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Haynes EM, Ulland TK, Eliceiri KW. A Model of Discovery: The Role of Imaging Established and Emerging Non-mammalian Models in Neuroscience. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:867010. [PMID: 35493325 PMCID: PMC9046975 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.867010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Rodents have been the dominant animal models in neurobiology and neurological disease research over the past 60 years. The prevalent use of rats and mice in neuroscience research has been driven by several key attributes including their organ physiology being more similar to humans, the availability of a broad variety of behavioral tests and genetic tools, and widely accessible reagents. However, despite the many advances in understanding neurobiology that have been achieved using rodent models, there remain key limitations in the questions that can be addressed in these and other mammalian models. In particular, in vivo imaging in mammals at the cell-resolution level remains technically difficult and demands large investments in time and cost. The simpler nervous systems of many non-mammalian models allow for precise mapping of circuits and even the whole brain with impressive subcellular resolution. The types of non-mammalian neuroscience models available spans vertebrates and non-vertebrates, so that an appropriate model for most cell biological questions in neurodegenerative disease likely exists. A push to diversify the models used in neuroscience research could help address current gaps in knowledge, complement existing rodent-based bodies of work, and bring new insight into our understanding of human disease. Moreover, there are inherent aspects of many non-mammalian models such as lifespan and tissue transparency that can make them specifically advantageous for neuroscience studies. Crispr/Cas9 gene editing and decreased cost of genome sequencing combined with advances in optical microscopy enhances the utility of new animal models to address specific questions. This review seeks to synthesize current knowledge of established and emerging non-mammalian model organisms with advances in cellular-resolution in vivo imaging techniques to suggest new approaches to understand neurodegeneration and neurobiological processes. We will summarize current tools and in vivo imaging approaches at the single cell scale that could help lead to increased consideration of non-mammalian models in neuroscience research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M. Haynes
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI, United States
- Center for Quantitative Cell Imaging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Tyler K. Ulland
- Department of Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Kevin W. Eliceiri
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI, United States
- Center for Quantitative Cell Imaging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
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2
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Egger R, Tupikov Y, Elmaleh M, Katlowitz KA, Benezra SE, Picardo MA, Moll F, Kornfeld J, Jin DZ, Long MA. Local Axonal Conduction Shapes the Spatiotemporal Properties of Neural Sequences. Cell 2021; 183:537-548.e12. [PMID: 33064989 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Sequential activation of neurons has been observed during various behavioral and cognitive processes, but the underlying circuit mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate premotor sequences in HVC (proper name) of the adult zebra finch forebrain that are central to the performance of the temporally precise courtship song. We use high-density silicon probes to measure song-related population activity, and we compare these observations with predictions from a range of network models. Our results support a circuit architecture in which heterogeneous delays between sequentially active neurons shape the spatiotemporal patterns of HVC premotor neuron activity. We gauge the impact of several delay sources, and we find the primary contributor to be slow conduction through axonal collaterals within HVC, which typically adds between 1 and 7.5 ms for each link within the sequence. Thus, local axonal "delay lines" can play an important role in determining the dynamical repertoire of neural circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Egger
- NYU Neuroscience Institute and Department of Otolaryngology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Yevhen Tupikov
- Department of Physics and Center for Neural Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Margot Elmaleh
- NYU Neuroscience Institute and Department of Otolaryngology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Kalman A Katlowitz
- NYU Neuroscience Institute and Department of Otolaryngology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Sam E Benezra
- NYU Neuroscience Institute and Department of Otolaryngology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Michel A Picardo
- NYU Neuroscience Institute and Department of Otolaryngology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Felix Moll
- NYU Neuroscience Institute and Department of Otolaryngology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Jörgen Kornfeld
- Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Dezhe Z Jin
- Department of Physics and Center for Neural Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Michael A Long
- NYU Neuroscience Institute and Department of Otolaryngology, New York University Langone Medical Center, 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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Daliparthi VK, Tachibana RO, Cooper BG, Hahnloser RH, Kojima S, Sober SJ, Roberts TF. Transitioning between preparatory and precisely sequenced neuronal activity in production of a skilled behavior. eLife 2019; 8:43732. [PMID: 31184589 PMCID: PMC6592689 DOI: 10.7554/elife.43732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2018] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Precise neural sequences are associated with the production of well-learned skilled behaviors. Yet, how neural sequences arise in the brain remains unclear. In songbirds, premotor projection neurons in the cortical song nucleus HVC are necessary for producing learned song and exhibit precise sequential activity during singing. Using cell-type specific calcium imaging we identify populations of HVC premotor neurons associated with the beginning and ending of singing-related neural sequences. We characterize neurons that bookend singing-related sequences and neuronal populations that transition from sparse preparatory activity prior to song to precise neural sequences during singing. Recordings from downstream premotor neurons or the respiratory system suggest that pre-song activity may be involved in motor preparation to sing. These findings reveal population mechanisms associated with moving from non-vocal to vocal behavioral states and suggest that precise neural sequences begin and end as part of orchestrated activity across functionally diverse populations of cortical premotor neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vamsi K Daliparthi
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Ryosuke O Tachibana
- Department of Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Institute of Neuroinformatics, University of Zurich/ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Brenton G Cooper
- Department of Psychology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, United States
| | - Richard Hr Hahnloser
- Institute of Neuroinformatics, University of Zurich/ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Neuroscience Center Zurich (ZNZ), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Satoshi Kojima
- Department of Structure and Function of Neural Network, Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Samuel J Sober
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, United States
| | - Todd F Roberts
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
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4
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Katlowitz KA, Picardo MA, Long MA. Stable Sequential Activity Underlying the Maintenance of a Precisely Executed Skilled Behavior. Neuron 2018; 98:1133-1140.e3. [PMID: 29861283 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Revised: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
A vast array of motor skills can be maintained throughout life. Do these behaviors require stability of individual neuron tuning or can the output of a given circuit remain constant despite fluctuations in single cells? This question is difficult to address due to the variability inherent in most motor actions studied in the laboratory. A notable exception, however, is the courtship song of the adult zebra finch, which is a learned, highly precise motor act mediated by orderly dynamics within premotor neurons of the forebrain. By longitudinally tracking the activity of excitatory projection neurons during singing using two-photon calcium imaging, we find that both the number and the precise timing of song-related spiking events remain nearly identical over the span of several weeks to months. These findings demonstrate that learned, complex behaviors can be stabilized by maintaining precise and invariant tuning at the level of single neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalman A Katlowitz
- NYU Neuroscience Institute and Department of Otolaryngology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Michel A Picardo
- NYU Neuroscience Institute and Department of Otolaryngology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Michael A Long
- NYU Neuroscience Institute and Department of Otolaryngology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA.
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5
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Picardo MA, Merel J, Katlowitz KA, Vallentin D, Okobi DE, Benezra SE, Clary RC, Pnevmatikakis EA, Paninski L, Long MA. Population-Level Representation of a Temporal Sequence Underlying Song Production in the Zebra Finch. Neuron 2017; 90:866-76. [PMID: 27196976 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2016.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2015] [Revised: 01/14/2016] [Accepted: 02/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The zebra finch brain features a set of clearly defined and hierarchically arranged motor nuclei that are selectively responsible for producing singing behavior. One of these regions, a critical forebrain structure called HVC, contains premotor neurons that are active at precise time points during song production. However, the neural representation of this behavior at a population level remains elusive. We used two-photon microscopy to monitor ensemble activity during singing, integrating across multiple trials by adopting a Bayesian inference approach to more precisely estimate burst timing. Additionally, we examined spiking and motor-related synaptic inputs using intracellular recordings during singing. With both experimental approaches, we find that premotor events do not occur preferentially at the onsets or offsets of song syllables or at specific subsyllabic motor landmarks. These results strongly support the notion that HVC projection neurons collectively exhibit a temporal sequence during singing that is uncoupled from ongoing movements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel A Picardo
- New York University Neuroscience Institute and Department of Otolaryngology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Josh Merel
- Department of Statistics and Center for Theoretical Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA; Grossman Center for the Statistics of Mind, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Kalman A Katlowitz
- New York University Neuroscience Institute and Department of Otolaryngology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Daniela Vallentin
- New York University Neuroscience Institute and Department of Otolaryngology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Daniel E Okobi
- New York University Neuroscience Institute and Department of Otolaryngology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Sam E Benezra
- New York University Neuroscience Institute and Department of Otolaryngology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Rachel C Clary
- New York University Neuroscience Institute and Department of Otolaryngology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Eftychios A Pnevmatikakis
- Department of Statistics and Center for Theoretical Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA; Grossman Center for the Statistics of Mind, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA; Simons Center for Data Analysis, Simons Foundation, New York, NY 10010, USA
| | - Liam Paninski
- Department of Statistics and Center for Theoretical Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA; Grossman Center for the Statistics of Mind, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Michael A Long
- New York University Neuroscience Institute and Department of Otolaryngology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA.
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6
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Abstract
Rapid advances in Ca2+ imaging techniques enable us to simultaneously monitor the activities of hundreds of astrocytes in the intact brain, thus providing a powerful tool for understanding the functions of both host and engrafted astrocytes in sensory processing in vivo. These techniques include both improved Ca2+ indicators and advanced optical recording methods. Astrocytes in multiple cortical and sub-cortical areas are able to respond to the corresponding sensory modalities. These sensory stimuli produce astrocytic Ca2+ responses through different cellular mechanisms. In addition, it has been suggested that astrocytic gene deficiencies in various sensory systems cause impairments in sensory circuits and cognition. Therefore, glial transplantation would be a potentially interesting approach for the cell-based therapy for glia-related disorders. There are multiple cell sources for glial transplantation, including neural stem cells, glial progenitors, and pluripotent stem cells. Both in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that engrafted astrocytes derived from these cell sources are capable of responding to sensory stimulation by elevating the intracellular Ca2+ concentration. These results indicate that engrafted astrocytes not only morphologically but also functionally integrate into the host neural network. Until now, many animal studies have proven that glial transplantation would be a good choice for treating multiple glial disorders. Together, these studies on the sensory responses of host and engrafted astrocytes have provided us a novel perspective in both neuron-glia circuit functions and future treatment strategies for glial disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuan Zhang
- Brain Research Center and State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaowei Chen
- Brain Research Center and State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
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7
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Murphy K, James LS, Sakata JT, Prather JF. Advantages of comparative studies in songbirds to understand the neural basis of sensorimotor integration. J Neurophysiol 2017; 118:800-816. [PMID: 28331007 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00623.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2016] [Revised: 03/14/2017] [Accepted: 03/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensorimotor integration is the process through which the nervous system creates a link between motor commands and associated sensory feedback. This process allows for the acquisition and refinement of many behaviors, including learned communication behaviors such as speech and birdsong. Consequently, it is important to understand fundamental mechanisms of sensorimotor integration, and comparative analyses of this process can provide vital insight. Songbirds offer a powerful comparative model system to study how the nervous system links motor and sensory information for learning and control. This is because the acquisition, maintenance, and control of birdsong critically depend on sensory feedback. Furthermore, there is an incredible diversity of song organizations across songbird species, ranging from songs with simple, stereotyped sequences to songs with complex sequencing of vocal gestures, as well as a wide diversity of song repertoire sizes. Despite this diversity, the neural circuitry for song learning, control, and maintenance remains highly similar across species. Here, we highlight the utility of songbirds for the analysis of sensorimotor integration and the insights about mechanisms of sensorimotor integration gained by comparing different songbird species. Key conclusions from this comparative analysis are that variation in song sequence complexity seems to covary with the strength of feedback signals in sensorimotor circuits and that sensorimotor circuits contain distinct representations of elements in the vocal repertoire, possibly enabling evolutionary variation in repertoire sizes. We conclude our review by highlighting important areas of research that could benefit from increased comparative focus, with particular emphasis on the integration of new technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karagh Murphy
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming; and
| | - Logan S James
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jon T Sakata
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jonathan F Prather
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming; and
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8
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Kadakia N, Armstrong E, Breen D, Morone U, Daou A, Margoliash D, Abarbanel HDI. Nonlinear statistical data assimilation for HVC[Formula: see text] neurons in the avian song system. BIOLOGICAL CYBERNETICS 2016; 110:417-434. [PMID: 27688218 PMCID: PMC8136132 DOI: 10.1007/s00422-016-0697-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2015] [Accepted: 09/17/2016] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
With the goal of building a model of the HVC nucleus in the avian song system, we discuss in detail a model of HVC[Formula: see text] projection neurons comprised of a somatic compartment with fast Na[Formula: see text] and K[Formula: see text] currents and a dendritic compartment with slower Ca[Formula: see text] dynamics. We show this model qualitatively exhibits many observed electrophysiological behaviors. We then show in numerical procedures how one can design and analyze feasible laboratory experiments that allow the estimation of all of the many parameters and unmeasured dynamical variables, given observations of the somatic voltage [Formula: see text] alone. A key to this procedure is to initially estimate the slow dynamics associated with Ca, blocking the fast Na and K variations, and then with the Ca parameters fixed estimate the fast Na and K dynamics. This separation of time scales provides a numerically robust method for completing the full neuron model, and the efficacy of the method is tested by prediction when observations are complete. The simulation provides a framework for the slice preparation experiments and illustrates the use of data assimilation methods for the design of those experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirag Kadakia
- Department of Physics, University of California, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92903-0402, USA
| | - Eve Armstrong
- BioCircuits Institute, University of California, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92903-0328, USA
| | - Daniel Breen
- Department of Physics, University of California, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92903-0402, USA
| | - Uriel Morone
- Department of Physics, University of California, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92903-0402, USA
| | - Arij Daou
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, 1027 E. 57th Street, Chicago, IL 63607, USA
| | - Daniel Margoliash
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, 1027 E. 57th Street, Chicago, IL 63607, USA
| | - Henry D. I. Abarbanel
- Marine Physical Laboratory (Scripps Institution of Oceanography), Department of Physics, University of California, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92903, USA
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9
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Ciuparu A, Mureşan RC. Sources of bias in single-trial normalization procedures. Eur J Neurosci 2016; 43:861-9. [DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2015] [Revised: 12/04/2015] [Accepted: 01/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrei Ciuparu
- Department of Experimental and Theoretical Neuroscience; Romanian Institute of Science and Technology; Str. Cireșilor 29 400487 Cluj-Napoca Romania
- School of Psychology and Educational Sciences; Babeș-Bolyai University; Cluj-Napoca Romania
| | - Raul C. Mureşan
- Department of Experimental and Theoretical Neuroscience; Romanian Institute of Science and Technology; Str. Cireșilor 29 400487 Cluj-Napoca Romania
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10
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Neural Sequence Generation Using Spatiotemporal Patterns of Inhibition. PLoS Comput Biol 2015; 11:e1004581. [PMID: 26536029 PMCID: PMC4633124 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2015] [Accepted: 09/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Stereotyped sequences of neural activity are thought to underlie reproducible behaviors and cognitive processes ranging from memory recall to arm movement. One of the most prominent theoretical models of neural sequence generation is the synfire chain, in which pulses of synchronized spiking activity propagate robustly along a chain of cells connected by highly redundant feedforward excitation. But recent experimental observations in the avian song production pathway during song generation have shown excitatory activity interacting strongly with the firing patterns of inhibitory neurons, suggesting a process of sequence generation more complex than feedforward excitation. Here we propose a model of sequence generation inspired by these observations in which a pulse travels along a spatially recurrent excitatory chain, passing repeatedly through zones of local feedback inhibition. In this model, synchrony and robust timing are maintained not through redundant excitatory connections, but rather through the interaction between the pulse and the spatiotemporal pattern of inhibition that it creates as it circulates the network. These results suggest that spatially and temporally structured inhibition may play a key role in sequence generation.
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11
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Imaging auditory representations of song and syllables in populations of sensorimotor neurons essential to vocal communication. J Neurosci 2015; 35:5589-605. [PMID: 25855175 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2308-14.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Vocal communication depends on the coordinated activity of sensorimotor neurons important to vocal perception and production. How vocalizations are represented by spatiotemporal activity patterns in these neuronal populations remains poorly understood. Here we combined intracellular recordings and two-photon calcium imaging in anesthetized adult zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) to examine how learned birdsong and its component syllables are represented in identified projection neurons (PNs) within HVC, a sensorimotor region important for song perception and production. These experiments show that neighboring HVC PNs can respond at markedly different times to song playback and that different syllables activate spatially intermingled PNs within a local (~100 μm) region of HVC. Moreover, noise correlations were stronger between PNs that responded most strongly to the same syllable and were spatially graded within and between classes of PNs. These findings support a model in which syllabic and temporal features of song are represented by spatially intermingled PNs functionally organized into cell- and syllable-type networks within local spatial scales in HVC.
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12
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Mesoscopic patterns of neural activity support songbird cortical sequences. PLoS Biol 2015; 13:e1002158. [PMID: 26039895 PMCID: PMC4454690 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1002158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2014] [Accepted: 04/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Time-locked sequences of neural activity can be found throughout the vertebrate forebrain in various species and behavioral contexts. From "time cells" in the hippocampus of rodents to cortical activity controlling movement, temporal sequence generation is integral to many forms of learned behavior. However, the mechanisms underlying sequence generation are not well known. Here, we describe a spatial and temporal organization of the songbird premotor cortical microcircuit that supports sparse sequences of neural activity. Multi-channel electrophysiology and calcium imaging reveal that neural activity in premotor cortex is correlated with a length scale of 100 µm. Within this length scale, basal-ganglia-projecting excitatory neurons, on average, fire at a specific phase of a local 30 Hz network rhythm. These results show that premotor cortical activity is inhomogeneous in time and space, and that a mesoscopic dynamical pattern underlies the generation of the neural sequences controlling song.
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13
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Abstract
How the brain coordinates rapid sequences of learned behavior, such as human speech, remains a fundamental problem in neuroscience. Birdsong is a model of such behavior, which is learned and controlled by a neural circuit that spans avian cortex, basal ganglia, and thalamus. The songs of adult male zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata), produced as rapid sequences of vocal gestures (syllables), are encoded by the cortical premotor region HVC (proper name). While the motor encoding of song within HVC has traditionally been viewed as unitary and distributed, we used an ablation technique to ask whether the sequence and structure of song are processed independently within HVC. Results revealed a functional topography across the medial-lateral axis of HVC. Bilateral ablation of medial HVC induced a positive disruption of song (increase in atypical syllable sequences), whereas bilateral ablation of lateral HVC induced a negative disruption (omission of individual syllables). Bilateral ablation of central HVC either had no effect on song or induced syllable omission, similar to lateral HVC ablation. We then investigated HVC connectivity and found parallel afferent and efferent pathways that transit medial and lateral HVC and converge at vocal motor cortex. In light of recent evidence that syntactic and lexical components of human speech are processed independently by neighboring regions of cortex (Menenti et al., 2012), our demonstration of anatomically distinct pathways that differentially process the sequence and structure of birdsong in parallel suggests that the vertebrate brain relies on a common approach to encode rapid sequences of vocal gestures.
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14
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An in depth view of avian sleep. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2015; 50:120-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2014] [Revised: 07/21/2014] [Accepted: 07/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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15
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Tokarev K, Boender AJ, Claßen GAE, Scharff C. Young, active and well-connected: adult-born neurons in the zebra finch are activated during singing. Brain Struct Funct 2015; 221:1833-43. [PMID: 25687260 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-015-1006-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2014] [Accepted: 02/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Neuronal replacement in the pallial song control nucleus HVC of adult zebra finches constitutes an interesting case of homeostatic plasticity; in spite of continuous addition and attrition of neurons in ensembles that code song elements, adult song remains remarkably invariant. New neurons migrate into HVC and later synapse with their target, arcopallial song nucleus RA (HVCRA). New HVCRA neurons respond to auditory stimuli (in anaesthetised animals), but whether and when they become functionally active during singing is unknown. We studied this, using 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine to birth-date neurons, combined with immunohistochemical detection of immediate-early gene (IEG) expression and retrograde tracer injections into RA to track connectivity. Interestingly, singing was followed by IEG expression in a substantial fraction of new neurons that were not retrogradely labelled from RA, suggesting a possible role in HVC-intrinsic network function. As new HVC neurons matured, the proportion of HVCRA neurons that expressed IEGs after singing increased significantly. Since it was previously shown that singing induces IEG expression in HVC also in deaf birds and that hearing song does not induce IEG expression in HVC, our data provide the first direct evidence that new HVC neurons are engaged in song motor behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirill Tokarev
- Laboratory of Animal Behavior, Psychology Department, Hunter College, 695 Park Ave. HN 621, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Department of Animal Behaviour, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustr. 6, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Arjen J Boender
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Centre, Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Animal Behaviour, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustr. 6, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gala A E Claßen
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Cell Biology, Leibnitz Institut für Molekulare Pharmakologie, Robert-Rössler-Strasse 10, 13125, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Animal Behaviour, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustr. 6, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Constance Scharff
- Department of Animal Behaviour, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustr. 6, 14195, Berlin, Germany.
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Ye J, Rozdeba PJ, Morone UI, Daou A, Abarbanel HDI. Estimating the biophysical properties of neurons with intracellular calcium dynamics. PHYSICAL REVIEW. E, STATISTICAL, NONLINEAR, AND SOFT MATTER PHYSICS 2014; 89:062714. [PMID: 25019821 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.89.062714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
We investigate the dynamics of a conductance-based neuron model coupled to a model of intracellular calcium uptake and release by the endoplasmic reticulum. The intracellular calcium dynamics occur on a time scale that is orders of magnitude slower than voltage spiking behavior. Coupling these mechanisms sets the stage for the appearance of chaotic dynamics, which we observe within certain ranges of model parameter values. We then explore the question of whether one can, using observed voltage data alone, estimate the states and parameters of the voltage plus calcium (V+Ca) dynamics model. We find the answer is negative. Indeed, we show that voltage plus another observed quantity must be known to allow the estimation to be accurate. We show that observing both the voltage time course V(t) and the intracellular Ca time course will permit accurate estimation, and from the estimated model state, accurate prediction after observations are completed. This sets the stage for how one will be able to use a more detailed model of V+Ca dynamics in neuron activity in the analysis of experimental data on individual neurons as well as functional networks in which the nodes (neurons) have these biophysical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingxin Ye
- Department of Physics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0374, USA
| | - Paul J Rozdeba
- Department of Physics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0374, USA
| | - Uriel I Morone
- Department of Physics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0374, USA
| | - Arij Daou
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60647, USA
| | - Henry D I Abarbanel
- Department of Physics and Marine Physical Laboratory (Scripps Institution of Oceanography) University of California, San Diego La Jolla, California 92093-0374, USA
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Beckers GJL, van der Meij J, Lesku JA, Rattenborg NC. Plumes of neuronal activity propagate in three dimensions through the nuclear avian brain. BMC Biol 2014; 12:16. [PMID: 24580797 PMCID: PMC4015294 DOI: 10.1186/1741-7007-12-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2013] [Accepted: 02/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In mammals, the slow-oscillations of neuronal membrane potentials (reflected in the electroencephalogram as high-amplitude, slow-waves), which occur during non-rapid eye movement sleep and anesthesia, propagate across the neocortex largely as two-dimensional traveling waves. However, it remains unknown if the traveling nature of slow-waves is unique to the laminar cytoarchitecture and associated computational properties of the neocortex. RESULTS We demonstrate that local field potential slow-waves and correlated multiunit activity propagate as complex three-dimensional plumes of neuronal activity through the avian brain, owing to its non-laminar, nuclear neuronal cytoarchitecture. CONCLUSIONS The traveling nature of slow-waves is not dependent upon the laminar organization of the neocortex, and is unlikely to subserve functions unique to this pattern of neuronal organization. Finally, the three-dimensional geometry of propagating plumes may reflect computational properties not found in mammals that contributed to the evolution of nuclear neuronal organization and complex cognition in birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriël JL Beckers
- Avian Sleep Group, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Eberhard-Gwinner-Strasse 11, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany
- Cognitive Neurobiology and Helmholtz Institute, Departments of Psychology and Biology, Utrecht University, PO Box 80086, 3508 TB Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jacqueline van der Meij
- Avian Sleep Group, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Eberhard-Gwinner-Strasse 11, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany
| | - John A Lesku
- Avian Sleep Group, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Eberhard-Gwinner-Strasse 11, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany
- Department of Zoology, La Trobe University, Kingsbury Drive, Melbourne VIC 3086, Australia
| | - Niels C Rattenborg
- Avian Sleep Group, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Eberhard-Gwinner-Strasse 11, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany
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