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Vita DJ, Orsi FS, Stanko NG, Clark NA, Tiriac A. Development and organization of the retinal orientation selectivity map. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4829. [PMID: 38844438 PMCID: PMC11156980 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49206-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Orientation or axial selectivity, the property of neurons in the visual system to respond preferentially to certain angles of visual stimuli, plays a pivotal role in our understanding of visual perception and information processing. This computation is performed as early as the retina, and although much work has established the cellular mechanisms of retinal orientation selectivity, how this computation is organized across the retina is unknown. Using a large dataset collected across the mouse retina, we demonstrate functional organization rules of retinal orientation selectivity. First, we identify three major functional classes of retinal cells that are orientation selective and match previous descriptions. Second, we show that one orientation is predominantly represented in the retina and that this predominant orientation changes as a function of retinal location. Third, we demonstrate that neural activity plays little role on the organization of retinal orientation selectivity. Lastly, we use in silico modeling followed by validation experiments to demonstrate that the overrepresented orientation aligns along concentric axes. These results demonstrate that, similar to direction selectivity, orientation selectivity is organized in a functional map as early as the retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic J Vita
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Fernanda S Orsi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Nathan G Stanko
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Natalie A Clark
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Alexandre Tiriac
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
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2
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Vita DJ, Orsi FS, Stanko NG, Clark NA, Tiriac A. Development and Organization of the Retinal Orientation Selectivity Map. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.27.585774. [PMID: 38585937 PMCID: PMC10996665 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.27.585774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Orientation or axial selectivity, the property of neurons in the visual system to respond preferentially to certain angles of a visual stimuli, plays a pivotal role in our understanding of visual perception and information processing. This computation is performed as early as the retina, and although much work has established the cellular mechanisms of retinal orientation selectivity, how this computation is organized across the retina is unknown. Using a large dataset collected across the mouse retina, we demonstrate functional organization rules of retinal orientation selectivity. First, we identify three major functional classes of retinal cells that are orientation selective and match previous descriptions. Second, we show that one orientation is predominantly represented in the retina and that this predominant orientation changes as a function of retinal location. Third, we demonstrate that neural activity plays little role on the organization of retinal orientation selectivity. Lastly, we use in silico modeling followed by validation experiments to demonstrate that the overrepresented orientation aligns along concentric axes. These results demonstrate that, similar to direction selectivity, orientation selectivity is organized in a functional map as early as the retina. One Sentence Summary Development and organization of retinal orientation selectivity.
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Chander PR, Hanson L, Chundekkad P, Awatramani GB. Neural Circuits Underlying Multifeature Extraction in the Retina. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e0910232023. [PMID: 37957014 PMCID: PMC10919202 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0910-23.2023] [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: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Classic ON-OFF direction-selective ganglion cells (DSGCs) that encode the four cardinal directions were recently shown to also be orientation-selective. To clarify the mechanisms underlying orientation selectivity, we employed a variety of electrophysiological, optogenetic, and gene knock-out strategies to test the relative contributions of glutamate, GABA, and acetylcholine (ACh) input that are known to drive DSGCs, in male and female mouse retinas. Extracellular spike recordings revealed that DSGCs respond preferentially to either vertical or horizontal bars, those that are perpendicular to their preferred-null motion axes. By contrast, the glutamate input to all four DSGC types measured using whole-cell patch-clamp techniques was found to be tuned along the vertical axis. Tuned glutamatergic excitation was heavily reliant on type 5A bipolar cells, which appear to be electrically coupled via connexin 36 containing gap junctions to the vertically oriented processes of wide-field amacrine cells. Vertically tuned inputs are transformed by the GABAergic/cholinergic "starburst" amacrine cells (SACs), which are critical components of the direction-selective circuit, into distinct patterns of inhibition and excitation. Feed-forward SAC inhibition appears to "veto" preferred orientation glutamate excitation in dorsal/ventral (but not nasal/temporal) coding DSGCs "flipping" their orientation tuning by 90° and accounts for the apparent mismatch between glutamate input tuning and the DSGC's spiking response. Together, these results reveal how two distinct synaptic motifs interact to generate complex feature selectivity, shedding light on the intricate circuitry that underlies visual processing in the retina.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura Hanson
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 4A4, Canada
| | - Pavitra Chundekkad
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 4A4, Canada
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Park SJ, Lei W, Pisano J, Orpia A, Minehart J, Pottackal J, Hanke-Gogokhia C, Zapadka TE, Clarkson-Paredes C, Popratiloff A, Ross SE, Singer JH, Demb JB. Molecular identification of wide-field amacrine cells in mouse retina that encode stimulus orientation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.28.573580. [PMID: 38234775 PMCID: PMC10793454 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.28.573580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Visual information processing is sculpted by a diverse group of inhibitory interneurons in the retina called amacrine cells. Yet, for most of the >60 amacrine cell types, molecular identities and specialized functional attributes remain elusive. Here, we developed an intersectional genetic strategy to target a group of wide-field amacrine cells (WACs) in mouse retina that co-express the transcription factor Bhlhe22 and the Kappa Opioid Receptor (KOR; B/K WACs). B/K WACs feature straight, unbranched dendrites spanning over 0.5 mm (∼15° visual angle) and produce non-spiking responses to either light increments or decrements. Two-photon dendritic population imaging reveals Ca 2+ signals tuned to the physical orientations of B/K WAC dendrites, signifying a robust structure-function alignment. B/K WACs establish divergent connections with multiple retinal neurons, including unexpected connections with non-orientation-tuned ganglion cells and bipolar cells. Our work sets the stage for future comprehensive investigations of the most enigmatic group of retinal neurons: WACs.
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5
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Hanson L, Ravi-Chander P, Berson D, Awatramani GB. Hierarchical retinal computations rely on hybrid chemical-electrical signaling. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112030. [PMID: 36696265 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112030] [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: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Bipolar cells (BCs) are integral to the retinal circuits that extract diverse features from the visual environment. They bridge photoreceptors to ganglion cells, the source of retinal output. Understanding how such circuits encode visual features requires an accounting of the mechanisms that control glutamate release from bipolar cell axons. Here, we demonstrate orientation selectivity in a specific genetically identifiable type of mouse bipolar cell-type 5A (BC5A). Their synaptic terminals respond best when stimulated with vertical bars that are far larger than their dendritic fields. We provide evidence that this selectivity involves enhanced excitation for vertical stimuli that requires gap junctional coupling through connexin36. We also show that this orientation selectivity is detectable postsynaptically in direction-selective ganglion cells, which were not previously thought to be selective for orientation. Together, these results demonstrate how multiple features are extracted by a single hierarchical network, engaging distinct electrical and chemical synaptic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Hanson
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 3N5, Canada
| | | | - David Berson
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Gautam B Awatramani
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 3N5, Canada.
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6
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Chan KH, Shik HT, Kwok KW, Kee CS, Leung TW. Bi-directional Refractive Compensation for With-the-Rule and Against-the-Rule Astigmatism in Young Adults. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2022; 63:15. [PMID: 36155745 PMCID: PMC9526370 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.63.10.15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the short-term effect of imposing astigmatism on the refractive states of young adults. Methods Nineteen visually healthy low-astigmatic young adults (age = 20.94 ± 0.37 years; spherical-equivalent errors [M] = -1.47 ± 0.23 diopters [D]; cylindrical errors = -0.32 ± 0.05 D) were recruited. They were asked to wear a trial frame with treated and control lenses while watching a video for an hour. In three separate visits, the treated eye was exposed to one of three defocused conditions in random sequence: (1) with-the-rule (WTR) astigmatism = +3.00 DC × 180 degrees; (2) against-the-rule (ATR) astigmatism = +3.00 DC × 90 degrees; and (3) spherical defocus (SPH) = +3.00 DS. The control eye was fully corrected optically. Before and after watching the video, non-cycloplegic autorefraction was performed over the trial lenses. Refractive errors were decomposed into M, J0, and J45 astigmatism. Interocular differences in refractions (treated eye - control eye) were analyzed. Results After participants watched the video with monocular astigmatic defocus for an hour, the magnitude of the J0 astigmatism was significantly reduced by 0.25 ± 0.10 D in both WTR (from +1.53 ± 0.07 D to +1.28 ± 0.09 D) and 0.39 ± 0.15 D in ATR conditions (from -1.33 ± 0.06 D to -0.94 ± 0.18 D), suggesting an active compensation. In contrast, changes in J0 astigmatism were not significant in the SPH condition. No compensatory changes in J45 astigmatism or M were found under any conditions. Conclusions Watching a video for an hour with astigmatic defocus induced bidirectional, compensatory changes in astigmatic components, suggesting that refractive components of young adults are moldable to compensate for orientation-specific astigmatic blur over a short period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kin-Ho Chan
- School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Special Administration Region of the People's, Republic of China.,Centre for Myopia Research, School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Special Administration Region of the People's, Republic of China
| | - Ho-Tin Shik
- School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Special Administration Region of the People's, Republic of China
| | - Kwan William Kwok
- School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Special Administration Region of the People's, Republic of China
| | - Chea-Su Kee
- School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Special Administration Region of the People's, Republic of China.,Centre for Myopia Research, School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Special Administration Region of the People's, Republic of China
| | - Tsz-Wing Leung
- School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Special Administration Region of the People's, Republic of China.,Centre for Myopia Research, School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Special Administration Region of the People's, Republic of China.,Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Special Administration Region of the People's, Republic of China
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7
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Wienbar S, Schwartz GW. Differences in spike generation instead of synaptic inputs determine the feature selectivity of two retinal cell types. Neuron 2022; 110:2110-2123.e4. [PMID: 35508174 PMCID: PMC9262831 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are the spiking projection neurons of the eye that encode different features of the visual environment. The circuits providing synaptic input to different RGC types to drive feature selectivity have been studied extensively, but there has been less research aimed at understanding the intrinsic properties and how they impact feature selectivity. We introduce an RGC type in the mouse, the Bursty Suppressed-by-Contrast (bSbC) RGC, and compared it to the OFF sustained alpha (OFFsA). Differences in their contrast response functions arose from differences not in synaptic inputs but in their intrinsic properties. Spike generation was the key intrinsic property behind this functional difference; the bSbC RGC undergoes depolarization block while the OFFsA RGC maintains a high spike rate. Our results demonstrate that differences in intrinsic properties allow these two RGC types to detect and relay distinct features of an identical visual stimulus to the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Wienbar
- Department of Ophthalmology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Northwestern University Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Gregory William Schwartz
- Department of Ophthalmology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
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8
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Ichinose T, Habib S. ON and OFF Signaling Pathways in the Retina and the Visual System. FRONTIERS IN OPHTHALMOLOGY 2022; 2:989002. [PMID: 36926308 PMCID: PMC10016624 DOI: 10.3389/fopht.2022.989002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Visual processing starts at the retina of the eye, and signals are then transferred primarily to the visual cortex and the tectum. In the retina, multiple neural networks encode different aspects of visual input, such as color and motion. Subsequently, multiple neural streams in parallel convey unique aspects of visual information to cortical and subcortical regions. Bipolar cells, which are the second order neurons of the retina, separate visual signals evoked by light and dark contrasts and encode them to ON and OFF pathways, respectively. The interplay between ON and OFF neural signals is the foundation for visual processing for object contrast which underlies higher order stimulus processing. ON and OFF pathways have been classically thought to signal in a mirror-symmetric manner. However, while these two pathways contribute synergistically to visual perception in some instances, they have pronounced asymmetries suggesting independent operation in other cases. In this review, we summarize the role of the ON-OFF dichotomy in visual signaling, aiming to contribute to the understanding of visual recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomomi Ichinose
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Correspondence: Tomomi Ichinose, MD, PhD,
| | - Samar Habib
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Mansoura Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
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9
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Baden T, Euler T, Berens P. Understanding the retinal basis of vision across species. Nat Rev Neurosci 2019; 21:5-20. [PMID: 31780820 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-019-0242-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The vertebrate retina first evolved some 500 million years ago in ancestral marine chordates. Since then, the eyes of different species have been tuned to best support their unique visuoecological lifestyles. Visual specializations in eye designs, large-scale inhomogeneities across the retinal surface and local circuit motifs mean that all species' retinas are unique. Computational theories, such as the efficient coding hypothesis, have come a long way towards an explanation of the basic features of retinal organization and function; however, they cannot explain the full extent of retinal diversity within and across species. To build a truly general understanding of vertebrate vision and the retina's computational purpose, it is therefore important to more quantitatively relate different species' retinal functions to their specific natural environments and behavioural requirements. Ultimately, the goal of such efforts should be to build up to a more general theory of vision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Baden
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK. .,Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Thomas Euler
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Philipp Berens
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Institute for Bioinformatics and Medical Informatics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Bernstein Centre for Computational Neuroscience, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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10
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Tengölics ÁJ, Szarka G, Ganczer A, Szabó-Meleg E, Nyitrai M, Kovács-Öller T, Völgyi B. Response Latency Tuning by Retinal Circuits Modulates Signal Efficiency. Sci Rep 2019; 9:15110. [PMID: 31641196 PMCID: PMC6806000 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-51756-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
In the visual system, retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) of various subtypes encode preprocessed photoreceptor signals into a spike output which is then transmitted towards the brain through parallel feature pathways. Spike timing determines how each feature signal contributes to the output of downstream neurons in visual brain centers, thereby influencing efficiency in visual perception. In this study, we demonstrate a marked population-wide variability in RGC response latency that is independent of trial-to-trial variability and recording approach. RGC response latencies to simple visual stimuli vary considerably in a heterogenous cell population but remain reliable when RGCs of a single subtype are compared. This subtype specificity, however, vanishes when the retinal circuitry is bypassed via direct RGC electrical stimulation. This suggests that latency is primarily determined by the signaling speed through retinal pathways that provide subtype specific inputs to RGCs. In addition, response latency is significantly altered when GABA inhibition or gap junction signaling is disturbed, which further supports the key role of retinal microcircuits in latency tuning. Finally, modulation of stimulus parameters affects individual RGC response delays considerably. Based on these findings, we hypothesize that retinal microcircuits fine-tune RGC response latency, which in turn determines the context-dependent weighing of each signal and its contribution to visual perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ádám Jonatán Tengölics
- MTA-PTE NAP-2 Retinal Electrical Synapses Research Group, Pécs, H-7624, Hungary.,János Szentágothai Research Centre, Pécs, H-7624, Hungary.,Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, University of Pécs, Pécs, H-7624, Hungary
| | - Gergely Szarka
- MTA-PTE NAP-2 Retinal Electrical Synapses Research Group, Pécs, H-7624, Hungary.,János Szentágothai Research Centre, Pécs, H-7624, Hungary.,Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, University of Pécs, Pécs, H-7624, Hungary
| | - Alma Ganczer
- MTA-PTE NAP-2 Retinal Electrical Synapses Research Group, Pécs, H-7624, Hungary.,János Szentágothai Research Centre, Pécs, H-7624, Hungary.,Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, University of Pécs, Pécs, H-7624, Hungary
| | - Edina Szabó-Meleg
- János Szentágothai Research Centre, Pécs, H-7624, Hungary.,Department of Biophysics, University of Pécs Medical School, Pécs, H-7624, Hungary.,Nuclear-Mitochondrial Interactions Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA-PTE), Pécs, H-7624, Hungary
| | - Miklós Nyitrai
- János Szentágothai Research Centre, Pécs, H-7624, Hungary.,Department of Biophysics, University of Pécs Medical School, Pécs, H-7624, Hungary.,Nuclear-Mitochondrial Interactions Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA-PTE), Pécs, H-7624, Hungary
| | - Tamás Kovács-Öller
- MTA-PTE NAP-2 Retinal Electrical Synapses Research Group, Pécs, H-7624, Hungary.,János Szentágothai Research Centre, Pécs, H-7624, Hungary.,Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, University of Pécs, Pécs, H-7624, Hungary
| | - Béla Völgyi
- MTA-PTE NAP-2 Retinal Electrical Synapses Research Group, Pécs, H-7624, Hungary. .,János Szentágothai Research Centre, Pécs, H-7624, Hungary. .,Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, University of Pécs, Pécs, H-7624, Hungary.
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11
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Vlasits AL, Euler T, Franke K. Function first: classifying cell types and circuits of the retina. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2019; 56:8-15. [DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2018.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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12
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Johnston J, Seibel SH, Darnet LSA, Renninger S, Orger M, Lagnado L. A Retinal Circuit Generating a Dynamic Predictive Code for Oriented Features. Neuron 2019; 102:1211-1222.e3. [PMID: 31054873 PMCID: PMC6591004 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Revised: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Sensory systems must reduce the transmission of redundant information to function efficiently. One strategy is to continuously adjust the sensitivity of neurons to suppress responses to common features of the input while enhancing responses to new ones. Here we image the excitatory synaptic inputs and outputs of retinal ganglion cells to understand how such dynamic predictive coding is implemented in the analysis of spatial patterns. Synapses of bipolar cells become tuned to orientation through presynaptic inhibition, generating lateral antagonism in the orientation domain. Individual ganglion cells receive excitatory synapses tuned to different orientations, but feedforward inhibition generates a high-pass filter that only transmits the initial activation of these inputs, removing redundancy. These results demonstrate how a dynamic predictive code can be implemented by circuit motifs common to many parts of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie Johnston
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Sofie-Helene Seibel
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QG, UK
| | | | | | - Michael Orger
- Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon 1400-038, Portugal
| | - Leon Lagnado
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QG, UK.
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13
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Simulated Saccadic Stimuli Suppress ON-Type Direction-Selective Retinal Ganglion Cells via Glycinergic Inhibition. J Neurosci 2019; 39:4312-4322. [PMID: 30926751 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3066-18.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Revised: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Two types of mammalian direction-selective ganglion cells (DSGCs), ON and ONOFF, operate over different speed ranges. The directional axes of the ON-DSGCs are thought to align with the axes of the vestibular system and provide sensitivity at rotational velocities that are too slow to activate the semicircular canals. ONOFF-DSGCs respond to faster image velocities. Using natural images that simulate the natural visual inputs to freely moving animals, we show that simulated visual saccades suppress responses in ON-DSGCs but not ONOFF-DSGCs recorded in retinas of domestic rabbits of either gender. Analysis of the synaptic inputs shows that this saccadic suppression results from glycinergic inputs that are specific to ON-DSGCs and are absent in ONOFF-DSGCs. When this glycinergic input is blocked, both cell types respond similarly to visual saccades and display essentially identical speed tuning. The results demonstrate that glycinergic circuits within the retina can produce saccadic suppression of retinal ganglion cell activity. The cell-type-specific targeting of the glycinergic circuits further supports the proposed physiological roles of ON-DSGCs in retinal-image stabilization and of ONOFF-DSGCs in detecting local object motion and signaling optical flow.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT In the mammalian retina, ON direction-selective ganglion cells (DSGCs) respond preferentially to slow image motion, whereas ONOFF-DSGCs respond better to rapid motion. The mechanisms producing this different speed tuning remain unclear. Here we show that simulated visual saccades suppress ON-DSGCs, but not ONOFF-DSGCs. This selective saccadic suppression is because of the selective targeting of glycinergic inhibitory synaptic inputs to ON-DSGCs. The different saccadic suppression in the two cell types points to different physiological roles, consistent with their projections to distinct areas within the brain. ON-DSGCs may be critical for providing the visual feedback signals that contribute to stabilizing the image on the retina, whereas ONOFF-DSGCs may be important for detecting the onset of saccades or for signaling optical flow.
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14
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Wienbar S, Schwartz GW. The dynamic receptive fields of retinal ganglion cells. Prog Retin Eye Res 2018; 67:102-117. [PMID: 29944919 PMCID: PMC6235744 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2018.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Revised: 06/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) were one of the first classes of sensory neurons to be described in terms of a receptive field (RF). Over the last six decades, our understanding of the diversity of RGC types and the nuances of their response properties has grown exponentially. We will review the current understanding of RGC RFs mostly from studies in mammals, but including work from other vertebrates as well. We will argue for a new paradigm that embraces the fluidity of RGC RFs with an eye toward the neuroethology of vision. Specifically, we will focus on (1) different methods for measuring RGC RFs, (2) RF models, (3) feature selectivity and the distinction between fluid and stable RF properties, and (4) ideas about the future of understanding RGC RFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Wienbar
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, United States.
| | - Gregory W Schwartz
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, United States.
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15
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Manookin MB, Patterson SS, Linehan CM. Neural Mechanisms Mediating Motion Sensitivity in Parasol Ganglion Cells of the Primate Retina. Neuron 2018; 97:1327-1340.e4. [PMID: 29503188 PMCID: PMC5866240 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Revised: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 02/02/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Considerable theoretical and experimental effort has been dedicated to understanding how neural circuits detect visual motion. In primates, much is known about the cortical circuits that contribute to motion processing, but the role of the retina in this fundamental neural computation is poorly understood. Here, we used a combination of extracellular and whole-cell recording to test for motion sensitivity in the two main classes of output neurons in the primate retina-midget (parvocellular-projecting) and parasol (magnocellular-projecting) ganglion cells. We report that parasol, but not midget, ganglion cells are motion sensitive. This motion sensitivity is present in synaptic excitation and disinhibition from presynaptic bipolar cells and amacrine cells, respectively. Moreover, electrical coupling between neighboring bipolar cells and the nonlinear nature of synaptic release contribute to the observed motion sensitivity. Our findings indicate that motion computations arise far earlier in the primate visual stream than previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael B Manookin
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Vision Science Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
| | - Sara S Patterson
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Vision Science Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Conor M Linehan
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Vision Science Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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Abstract
The long-held view that bipolar cells provide the exclusive excitatory drive to the mammalian inner retina has been challenged: new studies indicate that, instead, at least two cells that lack the dendrites characteristic for bipolar cells, and therefore resemble amacrine cells, excite inner retinal circuits using glutamate.
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17
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Antinucci P, Hindges R. Orientation-Selective Retinal Circuits in Vertebrates. Front Neural Circuits 2018; 12:11. [PMID: 29467629 PMCID: PMC5808299 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2018.00011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Visual information is already processed in the retina before it is transmitted to higher visual centers in the brain. This includes the extraction of salient features from visual scenes, such as motion directionality or contrast, through neurons belonging to distinct neural circuits. Some retinal neurons are tuned to the orientation of elongated visual stimuli. Such ‘orientation-selective’ neurons are present in the retinae of most, if not all, vertebrate species analyzed to date, with species-specific differences in frequency and degree of tuning. In some cases, orientation-selective neurons have very stereotyped functional and morphological properties suggesting that they represent distinct cell types. In this review, we describe the retinal cell types underlying orientation selectivity found in various vertebrate species, and highlight their commonalities and differences. In addition, we discuss recent studies that revealed the cellular, synaptic and circuit mechanisms at the basis of retinal orientation selectivity. Finally, we outline the significance of these findings in shaping our current understanding of how this fundamental neural computation is implemented in the visual systems of vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paride Antinucci
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Hindges
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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18
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Orientation Selectivity in the Retina: ON Cell Types and Mechanisms. J Neurosci 2018; 36:8064-6. [PMID: 27488626 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1527-16.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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Electrical synapses convey orientation selectivity in the mouse retina. Nat Commun 2017; 8:2025. [PMID: 29229967 PMCID: PMC5725423 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01980-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Accepted: 10/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensory neurons downstream of primary receptors are selective for specific stimulus features, and they derive their selectivity both from excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs from other neurons and from their own intrinsic properties. Electrical synapses, formed by gap junctions, modulate sensory circuits. Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are diverse feature detectors carrying visual information to the brain, and receive excitatory input from bipolar cells and inhibitory input from amacrine cells (ACs). Here we describe a RGC that relies on gap junctions, rather than chemical synapses, to convey its selectivity for the orientation of a visual stimulus. This represents both a new functional role of electrical synapses as the primary drivers of feature selectivity and a new circuit mechanism for orientation selectivity in the retina. Visual input received by photoreceptors is relayed to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), which have selectivity for inputs of certain orientations. Here, the authors show that gap junction-mediated input onto one type of RGC contributes to its orientation selectivity.
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Percival KA, Venkataramani S, Smith RG, Taylor WR. Directional excitatory input to direction-selective ganglion cells in the rabbit retina. J Comp Neurol 2017; 527:270-281. [PMID: 28295340 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2016] [Revised: 01/29/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Directional responses in retinal ganglion cells are generated in large part by direction-selective release of γ-aminobutyric acid from starburst amacrine cells onto direction-selective ganglion cells (DSGCs). The excitatory inputs to DSGCs are also widely reported to be direction-selective, however, recent evidence suggests that glutamate release from bipolar cells is not directional, and directional excitation seen in patch-clamp analyses may be an artifact resulting from incomplete voltage control. Here, we test this voltage-clamp-artifact hypothesis in recordings from 62 ON-OFF DSGCs in the rabbit retina. The strength of the directional excitatory signal varies considerably across the sample of cells, but is not correlated with the strength of directional inhibition, as required for a voltage-clamp artifact. These results implicate additional mechanisms in generating directional excitatory inputs to DSGCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kumiko A Percival
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Sowmya Venkataramani
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Robert G Smith
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - W Rowland Taylor
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
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