Zhaoqin Chen
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Lijie Zhan
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Tianzhi Chen
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Yuzhe Huang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai 200031, China
- School of Life Sciences and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Qingge Wu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Taorong Xie
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Liuqin Qian
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Chenxi Jin
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Jiawen Huang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Wei Deng
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Tao Jiang
- HUST-Suzhou Institute for Brainsmatics, JITRI, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Xiangning Li
- HUST-Suzhou Institute for Brainsmatics, JITRI, Suzhou 215123, China
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Hainan Province, School of Biomedical Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Xueyan Jia
- HUST-Suzhou Institute for Brainsmatics, JITRI, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Jing Yuan
- HUST-Suzhou Institute for Brainsmatics, JITRI, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Anan Li
- HUST-Suzhou Institute for Brainsmatics, JITRI, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Jun Yan
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ninglong Xu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Lin Xu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, and Laboratory of learning and Memory, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Qingming Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Hainan Province, School of Biomedical Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Mu-Ming Poo
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Technology, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yidi Sun
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chengyu T Li
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Haishan Yao
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Hui Gong
- HUST-Suzhou Institute for Brainsmatics, JITRI, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yan-Gang Sun
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chun Xu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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27
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Li S, Li Z, Liu Q, Ren P, Sun L, Cui Z, Liang X. Predictable navigation through spontaneous brain states with cognitive-map-like representations. Prog Neurobiol 2024; 233:102570. [PMID: 38232783 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2024.102570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Just as navigating a physical environment, navigating through the landscapes of spontaneous brain states may also require an internal cognitive map. Contemporary computation theories propose modeling a cognitive map from a reinforcement learning perspective and argue that the map would be predictive in nature, representing each state as its upcoming states. Here, we used resting-state fMRI to test the hypothesis that the spaces of spontaneously reoccurring brain states are cognitive map-like, and may exhibit future-oriented predictivity. We identified two discrete brain states of the navigation-related brain networks during rest. By combining pattern similarity and dimensional reduction analysis, we embedded the occurrences of each brain state in a two-dimensional space. Successor representation modeling analysis recognized that these brain state occurrences exhibit place cell-like representations, akin to those observed in a physical space. Moreover, we observed predictive transitions of reoccurring brain states, which strongly covaried with individual cognitive and emotional assessments. Our findings offer a novel perspective on the cognitive significance of spontaneous brain activity and support the theory of cognitive map as a unifying framework for mental navigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyang Li
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China; Laboratory for Space Environment and Physical Sciences, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China; Research Center for Human-Machine Augmented Intelligence, Research Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311100, China
| | - Zhipeng Li
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China; Laboratory for Space Environment and Physical Sciences, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Qiuyi Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China; Laboratory for Space Environment and Physical Sciences, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Peng Ren
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Lili Sun
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China; Laboratory for Space Environment and Physical Sciences, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Zaixu Cui
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Xia Liang
- Laboratory for Space Environment and Physical Sciences, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China; Frontiers Science Center for Matter Behave in Space Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China.
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28
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Sebastian ER, Esparza J, M de la Prida L. Quantifying the distribution of feature values over data represented in arbitrary dimensional spaces. PLoS Comput Biol 2024; 20:e1011768. [PMID: 38175854 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Identifying the structured distribution (or lack thereof) of a given feature over a point cloud is a general research question. In the neuroscience field, this problem arises while investigating representations over neural manifolds (e.g., spatial coding), in the analysis of neurophysiological signals (e.g., sensory coding) or in anatomical image segmentation. We introduce the Structure Index (SI) as a directed graph-based metric to quantify the distribution of feature values projected over data in arbitrary D-dimensional spaces (defined from neurons, time stamps, pixels, genes, etc). The SI is defined from the overlapping distribution of data points sharing similar feature values in a given neighborhood of the cloud. Using arbitrary data clouds, we show how the SI provides quantification of the degree and directionality of the local versus global organization of feature distribution. SI can be applied to both scalar and vectorial features permitting quantification of the relative contribution of related variables. When applied to experimental studies of head-direction cells, it is able to retrieve consistent feature structure from both the high- and low-dimensional representations, and to disclose the local and global structure of the angle and speed represented in different brain regions. Finally, we provide two general-purpose examples (sound and image categorization), to illustrate the potential application to arbitrary dimensional spaces. Our method provides versatile applications in the neuroscience and data science fields.
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29
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Philippen S, Hanert A, Schönfeld R, Granert O, Yilmaz R, Jensen-Kondering U, Splittgerber M, Moliadze V, Siniatchkin M, Berg D, Bartsch T. Transcranial direct current stimulation of the right temporoparietal junction facilitates hippocampal spatial learning in Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment. Clin Neurophysiol 2024; 157:48-60. [PMID: 38056370 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2023.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Spatial memory deficits are an early symptom in Alzheimer's disease (AD), reflecting the neurodegenerative processes in the neuronal navigation network such as in hippocampal and parietal cortical areas. As no effective treatment options are available, neuromodulatory interventions are increasingly evaluated. Against this backdrop, we investigated the neuromodulatory effect of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on hippocampal place learning in patients with AD or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). METHODS In this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study with a cross-over design anodal tDCS of the right temporoparietal junction (2 mA for 20 min) was applied to 20 patients diagnosed with AD or MCI and in 22 healthy controls while they performed a virtual navigation paradigm testing hippocampal place learning. RESULTS We show an improved recall performance of hippocampal place learning after anodal tDCS in the patient group compared to sham stimulation but not in the control group. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that tDCS can facilitate spatial memory consolidation via stimulating the parietal-hippocampal navigation network in AD and MCI patients. SIGNIFICANCE Our findings suggest that tDCS of the temporoparietal junction may restore spatial navigation and memory deficits in patients with AD and MCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Philippen
- Dept. of Neurology, Memory Disorder and Plasticity Group, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - A Hanert
- Dept. of Neurology, Memory Disorder and Plasticity Group, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - R Schönfeld
- Psychology Department, Halle University, Germany
| | - O Granert
- Dept. of Neurology, Memory Disorder and Plasticity Group, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - R Yilmaz
- Dept. of Neurology, University of Ankara, Medical School, Ankara, Turkey
| | - U Jensen-Kondering
- Dept. of Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany; Dept. of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
| | - M Splittgerber
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel University, Germany
| | - V Moliadze
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel University, Germany
| | - M Siniatchkin
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel University, Germany; Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center Bethel, University Clinics OWL, Bielefeld University, Germany
| | - D Berg
- Dept. of Neurology, Memory Disorder and Plasticity Group, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - T Bartsch
- Dept. of Neurology, Memory Disorder and Plasticity Group, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany.
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30
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Aggleton JP, Vann SD, O'Mara SM. Converging diencephalic and hippocampal supports for episodic memory. Neuropsychologia 2023; 191:108728. [PMID: 37939875 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2023.108728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
To understand the neural basis of episodic memory it is necessary to appreciate the significance of the fornix. This pathway creates a direct link between those temporal lobe and medial diencephalic sites responsible for anterograde amnesia. A collaboration with Andrew Mayes made it possible to recruit and scan 38 patients with colloid cysts in the third ventricle, a condition associated with variable fornix damage. Complete fornix loss was seen in three patients, who suffered chronic long-term memory problems. Volumetric analyses involving all 38 patients then revealed a highly consistent relationship between mammillary body volume and the recall of episodic memory. That relationship was not seen for working memory or tests of recognition memory. Three different methods all supported a dissociation between recollective-based recognition (impaired) and familiarity-based recognition (spared). This dissociation helped to show how the mammillary body-anterior thalamic nuclei axis, as well as the hippocampus, is vital for episodic memory yet is not required for familiarity-based recognition. These findings set the scene for a reformulation of temporal lobe and diencephalic amnesia. In this revised model, these two regions converge on overlapping cortical areas, including retrosplenial cortex. The united actions of the hippocampal formation and the anterior thalamic nuclei on these cortical areas enable episodic memory encoding and consolidation, impacting on subsequent recall.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P Aggleton
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, Wales, United Kingdom.
| | - Seralynne D Vann
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Shane M O'Mara
- School of Psychology and Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin - the University of Dublin, Dublin, D02 PN40, Ireland.
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Graham JA, Dumont JR, Winter SS, Brown JE, LaChance PA, Amon CC, Farnes KB, Morris AJ, Streltzov NA, Taube JS. Angular Head Velocity Cells within Brainstem Nuclei Projecting to the Head Direction Circuit. J Neurosci 2023; 43:8403-8424. [PMID: 37871964 PMCID: PMC10711713 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0581-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The sense of orientation of an animal is derived from the head direction (HD) system found in several limbic structures and depends on an intact vestibular labyrinth. However, how the vestibular system influences the generation and updating of the HD signal remains poorly understood. Anatomical and lesion studies point toward three key brainstem nuclei as key components for generating the HD signal-nucleus prepositus hypoglossi, supragenual nucleus, and dorsal paragigantocellularis reticular nuclei. Collectively, these nuclei are situated between the vestibular nuclei and the dorsal tegmental and lateral mammillary nuclei, which are thought to serve as the origin of the HD signal. To determine the types of information these brain areas convey to the HD network, we recorded neurons from these regions while female rats actively foraged in a cylindrical enclosure or were restrained and rotated passively. During foraging, a large subset of cells in all three nuclei exhibited activity that correlated with the angular head velocity (AHV) of the rat. Two fundamental types of AHV cells were observed; (1) symmetrical AHV cells increased or decreased their firing with increases in AHV regardless of the direction of rotation, and (2) asymmetrical AHV cells responded differentially to clockwise and counterclockwise head rotations. When rats were passively rotated, some AHV cells remained sensitive to AHV, whereas firing was attenuated in other cells. In addition, a large number of AHV cells were modulated by linear head velocity. These results indicate the types of information conveyed from the vestibular nuclei that are responsible for generating the HD signal.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Extracellular recording of brainstem nuclei (nucleus prepositus hypoglossi, supragenual nucleus, and dorsal paragigantocellularis reticular nucleus) that project to the head direction circuit identified different types of AHV cells while rats freely foraged in a cylindrical environment. The firing of many cells was also modulated by linear velocity. When rats were restrained and passively rotated, some cells remained sensitive to AHV, whereas others had attenuated firing. These brainstem nuclei provide critical information about the rotational movement of the head of the rat in the azimuthal plane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jalina A Graham
- Department of Psychological Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Dartmouth, New Hampshire 03755
| | - Julie R Dumont
- Department of Psychological Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Dartmouth, New Hampshire 03755
| | - Shawn S Winter
- Department of Psychological Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Dartmouth, New Hampshire 03755
| | - Joel E Brown
- Department of Psychological Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Dartmouth, New Hampshire 03755
| | - Patrick A LaChance
- Department of Psychological Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Dartmouth, New Hampshire 03755
| | - Carly C Amon
- Department of Psychological Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Dartmouth, New Hampshire 03755
| | - Kara B Farnes
- Department of Psychological Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Dartmouth, New Hampshire 03755
| | - Ashlyn J Morris
- Department of Psychological Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Dartmouth, New Hampshire 03755
| | - Nicholas A Streltzov
- Department of Psychological Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Dartmouth, New Hampshire 03755
| | - Jeffrey S Taube
- Department of Psychological Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Dartmouth, New Hampshire 03755
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Simmons CM, Moseley SC, Ogg JD, Zhou X, Johnson M, Wu W, Clark BJ, Wilber AA. A thalamo-parietal cortex circuit is critical for place-action coordination. Hippocampus 2023; 33:1252-1266. [PMID: 37811797 PMCID: PMC10872801 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23578] [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: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
The anterior and lateral thalamus (ALT) contains head direction cells that signal the directional orientation of an individual within the environment. ALT has direct and indirect connections with the parietal cortex (PC), an area hypothesized to play a role in coordinating viewer-dependent and viewer-independent spatial reference frames. This coordination between reference frames would allow an individual to translate movements toward a desired location from memory. Thus, ALT-PC functional connectivity would be critical for moving toward remembered allocentric locations. This hypothesis was tested in rats with a place-action task that requires associating an appropriate action (left or right turn) with a spatial location. There are four arms, each offset by 90°, positioned around a central starting point. A trial begins in the central starting point. After exiting a pseudorandomly selected arm, the rat had to displace the correct object covering one of two (left versus right) feeding stations to receive a reward. For a pair of arms facing opposite directions, the reward was located on the left, and for the other pair, the reward was located on the right. Thus, each reward location had a different combination of allocentric location and egocentric action. Removal of an object was scored as correct or incorrect. Trials in which the rat did not displace any objects were scored as "no selection" trials. After an object was removed, the rat returned to the center starting position and the maze was reset for the next trial. To investigate the role of the ALT-PC network, muscimol inactivation infusions targeted bilateral PC, bilateral ALT, or the ALT-PC network. Muscimol sessions were counterbalanced and compared to saline sessions within the same animal. All inactivations resulted in decreased accuracy, but only bilateral PC inactivations resulted in increased non selecting, increased errors, and longer latency responses on the remaining trials. Thus, the ALT-PC circuit is critical for linking an action with a spatial location for successful navigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine M Simmons
- Department of Psychology, Program of Neuroscience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Shawn C Moseley
- Department of Psychology, Program of Neuroscience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Jordan D Ogg
- Department of Psychology, Program of Neuroscience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Xinyu Zhou
- Department of Statistics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Madeline Johnson
- Department of Psychology, Program of Neuroscience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Wei Wu
- Department of Statistics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Benjamin J Clark
- Department of Psychology, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Aaron A Wilber
- Department of Psychology, Program of Neuroscience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
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Nardone S, De Luca R, Zito A, Klymko N, Nicoloutsopoulos D, Amsalem O, Brannigan C, Resch JM, Jacobs CL, Pant D, Veregge M, Srinivasan H, Grippo RM, Yang Z, Zeidel ML, Andermann ML, Harris KD, Tsai LT, Arrigoni E, Verstegen AMJ, Saper CB, Lowell BB. A spatially-resolved transcriptional atlas of the murine dorsal pons at single-cell resolution. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.18.558047. [PMID: 38014113 PMCID: PMC10680649 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.18.558047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
The "dorsal pons", or "dorsal pontine tegmentum" (dPnTg), is part of the brainstem. It is a complex, densely packed region whose nuclei are involved in regulating many vital functions. Notable among them are the parabrachial nucleus, the Kölliker Fuse, the Barrington nucleus, the locus coeruleus, and the dorsal, laterodorsal, and ventral tegmental nuclei. In this study, we applied single-nucleus RNA-seq (snRNA-seq) to resolve neuronal subtypes based on their unique transcriptional profiles and then used multiplexed error robust fluorescence in situ hybridization (MERFISH) to map them spatially. We sampled ~1 million cells across the dPnTg and defined the spatial distribution of over 120 neuronal subtypes. Our analysis identified an unpredicted high transcriptional diversity in this region and pinpointed many neuronal subtypes' unique marker genes. We also demonstrated that many neuronal subtypes are transcriptionally similar between humans and mice, enhancing this study's translational value. Finally, we developed a freely accessible, GPU and CPU-powered dashboard (http://harvard.heavy.ai:6273/) that combines interactive visual analytics and hardware-accelerated SQL into a data science framework to allow the scientific community to query and gain insights into the data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Nardone
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Roberto De Luca
- Department of Neurology, Division of Sleep Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Antonino Zito
- Department of Twin Research & Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Nataliya Klymko
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | | | - Oren Amsalem
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Cory Brannigan
- HEAVY.AI, 100 Montgomery St Fl 5, San Francisco, California, 94104, USA
| | - Jon M Resch
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center. University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242
| | - Christopher L Jacobs
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Deepti Pant
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Molly Veregge
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Harini Srinivasan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ryan M Grippo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zongfang Yang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mark L Zeidel
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Mark L Andermann
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kenneth D Harris
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Linus T Tsai
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Elda Arrigoni
- Department of Neurology, Division of Sleep Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Anne M J Verstegen
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Clifford B Saper
- Department of Neurology, Division of Sleep Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Bradford B Lowell
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Burles F, Iaria G. Neurocognitive Adaptations for Spatial Orientation and Navigation in Astronauts. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1592. [PMID: 38002551 PMCID: PMC10669796 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13111592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Astronauts often face orientation challenges while on orbit, which can lead to operator errors in demanding spatial tasks. In this study, we investigated the impact of long-duration spaceflight on the neural processes supporting astronauts' spatial orientation skills. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we collected data from 16 astronauts six months before and two weeks after their International Space Station (ISS) missions while performing a spatial orientation task that requires generating a mental representation of one's surroundings. During this task, astronauts exhibited a general reduction in neural activity evoked from spatial-processing brain regions after spaceflight. The neural activity evoked in the precuneus was most saliently reduced following spaceflight, along with less powerful effects observed in the angular gyrus and retrosplenial regions of the brain. Importantly, the reduction in precuneus activity we identified was not accounted for by changes in behavioral performance or changes in grey matter concentration. These findings overall show less engagement of explicitly spatial neurological processes at postflight, suggesting astronauts make use of complementary strategies to perform some spatial tasks as an adaptation to spaceflight. These preliminary findings highlight the need for developing countermeasures or procedures that minimize the detrimental effects of spaceflight on spatial cognition, especially in light of planned long-distance future missions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ford Burles
- Canadian Space Health Research Network, Department of Psychology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada;
- NeuroLab, Department of Psychology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Giuseppe Iaria
- Canadian Space Health Research Network, Department of Psychology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada;
- NeuroLab, Department of Psychology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
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Castegnaro A, Ji Z, Rudzka K, Chan D, Burgess N. Overestimation in angular path integration precedes Alzheimer's dementia. Curr Biol 2023; 33:4650-4661.e7. [PMID: 37827151 PMCID: PMC10957396 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.09.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Path integration (PI) is impaired early in Alzheimer's disease (AD) but reflects multiple sub-processes that may be differentially sensitive to AD. To characterize these sub-processes, we developed a novel generative linear-angular model of PI (GLAMPI) to fit the inbound paths of healthy elderly participants performing triangle completion, a popular PI task, in immersive virtual reality with real movement. The model fits seven parameters reflecting the encoding, calculation, and production errors associated with inaccuracies in PI. We compared these parameters across younger and older participants and patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), including those with (MCI+) and without (MCI-) cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers of AD neuropathology. MCI patients showed overestimation of the angular turn in the outbound path and more variable inbound distances and directions compared with healthy elderly. MCI+ were best distinguished from MCI- patients by overestimation of outbound turns and more variable inbound directions. Our results suggest that overestimation of turning underlies the PI errors seen in patients with early AD, indicating specific neural pathways and diagnostic behaviors for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Castegnaro
- UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, 17 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AZ, UK; UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Zilong Ji
- UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, 17 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AZ, UK; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Haidian District, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Katarzyna Rudzka
- UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, 17 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AZ, UK
| | - Dennis Chan
- UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, 17 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AZ, UK
| | - Neil Burgess
- UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, 17 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AZ, UK; UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK.
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36
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Kazanina N, Poeppel D. The neural ingredients for a language of thought are available. Trends Cogn Sci 2023; 27:996-1007. [PMID: 37625973 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2023.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
The classical notion of a 'language of thought' (LoT), advanced prominently by the philosopher Jerry Fodor, is an influential position in cognitive science whereby the mental representations underpinning thought are considered to be compositional and productive, enabling the construction of new complex thoughts from more primitive symbolic concepts. LoT theory has been challenged because a neural implementation has been deemed implausible. We disagree. Examples of critical computational ingredients needed for a neural implementation of a LoT have in fact been demonstrated, in particular in the hippocampal spatial navigation system of rodents. Here, we show that cell types found in spatial navigation (border cells, object cells, head-direction cells, etc.) provide key types of representation and computation required for the LoT, underscoring its neurobiological viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Kazanina
- University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; Ernst Strüngmann Institute for Neuroscience, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - David Poeppel
- Ernst Strüngmann Institute for Neuroscience, Frankfurt, Germany; New York University, New York, NY, USA.
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37
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Grove CR, Klatt BN, Wagner AR, Anson ER. Vestibular perceptual testing from lab to clinic: a review. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1265889. [PMID: 37859653 PMCID: PMC10583719 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1265889] [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: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Not all dizziness presents as vertigo, suggesting other perceptual symptoms for individuals with vestibular disease. These non-specific perceptual complaints of dizziness have led to a recent resurgence in literature examining vestibular perceptual testing with the aim to enhance clinical diagnostics and therapeutics. Recent evidence supports incorporating rehabilitation methods to retrain vestibular perception. This review describes the current field of vestibular perceptual testing from scientific laboratory techniques that may not be clinic friendly to some low-tech options that may be more clinic friendly. Limitations are highlighted suggesting directions for additional research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin R. Grove
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Brooke N. Klatt
- Physical Therapy Department, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Andrew R. Wagner
- Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Eric R. Anson
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
- Physical Therapy Department, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
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38
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De A, Chaudhuri R. Common population codes produce extremely nonlinear neural manifolds. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2305853120. [PMID: 37733742 PMCID: PMC10523500 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2305853120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Populations of neurons represent sensory, motor, and cognitive variables via patterns of activity distributed across the population. The size of the population used to encode a variable is typically much greater than the dimension of the variable itself, and thus, the corresponding neural population activity occupies lower-dimensional subsets of the full set of possible activity states. Given population activity data with such lower-dimensional structure, a fundamental question asks how close the low-dimensional data lie to a linear subspace. The linearity or nonlinearity of the low-dimensional structure reflects important computational features of the encoding, such as robustness and generalizability. Moreover, identifying such linear structure underlies common data analysis methods such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Here, we show that for data drawn from many common population codes the resulting point clouds and manifolds are exceedingly nonlinear, with the dimension of the best-fitting linear subspace growing at least exponentially with the true dimension of the data. Consequently, linear methods like PCA fail dramatically at identifying the true underlying structure, even in the limit of arbitrarily many data points and no noise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anandita De
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, CA95618
- Department of Physics, University of California, Davis, CA95616
| | - Rishidev Chaudhuri
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, CA95618
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis, CA95616
- Department of Mathematics, University of California, Davis, CA95616
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Venkatesh P, Wolfe C, Lega B. Neuromodulation of the anterior thalamus: Current approaches and opportunities for the future. CURRENT RESEARCH IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 5:100109. [PMID: 38020810 PMCID: PMC10663132 DOI: 10.1016/j.crneur.2023.100109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of thalamocortical circuits in memory has driven a recent burst of scholarship, especially in animal models. Investigating this circuitry in humans is more challenging. And yet, the development of new recording and stimulation technologies deployed for clinical indications has created novel opportunities for data collection to elucidate the cognitive roles of thalamic structures. These technologies include stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG), deep brain stimulation (DBS), and responsive neurostimulation (RNS), all of which have been applied to memory-related thalamic regions, specifically for seizure localization and treatment. This review seeks to summarize the existing applications of neuromodulation of the anterior thalamic nuclei (ANT) and highlight several devices and their capabilities that can allow cognitive researchers to design experiments to assay its functionality. Our goal is to introduce to investigators, who may not be familiar with these clinical devices, the capabilities, and limitations of these tools for understanding the neurophysiology of the ANT as it pertains to memory and other behaviors. We also briefly cover the targeting of other thalamic regions including the centromedian (CM) nucleus, dorsomedial (DM) nucleus, and pulvinar, with associated potential avenues of experimentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Venkatesh
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Cody Wolfe
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Bradley Lega
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
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40
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Parra-Barrero E, Vijayabaskaran S, Seabrook E, Wiskott L, Cheng S. A map of spatial navigation for neuroscience. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105200. [PMID: 37178943 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Spatial navigation has received much attention from neuroscientists, leading to the identification of key brain areas and the discovery of numerous spatially selective cells. Despite this progress, our understanding of how the pieces fit together to drive behavior is generally lacking. We argue that this is partly caused by insufficient communication between behavioral and neuroscientific researchers. This has led the latter to under-appreciate the relevance and complexity of spatial behavior, and to focus too narrowly on characterizing neural representations of space-disconnected from the computations these representations are meant to enable. We therefore propose a taxonomy of navigation processes in mammals that can serve as a common framework for structuring and facilitating interdisciplinary research in the field. Using the taxonomy as a guide, we review behavioral and neural studies of spatial navigation. In doing so, we validate the taxonomy and showcase its usefulness in identifying potential issues with common experimental approaches, designing experiments that adequately target particular behaviors, correctly interpreting neural activity, and pointing to new avenues of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloy Parra-Barrero
- Institute for Neural Computation, Faculty of Computer Science, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany; International Graduate School of Neuroscience, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Sandhiya Vijayabaskaran
- Institute for Neural Computation, Faculty of Computer Science, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Eddie Seabrook
- Institute for Neural Computation, Faculty of Computer Science, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Laurenz Wiskott
- Institute for Neural Computation, Faculty of Computer Science, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany; International Graduate School of Neuroscience, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Sen Cheng
- Institute for Neural Computation, Faculty of Computer Science, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany; International Graduate School of Neuroscience, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
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41
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Steel A, Garcia BD, Goyal K, Mynick A, Robertson CE. Scene Perception and Visuospatial Memory Converge at the Anterior Edge of Visually Responsive Cortex. J Neurosci 2023; 43:5723-5737. [PMID: 37474310 PMCID: PMC10401646 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2043-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
To fluidly engage with the world, our brains must simultaneously represent both the scene in front of us and our memory of the immediate surrounding environment (i.e., local visuospatial context). How does the brain's functional architecture enable sensory and mnemonic representations to closely interface while also avoiding sensory-mnemonic interference? Here, we asked this question using first-person, head-mounted virtual reality and fMRI. Using virtual reality, human participants of both sexes learned a set of immersive, real-world visuospatial environments in which we systematically manipulated the extent of visuospatial context associated with a scene image in memory across three learning conditions, spanning from a single FOV to a city street. We used individualized, within-subject fMRI to determine which brain areas support memory of the visuospatial context associated with a scene during recall (Experiment 1) and recognition (Experiment 2). Across the whole brain, activity in three patches of cortex was modulated by the amount of known visuospatial context, each located immediately anterior to one of the three scene perception areas of high-level visual cortex. Individual subject analyses revealed that these anterior patches corresponded to three functionally defined place memory areas, which selectively respond when visually recalling personally familiar places. In addition to showing activity levels that were modulated by the amount of visuospatial context, multivariate analyses showed that these anterior areas represented the identity of the specific environment being recalled. Together, these results suggest a convergence zone for scene perception and memory of the local visuospatial context at the anterior edge of high-level visual cortex.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT As we move through the world, the visual scene around us is integrated with our memory of the wider visuospatial context. Here, we sought to understand how the functional architecture of the brain enables coexisting representations of the current visual scene and memory of the surrounding environment. Using a combination of immersive virtual reality and fMRI, we show that memory of visuospatial context outside the current FOV is represented in a distinct set of brain areas immediately anterior and adjacent to the perceptually oriented scene-selective areas of high-level visual cortex. This functional architecture would allow efficient interaction between immediately adjacent mnemonic and perceptual areas while also minimizing interference between mnemonic and perceptual representations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Steel
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755
| | - Brenda D Garcia
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755
| | - Kala Goyal
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755
| | - Anna Mynick
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755
| | - Caroline E Robertson
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755
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42
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Fallon IP, Hughes RN, Severino FPU, Kim N, Lawry CM, Watson GDR, Roshchina M, Yin HH. The role of the parafascicular thalamic nucleus in action initiation and steering. Curr Biol 2023; 33:2941-2951.e4. [PMID: 37390830 PMCID: PMC10528051 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.06.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
The parafascicular (Pf) nucleus of the thalamus has been implicated in arousal and attention, but its contributions to behavior remain poorly characterized. Here, using in vivo and in vitro electrophysiology, optogenetics, and 3D motion capture, we studied the role of the Pf nucleus in behavior using a continuous reward-tracking task in freely moving mice. We found that many Pf neurons precisely represent vector components of velocity, with a strong preference for ipsiversive movements. Their activity usually leads velocity, suggesting that Pf output is critical for self-initiated orienting behavior. To test this hypothesis, we expressed excitatory or inhibitory opsins in VGlut2+ Pf neurons to manipulate neural activity bidirectionally. We found that selective optogenetic stimulation of these neurons consistently produced ipsiversive head turning, whereas inhibition stopped turning and produced downward movements. Taken together, our results suggest that the Pf nucleus can send continuous top-down commands that specify detailed action parameters (e.g., direction and speed of the head), thus providing guidance for orienting and steering during behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella P Fallon
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Ryan N Hughes
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | | | - Namsoo Kim
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Clara M Lawry
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Glenn D R Watson
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Marina Roshchina
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Henry H Yin
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
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43
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Pompeiano M, Colonnese MT. cFOS as a biomarker of activity maturation in the hippocampal formation. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:929461. [PMID: 37521697 PMCID: PMC10374841 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.929461] [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: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
We explored the potential for cFOS expression as a marker of functional development of "resting-state" waking activity in the extended network of the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex. We examined sleeping and awake mice at (P)ostnatal days 5, 9, 13, and 17 as well as in adulthood. We find that cFOS expression is state-dependent even at 5 days old, with reliable staining occurring only in the awake mice. Even during waking, cFOS expression was rare and weak at P5. The septal nuclei, entorhinal cortex layer (L)2, and anterodorsal thalamus were exceptional in that they had robust cFOS expression at P5 that was similar to or greater than in adulthood. Significant P5 expression was also observed in the dentate gyrus, entorhinal cortex L6, postsubiculum L4-6, ventral subiculum, supramammillary nucleus, and posterior hypothalamic nucleus. The expression in these regions grew stronger with age, and the expression in new regions was added progressively at P9 and P13 by which point the overall expression pattern in many regions was qualitatively similar to the adult. Six regions-CA1, dorsal subiculum, postsubiculum L2-3, reuniens nucleus, and perirhinal and postrhinal cortices-were very late developing, mostly achieving adult levels only after P17. Our findings support a number of developmental principles. First, early spontaneous activity patterns induced by muscle twitches during sleep do not induce robust cFOS expression in the extended hippocampal network. Second, the development of cFOS expression follows the progressive activation along the trisynaptic circuit, rather than birth date or cellular maturation. Third, we reveal components of the egocentric head-direction and theta-rhythm circuits as the earliest cFOS active circuits in the forebrain. Our results suggest that cFOS staining may provide a reliable and sensitive biomarker for hippocampal formation activity development, particularly in regard to the attainment of a normal waking state and synchronizing rhythms such as theta and gamma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Pompeiano
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
- Departamento de Bioingeniería, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Matthew T. Colonnese
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
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44
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Ibitoye RT, Castro P, Ellmers TJ, Kaski DN, Bronstein AM. Vestibular loss disrupts visual reactivity in the alpha EEG rhythm. Neuroimage Clin 2023; 39:103469. [PMID: 37459699 PMCID: PMC10368920 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2023.103469] [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: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
The alpha rhythm is a dominant electroencephalographic oscillation relevant to sensory-motor and cognitive function. Alpha oscillations are reactive, being for example enhanced by eye closure, and suppressed following eye opening. The determinants of inter-individual variability in reactivity in the alpha rhythm (e.g. changes with amplitude following eye closure) are not fully understood despite the physiological and clinical applicability of this phenomenon, as indicated by the fact that ageing and neurodegeneration reduce reactivity. Strong interactions between visual and vestibular systems raise the theoretical possibility that the vestibular system plays a role in alpha reactivity. To test this hypothesis, we applied electroencephalography in sitting and standing postures in 15 participants with reduced vestibular function (bilateral vestibulopathy, median age = 70 years, interquartile range = 51-77 years) and 15 age-matched controls. We found participants with reduced vestibular function showed less enhancement of alpha electroencephalography power on eye closure in frontoparietal areas, compared to controls. In participants with reduced vestibular function, video head impulse test gain - as a measure of residual vestibulo-ocular reflex function - correlated with reactivity in alpha power across most of the head. Greater reliance on visual input for spatial orientation ('visual dependence', measured with the rod-and-disc test) correlated with less alpha enhancement on eye closure only in participants with reduced vestibular function, and this was partially moderated by video head impulse test gain. Our results demonstrate for the first time that vestibular function influences alpha reactivity. The results are partly explained by the lack of ascending peripheral vestibular input but also by central reorganisation of processing relevant to visuo-vestibular judgements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard T Ibitoye
- Centre for Vestibular Neurology, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London W6 8RP, United Kingdom; Department of Neurology, Gloucestershire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Gloucester GL1 3NN, United Kingdom; Department of Clinical and Motor Neurosciences, Centre for Vestibular and Behavioural Neurosciences, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom
| | - Patricia Castro
- Centre for Vestibular Neurology, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London W6 8RP, United Kingdom; Universidad del Desarrollo, Escuela de Fonoaudiología, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Santiago, Chile
| | - Toby J Ellmers
- Centre for Vestibular Neurology, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London W6 8RP, United Kingdom
| | - Diego N Kaski
- Universidad del Desarrollo, Escuela de Fonoaudiología, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Santiago, Chile
| | - Adolfo M Bronstein
- Centre for Vestibular Neurology, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London W6 8RP, United Kingdom.
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45
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Keshavarzi S, Velez-Fort M, Margrie TW. Cortical Integration of Vestibular and Visual Cues for Navigation, Visual Processing, and Perception. Annu Rev Neurosci 2023; 46:301-320. [PMID: 37428601 PMCID: PMC7616138 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-neuro-120722-100503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Despite increasing evidence of its involvement in several key functions of the cerebral cortex, the vestibular sense rarely enters our consciousness. Indeed, the extent to which these internal signals are incorporated within cortical sensory representation and how they might be relied upon for sensory-driven decision-making, during, for example, spatial navigation, is yet to be understood. Recent novel experimental approaches in rodents have probed both the physiological and behavioral significance of vestibular signals and indicate that their widespread integration with vision improves both the cortical representation and perceptual accuracy of self-motion and orientation. Here, we summarize these recent findings with a focus on cortical circuits involved in visual perception and spatial navigation and highlight the major remaining knowledge gaps. We suggest that vestibulo-visual integration reflects a process of constant updating regarding the status of self-motion, and access to such information by the cortex is used for sensory perception and predictions that may be implemented for rapid, navigation-related decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sepiedeh Keshavarzi
- The Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behavior, University College London, London, United Kingdom;
| | - Mateo Velez-Fort
- The Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behavior, University College London, London, United Kingdom;
| | - Troy W Margrie
- The Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behavior, University College London, London, United Kingdom;
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46
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Allison EAMA, Moore JW, Arkell D, Thomas J, Dudchenko PA, Wood ER. The medial entorhinal cortex is necessary for the stimulus control over hippocampal place fields by distal, but not proximal, landmarks. Hippocampus 2023; 33:811-829. [PMID: 36808771 PMCID: PMC10946748 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
A fundamental property of place cells in the hippocampus is the anchoring of their firing fields to salient landmarks within the environment. However, it is unclear how such information reaches the hippocampus. In the current experiment, we tested the hypothesis that the stimulus control exerted by distal visual landmarks requires input from the medial entorhinal cortex (MEC). Place cells were recorded from mice with ibotenic acid lesions of the MEC (n = 7) and from sham-lesioned mice (n = 6) following 90° rotations of either distal landmarks or proximal cues in a cue- controlled environment. We found that lesions of the MEC impaired the anchoring of place fields to distal landmarks, but not proximal cues. We also observed that, relative to sham-lesioned mice, place cells in animals with MEC lesions exhibited significantly reduced spatial information and increased sparsity. These results support the view that distal landmark information reaches the hippocampus via the MEC, but that proximal cue information can do so via an alternative neural pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joe W. Moore
- Centre for Discovery Brain SciencesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Daisy Arkell
- Centre for Discovery Brain SciencesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Julia Thomas
- Centre for Discovery Brain SciencesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | | | - Emma R. Wood
- Centre for Discovery Brain SciencesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
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47
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Żakowski W, Zawistowski P. Neurochemistry of the mammillary body. Brain Struct Funct 2023; 228:1379-1398. [PMID: 37378855 PMCID: PMC10335970 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-023-02673-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
The mammillary body (MB) is a component of the extended hippocampal system and many studies have shown that its functions are vital for mnemonic processes. Together with other subcortical structures, such as the anterior thalamic nuclei and tegmental nuclei of Gudden, the MB plays a crucial role in the processing of spatial and working memory, as well as navigation in rats. The aim of this paper is to review the distribution of various substances in the MB of the rat, with a description of their possible physiological roles. The following groups of substances are reviewed: (1) classical neurotransmitters (glutamate and other excitatory transmitters, gamma-aminobutyric acid, acetylcholine, serotonin, and dopamine), (2) neuropeptides (enkephalins, substance P, cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript, neurotensin, neuropeptide Y, somatostatin, orexins, and galanin), and (3) other substances (calcium-binding proteins and calcium sensor proteins). This detailed description of the chemical parcellation may facilitate a better understanding of the MB functions and its complex relations with other structures of the extended hippocampal system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Witold Żakowski
- Department of Animal and Human Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland.
| | - Piotr Zawistowski
- Department of Animal and Human Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
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48
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Saleem AB, Busse L. Interactions between rodent visual and spatial systems during navigation. Nat Rev Neurosci 2023:10.1038/s41583-023-00716-7. [PMID: 37380885 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-023-00716-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Many behaviours that are critical for animals to survive and thrive rely on spatial navigation. Spatial navigation, in turn, relies on internal representations about one's spatial location, one's orientation or heading direction and the distance to objects in the environment. Although the importance of vision in guiding such internal representations has long been recognized, emerging evidence suggests that spatial signals can also modulate neural responses in the central visual pathway. Here, we review the bidirectional influences between visual and navigational signals in the rodent brain. Specifically, we discuss reciprocal interactions between vision and the internal representations of spatial position, explore the effects of vision on representations of an animal's heading direction and vice versa, and examine how the visual and navigational systems work together to assess the relative distances of objects and other features. Throughout, we consider how technological advances and novel ethological paradigms that probe rodent visuo-spatial behaviours allow us to advance our understanding of how brain areas of the central visual pathway and the spatial systems interact and enable complex behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aman B Saleem
- UCL Institute of Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Experimental Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Laura Busse
- Division of Neuroscience, Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
- Bernstein Centre for Computational Neuroscience Munich, Munich, Germany.
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49
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Abstract
Using functional imaging and neural circuit reconstructions, a recent study reveals head direction neurons in the anterior hindbrain of zebrafish that resemble insect head-direction cells to a surprising degree.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanley Heinze
- Lund University, Lund Vision Group and NanoLund, Lund, Sweden.
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50
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Mertens PEC, Marchesi P, Ruikes TR, Oude Lohuis M, Krijger Q, Pennartz CMA, Lansink CS. Coherent mapping of position and head direction across auditory and visual cortex. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:7369-7385. [PMID: 36967108 PMCID: PMC10267650 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurons in primary visual cortex (V1) may not only signal current visual input but also relevant contextual information such as reward expectancy and the subject's spatial position. Such contextual representations need not be restricted to V1 but could participate in a coherent mapping throughout sensory cortices. Here, we show that spiking activity coherently represents a location-specific mapping across auditory cortex (AC) and lateral, secondary visual cortex (V2L) of freely moving rats engaged in a sensory detection task on a figure-8 maze. Single-unit activity of both areas showed extensive similarities in terms of spatial distribution, reliability, and position coding. Importantly, reconstructions of subject position based on spiking activity displayed decoding errors that were correlated between areas. Additionally, we found that head direction, but not locomotor speed or head angular velocity, was an important determinant of activity in AC and V2L. By contrast, variables related to the sensory task cues or to trial correctness and reward were not markedly encoded in AC and V2L. We conclude that sensory cortices participate in coherent, multimodal representations of the subject's sensory-specific location. These may provide a common reference frame for distributed cortical sensory and motor processes and may support crossmodal predictive processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul E C Mertens
- Center for Neuroscience, Faculty of Science, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, Amsterdam 1098 XH, The Netherlands
| | - Pietro Marchesi
- Center for Neuroscience, Faculty of Science, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, Amsterdam 1098 XH, The Netherlands
| | - Thijs R Ruikes
- Center for Neuroscience, Faculty of Science, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, Amsterdam 1098 XH, The Netherlands
| | - Matthijs Oude Lohuis
- Center for Neuroscience, Faculty of Science, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, Amsterdam 1098 XH, The Netherlands
- Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme, Champalimaud Foundation, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Quincy Krijger
- Center for Neuroscience, Faculty of Science, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, Amsterdam 1098 XH, The Netherlands
| | - Cyriel M A Pennartz
- Center for Neuroscience, Faculty of Science, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, Amsterdam 1098 XH, The Netherlands
- Research Priority Program Brain and Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, Amsterdam 1098 XH, The Netherlands
| | - Carien S Lansink
- Center for Neuroscience, Faculty of Science, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, Amsterdam 1098 XH, The Netherlands
- Research Priority Program Brain and Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, Amsterdam 1098 XH, The Netherlands
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