1
|
Polat L, Harpaz T, Zaidel A. Rats rely on airflow cues for self-motion perception. Curr Biol 2024; 34:4248-4260.e5. [PMID: 39214088 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.08.001] [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: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Self-motion perception is a vital skill for all species. It is an inherently multisensory process that combines inertial (body-based) and relative (with respect to the environment) motion cues. Although extensively studied in human and non-human primates, there is currently no paradigm to test self-motion perception in rodents using both inertial and relative self-motion cues. We developed a novel rodent motion simulator using two synchronized robotic arms to generate inertial, relative, or combined (inertial and relative) cues of self-motion. Eight rats were trained to perform a task of heading discrimination, similar to the popular primate paradigm. Strikingly, the rats relied heavily on airflow for relative self-motion perception, with little contribution from the (limited) optic flow cues provided-performance in the dark was almost as good. Relative self-motion (airflow) was perceived with greater reliability vs. inertial. Disrupting airflow, using a fan or windshield, damaged relative, but not inertial, self-motion perception. However, whiskers were not needed for this function. Lastly, the rats integrated relative and inertial self-motion cues in a reliability-based (Bayesian-like) manner. These results implicate airflow as an important cue for self-motion perception in rats and provide a new domain to investigate the neural bases of self-motion perception and multisensory processing in awake behaving rodents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lior Polat
- Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Tamar Harpaz
- Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Adam Zaidel
- Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mrożek K, Marchewka J, Leszczyński B. A morphological study and the variability in the number of infraorbital foramina in the African green monkey (Grivet) (Chlorocebus aethiops) using microcomputed tomography. J Morphol 2023; 284:e21607. [PMID: 37458084 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Knowledge of the nonhuman primate morphology and anatomy related to craniofacial mechanoreception is essential for a fundamental understanding of the incidents that have occurred during the evolution of craniofacial features. The present study focuses on the variability in the number of infraorbital foramina and associated anatomical structures such as the infraorbital canal (IOC) and the infraorbital groove (IOG), as they are considered to play an important role in the behavioral ecology of these animals. A total of 19 skulls of Chlorocebus aethiops were analyzed. The number of infraorbital foramina was assessed macroscopically using a magnifying glass and a small diameter probe. Three dimensional (3D) projections and morphometric analysis of the infraorbital foramina, IOCs, and IOGs were performed using microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) for two skulls that represent one of the most common morphological types. Regardless of sex and body side, the most common morphological type observed in the studied species is the presence of three infraorbital foramina. The IOC takes a funnel or pinched shape. 3D projections were made to assess the course of the infraorbital vascular and nerve bundles in selected individuals. The results indicate a high morphological diversity within the species, although there appears to be a consistent distribution pattern of infraorbital neurovascular bundles in species of the Cercopithecidae family. The use of X-ray micro-CT allowed 3D visualization of the maxillary region to determine the variability of the infraorbital foramina and to track the division of the infraorbital neurovascular bundle in the case of the most common macroscopic expression of the number of the infraorbital foramen in C. aethiops, as well as the morphometric of the IOCs and IOGs which are related to mechanoreception of the primate's snout.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kamil Mrożek
- Nature Education Center, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
- Laboratory of Anthropology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Justyna Marchewka
- Department of Human Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Bartosz Leszczyński
- Department of Medical Physics, Marian Smoluchowski Institute of Physics, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Mugnaini M, Mehrotra D, Davoine F, Sharma V, Mendes AR, Gerhardt B, Concha-Miranda M, Brecht M, Clemens AM. Supra-orbital whiskers act as wind-sensing antennae in rats. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002168. [PMID: 37410722 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
We know little about mammalian anemotaxis or wind sensing. Recently, however, Hartmann and colleagues showed whisker-based anemotaxis in rats. To investigate how whiskers sense airflow, we first tracked whisker tips in anesthetized rats under low (0.5 m/s) and high (1.5 m/s) airflow. Whisker tips showed increasing movement from low to high airflow conditions, with all whisker tips moving during high airflow. Low airflow conditions-most similar to naturally occurring wind stimuli-engaged whisker tips differentially. Most whiskers moved little, but the long supra-orbital (lSO) whisker showed maximal displacement, followed by the α, β, and A1 whiskers. The lSO whisker differs from other whiskers in its exposed dorsal position, upward bending, length and thin diameter. Ex vivo extracted lSO whiskers also showed exceptional airflow displacement, suggesting whisker-intrinsic biomechanics mediate the unique airflow-sensitivity. Micro computed tomography (micro-CT) revealed that the ring-wulst-the follicle structure receiving the most sensitive afferents-was more complete/closed in the lSO, and other wind-sensitive whiskers, than in non-wind-sensitive whiskers, suggesting specialization of the supra-orbital for omni-directional sensing. We localized and targeted the cortical supra-orbital whisker representation in simultaneous Neuropixels recordings with D/E-row whisker barrels. Responses to wind-stimuli were stronger in the supra-orbital whisker representation than in D/E-row barrel cortex. We assessed the behavioral significance of whiskers in an airflow-sensing paradigm. We observed that rats spontaneously turn towards airflow stimuli in complete darkness. Selective trimming of wind-responsive whiskers diminished airflow turning responses more than trimming of non-wind-responsive whiskers. Lidocaine injections targeted to supra-orbital whisker follicles also diminished airflow turning responses compared to control injections. We conclude that supra-orbital whiskers act as wind antennae.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matias Mugnaini
- Neural Systems & Behavior, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Laboratory of Physiology and Algorithms of the Brain, Leloir Institute (IIBBA-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Dhruv Mehrotra
- Neural Systems & Behavior, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Federico Davoine
- Neural Systems & Behavior, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Instituto de Ingeniería Eléctrica, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Varun Sharma
- Neural Systems & Behavior, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, United States of America
- School of Biological Sciences & Graduate Program in Quantitative Biosciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Ana Rita Mendes
- Neural Systems & Behavior, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme; Champalimaud Foundation, Doca de Pedrouços, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ben Gerhardt
- Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Miguel Concha-Miranda
- Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Brecht
- Neural Systems & Behavior, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ann M Clemens
- Neural Systems & Behavior, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, United States of America
- University of Edinburgh, Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ramamurthy DL, Dodson HK, Krubitzer LA. Developmental plasticity of texture discrimination following early vision loss in the marsupial Monodelphis domestica. J Exp Biol 2021. [PMCID: PMC8181249 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.236646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Behavioral strategies that depend on sensory information are not immutable; rather they can be shaped by the specific sensory context in which animals develop. This behavioral plasticity depends on the remarkable capacity of the brain to reorganize in response to alterations in the sensory environment, particularly when changes in sensory input occur at an early age. To study this phenomenon, we utilize the short-tailed opossum, a marsupial that has been a valuable animal model to study developmental plasticity due to the extremely immature state of its nervous system at birth. Previous studies in opossums have demonstrated that removal of retinal inputs early in development results in profound alterations to cortical connectivity and functional organization of visual and somatosensory cortex; however, behavioral consequences of this plasticity are not well understood. We trained early blind and sighted control opossums to perform a two-alternative forced choice texture discrimination task. Whisker trimming caused an acute deficit in discrimination accuracy for both groups, indicating the use of a primarily whisker-based strategy to guide choices based on tactile cues. Mystacial whiskers were important for performance in both groups; however, genal whiskers only contributed to behavioral performance in early blind animals. Early blind opossums significantly outperformed their sighted counterparts in discrimination accuracy, with discrimination thresholds that were lower by ∼75 μm. Our results support behavioral compensation following early blindness using tactile inputs, especially the whisker system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deepa L. Ramamurthy
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95618, USA
| | - Heather K. Dodson
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95618, USA
| | - Leah A. Krubitzer
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95618, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95618, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Pellicer-Morata V, Wang L, de Jongh Curry A, Tsao JW, Waters RS. Structural and functional organization of the lower jaw barrel subfield in rat primary somatosensory cortex. J Comp Neurol 2020; 529:1895-1910. [PMID: 33135168 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25063] [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: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Barrel subfields in rodent primary somatosensory cortex (SI) are important model systems for studying cortical organization and reorganization. During cortical reorganization that follows limb deafferentation, neurons in deafferented forelimb SI become responsive to previously unexpressed inputs from the lower jaw. Although the lower jaw barrel subfield (LJBSF) is a likely source of the input, this subfield has received little attention. Our aim was to describe the structural and functional organization of the normal LJBSF. To investigate LJBSF organization, a nomenclature for lower jaw skin surface was developed, cytochrome oxidase (CO) was used to label flattened-cut LJBSF sections, microelectrodes were used to map the lower jaw skin surface representation in SI, and electrolytic lesions, recovered from electrode penetrations, were used to align the physiological map to the underlying barrel map. LJBSF is a tear-shaped subfield containing approximately 24 barrels, arranged in eight mediolateral rows and a barrel-free zone capping the anterior border. The representation of the lower jaw skin consisting of chin vibrissae and microvibrissae embedded in common fur is somatotopically organized in a single map in the contralateral SI. This physiological map shows that the activity from the vibrissae aligns with the CO-staining of the underlying LJBSF. LJBSF barrels receive topographically ordered barrel-specific input from individual vibrissa and microvibrissae in the lower jaw but not from trident whiskers. The barrel-free zone receives topographically ordered input from the lower lip. These data demonstrating that the LJBSF is a highly organized subfield are essential for understanding its possible role in cortical reorganization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Violeta Pellicer-Morata
- Department of Physiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Lie Wang
- Department of Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Amy de Jongh Curry
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Memphis, Herff College of Engineering, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jack W Tsao
- Department of Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.,Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.,Children's Foundation Research Institute, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Robert S Waters
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Memphis, Herff College of Engineering, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.,Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Staiger JF, Petersen CCH. Neuronal Circuits in Barrel Cortex for Whisker Sensory Perception. Physiol Rev 2020; 101:353-415. [PMID: 32816652 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00019.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The array of whiskers on the snout provides rodents with tactile sensory information relating to the size, shape and texture of objects in their immediate environment. Rodents can use their whiskers to detect stimuli, distinguish textures, locate objects and navigate. Important aspects of whisker sensation are thought to result from neuronal computations in the whisker somatosensory cortex (wS1). Each whisker is individually represented in the somatotopic map of wS1 by an anatomical unit named a 'barrel' (hence also called barrel cortex). This allows precise investigation of sensory processing in the context of a well-defined map. Here, we first review the signaling pathways from the whiskers to wS1, and then discuss current understanding of the various types of excitatory and inhibitory neurons present within wS1. Different classes of cells can be defined according to anatomical, electrophysiological and molecular features. The synaptic connectivity of neurons within local wS1 microcircuits, as well as their long-range interactions and the impact of neuromodulators, are beginning to be understood. Recent technological progress has allowed cell-type-specific connectivity to be related to cell-type-specific activity during whisker-related behaviors. An important goal for future research is to obtain a causal and mechanistic understanding of how selected aspects of tactile sensory information are processed by specific types of neurons in the synaptically connected neuronal networks of wS1 and signaled to downstream brain areas, thus contributing to sensory-guided decision-making.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jochen F Staiger
- University Medical Center Göttingen, Institute for Neuroanatomy, Göttingen, Germany; and Laboratory of Sensory Processing, Faculty of Life Sciences, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Carl C H Petersen
- University Medical Center Göttingen, Institute for Neuroanatomy, Göttingen, Germany; and Laboratory of Sensory Processing, Faculty of Life Sciences, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Mrożek K, Marchewka J, Leszczyński B, Wróbel A, Głąb H. Variability in the number of mental foramina in the African green monkey (Grivet) (Chlorocebus aethiops). ZOOMORPHOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00435-020-00485-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThis study aimed to determine the number of mental foramina (MFs) in vervet monkeys of the Cercopithecini tribe and perform a µCT analysis of mental foramina and mandibular canal morphology. A total of 19 simian skulls belonging to Chlorocebus aethiops species were used in the analyses. An average of three mental foramina was present in most individuals from the analyzed group. The Mann–Whitney test revealed no statistically significant difference between the number of foramina on the right- and left-hand side. Likewise, no statistically significant differences between the number of MFs across sexes were observed. Correlation coefficient values between mandibular length and the ipsilateral number of MF indicate a weak and statistically non-significant (p > 0.05) linear relationship. Volumetric reconstructions revealed the presence of a single periosteal sheathed mandibular canal terminated with four small mental foramina.
Collapse
|
8
|
Yang AET, Belli HM, Hartmann MJZ. Quantification of vibrissal mechanical properties across the rat mystacial pad. J Neurophysiol 2019; 121:1879-1895. [PMID: 30811257 PMCID: PMC6589704 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00869.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2016] [Revised: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent work has quantified the geometric parameters of individual rat vibrissae (whiskers) and developed equations that describe how these parameters vary as a function of row and column position across the array. This characterization included a detailed quantification of whisker base diameter and arc length as well as the geometry of the whisker medulla. The present study now uses these equations for whisker geometry to quantify several properties of the whisker that govern its mechanical behavior. We first show that the average density of a whisker is lower in its proximal region than in its distal region. This density variation appears to be largely attributable to the presence of the whisker cuticle rather than the medulla. The density variation has very little effect on the center of mass of the whisker. We next show that the presence of the medulla decreases the deflection of the whisker under its own weight and also decreases its mass moment of inertia while sacrificing <1% stiffness at the whisker base compared with a solid whisker. Finally, we quantify two dimensionless parameters across the array. First, the deflection-to-length ratio decreases from caudal to rostral: caudal whiskers are longer but deflect more under their own weight. Second, the nondimensionalized radius of gyration is approximately constant across the array, which may simplify control of whisking by the intrinsic muscles. We anticipate that future work will exploit the mechanical properties computed in the present study to improve simulations of the mechanosensory signals associated with vibrissotactile exploratory behavior. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The mechanical signals transmitted by a whisker depend critically on its geometry. We used measurements of whisker geometry and mass to quantify the center of mass, mass moment of inertia, radius of gyration, and deflection under gravity of the whisker. We describe how variations in these quantities across the array could enhance sensing behaviors while reducing energy costs and simplifying whisking control. Most importantly, we provide derivations for these quantities for use in future simulation work.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anne En-Tzu Yang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University , Evanston, Illinois
| | - Hayley M Belli
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University , Evanston, Illinois
| | - Mitra J Z Hartmann
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University , Evanston, Illinois
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University , Evanston, Illinois
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Belli HM, Bresee CS, Graff MM, Hartmann MJZ. Quantifying the three-dimensional facial morphology of the laboratory rat with a focus on the vibrissae. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0194981. [PMID: 29621356 PMCID: PMC5886528 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The morphology of an animal's face will have large effects on the sensory information it can acquire. Here we quantify the arrangement of cranial sensory structures of the rat, with special emphasis on the mystacial vibrissae (whiskers). Nearly all mammals have vibrissae, which are generally arranged in rows and columns across the face. The vibrissae serve a wide variety of important behavioral functions, including navigation, climbing, wake following, anemotaxis, and social interactions. To date, however, there are few studies that compare the morphology of vibrissal arrays across species, or that describe the arrangement of the vibrissae relative to other facial sensory structures. The few studies that do exist have exploited the whiskers' grid-like arrangement to quantify array morphology in terms of row and column identity. However, relying on whisker identity poses a challenge for comparative research because different species have different numbers and arrangements of whiskers. The present work introduces an approach to quantify vibrissal array morphology regardless of the number of rows and columns, and to quantify the array's location relative to other sensory structures. We use the three-dimensional locations of the whisker basepoints as fundamental parameters to generate equations describing the length, curvature, and orientation of each whisker. Results show that in the rat, whisker length varies exponentially across the array, and that a hard limit on intrinsic curvature constrains the whisker height-to-length ratio. Whiskers are oriented to "fan out" approximately equally in dorsal-ventral and rostral-caudal directions. Quantifying positions of the other sensory structures relative to the whisker basepoints shows remarkable alignment to the somatosensory cortical homunculus, an alignment that would not occur for other choices of coordinate systems (e.g., centered on the midpoint of the eyes). We anticipate that the quantification of facial sensory structures, including the vibrissae, will ultimately enable cross-species comparisons of multi-modal sensing volumes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hayley M. Belli
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Chris S. Bresee
- Northwestern University Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Matthew M. Graff
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Mitra J. Z. Hartmann
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Niederschuh SJ, Helbig T, Zimmermann K, Witte H, Schmidt M. Kinematic response in limb and body posture to sensory feedback from carpal sinus hairs in the rat (Rattus norvegicus). ZOOLOGY 2017; 121:18-34. [PMID: 28274515 DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2017.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2016] [Revised: 10/28/2016] [Accepted: 02/08/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
One of the most challenging adaptations within the therians has been to ensure dynamic stability of the trunk during rapid locomotion in highly structured environments. A reorganization of limb mechanics and development of new sensors has taken place within their stem lineage. Rats, which have a similar lifestyle to the first therians, possess sinus hairs specialized for tactile sensing. It is supposed that carpal sinus hairs have a role in sensing substrate properties and can thus induce adjustments in limb kinematics and body posture according to the different surface diameters and structures detected. This implies a shared sensorimotor control loop of sinus hairs and body posture. To investigate the role of the carpal sinus hairs during locomotion and to explore a possible interaction between limb and spine motion, spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters as well as the contact mechanics of the hairs with regard to the surface were quantified. Locomotion on a treadmill with continuous and discontinuous substrates was compared in the presence/absence of the carpal sinus hairs across a speed range from 0.2m/s to 0.6m/s. Recordings were taken synchronously using x-ray fluoroscopy and normal-light high-speed cameras. Our investigation revealed that the three tactile hairs made a triangle-like contact with the ground approximately 30ms before touchdown of the forelimb. Within that time, it is likely that both the body posture and its oscillation are adjusted according to the different surface textures. The sensory input of the carpal sinus hairs induces a stabilization of the trajectory of the center of mass and, therefore, improves the dynamic stability of the trunk; conversely, the absence of the sensors results in a more crouched frontal body posture, similar to that seen in rats when they are moving in an unknown terrain. The carpal sinus hairs also sense the animal's speed during surface contact. This implicates an adjustment of the limb and spine kinematics, by increasing the speed-dependent effect or by increasing the distance between the trunk and the ground when the rat is walking faster.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandra J Niederschuh
- Institute of Systematic Zoology and Evolutionary Biology, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Erbertstraße 1, D-07743 Jena, Germany.
| | - Thomas Helbig
- Group of Biomechatronics, Ilmenau University of Technology, P.O. Box 10 05 65, D-98684 Ilmenau, Germany
| | - Klaus Zimmermann
- Group of Mechanical Engineering, Ilmenau University of Technology, P.O. Box 10 05 65, D-98684 Ilmenau, Germany
| | - Hartmut Witte
- Group of Biomechatronics, Ilmenau University of Technology, P.O. Box 10 05 65, D-98684 Ilmenau, Germany
| | - Manuela Schmidt
- Institute of Systematic Zoology and Evolutionary Biology, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Erbertstraße 1, D-07743 Jena, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Belli HM, Yang AET, Bresee CS, Hartmann MJZ. Variations in vibrissal geometry across the rat mystacial pad: base diameter, medulla, and taper. J Neurophysiol 2016; 117:1807-1820. [PMID: 27881718 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00054.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2016] [Accepted: 11/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Many rodents tactually sense the world through active motions of their vibrissae (whiskers), which are regularly arranged in rows and columns (arcs) on the face. The present study quantifies several geometric parameters of rat whiskers that determine the tactile information acquired. Findings include the following. 1) A meta-analysis of seven studies shows that whisker base diameter varies with arc length with a surprisingly strong dependence on the whisker's row position within the array. 2) The length of the whisker medulla varies linearly with whisker length, and the medulla's base diameter varies linearly with whisker base diameter. 3) Two parameters are required to characterize whisker "taper": radius ratio (base radius divided by tip radius) and radius slope (the difference between base and tip radius, divided by arc length). A meta-analysis of five studies shows that radius ratio exhibits large variability due to variations in tip radius, while radius slope varies systematically across the array. 4) Within the resolution of the present study, radius slope does not differ between the proximal and distal segments of the whisker, where "proximal" is defined by the presence of the medulla. 5) Radius slope of the medulla is offset by a constant value from radius slope of the proximal portion of the whisker. We conclude with equations for all geometric parameters as functions of row and column position.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Rats tactually explore their world by brushing and tapping their whiskers against objects. Each whisker's geometry will have a large influence on its mechanics and thus on the tactile signals the rat obtains. We performed a meta-analysis of seven studies to generate equations that describe systematic variations in whisker geometry across the rat's face. We also quantified the geometry of the whisker medulla. A database provides access to geometric parameters of over 500 rat whiskers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hayley M Belli
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
| | - Anne E T Yang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois; and
| | - Chris S Bresee
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
| | - Mitra J Z Hartmann
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois; .,Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois; and
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Nishi R, Castañeda E, Davis G, Fenton A, Hofmann H, King J, Ryan T, Trujillo K. The Global Challenge in Neuroscience Education and Training: The MBL Perspective. Neuron 2016; 92:632-636. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2016.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2016] [Revised: 10/11/2016] [Accepted: 10/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|
13
|
Hobbs JA, Towal RB, Hartmann MJZ. Probability distributions of whisker-surface contact: quantifying elements of the rat vibrissotactile natural scene. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 218:2551-62. [PMID: 26290591 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.116186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Analysis of natural scene statistics has been a powerful approach for understanding neural coding in the auditory and visual systems. In the field of somatosensation, it has been more challenging to quantify the natural tactile scene, in part because somatosensory signals are so tightly linked to the animal's movements. The present work takes a step towards quantifying the natural tactile scene for the rat vibrissal system by simulating rat whisking motions to systematically investigate the probabilities of whisker-object contact in naturalistic environments. The simulations permit an exhaustive search through the complete space of possible contact patterns, thereby allowing for the characterization of the patterns that would most likely occur during long sequences of natural exploratory behavior. We specifically quantified the probabilities of 'concomitant contact', that is, given that a particular whisker makes contact with a surface during a whisk, what is the probability that each of the other whiskers will also make contact with the surface during that whisk? Probabilities of concomitant contact were quantified in simulations that assumed increasingly naturalistic conditions: first, the space of all possible head poses; second, the space of behaviorally preferred head poses as measured experimentally; and third, common head poses in environments such as cages and burrows. As environments became more naturalistic, the probability distributions shifted from exhibiting a 'row-wise' structure to a more diagonal structure. Results also reveal that the rat appears to use motor strategies (e.g. head pitches) that generate contact patterns that are particularly well suited to extract information in the presence of uncertainty.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Hobbs
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - R Blythe Towal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Mitra J Z Hartmann
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Representation of egomotion in rat's trident and E-row whisker cortices. Nat Neurosci 2016; 19:1367-73. [PMID: 27526205 DOI: 10.1038/nn.4363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The whisker trident, a three-whisker array on the rat's chin, has been implicated in egomotion sensing and might function as a tactile speedometer. Here we study the cortical representation of trident whiskers and E-row whiskers in barrel cortex. Neurons identified in trident cortex of anesthetized animals showed sustained velocity-sensitive responses to ground motion. In freely moving animals, about two-thirds of the units in the trident and E-row whisker cortices were tuned to locomotion speed, a larger fraction of speed-tuned cells than in the somatosensory dysgranular zone. Similarly, more units were tuned to acceleration and showed sensitivity to turning in trident and E-row whisker cortices than in the dysgranular zone. Microstimulation in locomoting animals evoked small but significant speed changes, and such changes were larger in the trident and E-row whisker representations than in the dysgranular zone. Thus, activity in trident and E-row cortices represents egomotion information and influences locomotion behavior.
Collapse
|
15
|
Kaloti AS, Johnson EC, Bresee CS, Naufel SN, Perich MG, Jones DL, Hartmann MJZ. Representation of Stimulus Speed and Direction in Vibrissal-Sensitive Regions of the Trigeminal Nuclei: A Comparison of Single Unit and Population Responses. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0158399. [PMID: 27463524 PMCID: PMC4963183 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0158399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2016] [Accepted: 06/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The rat vibrissal (whisker) system is one of the oldest and most important models for the study of active tactile sensing and sensorimotor integration. It is well established that primary sensory neurons in the trigeminal ganglion respond to deflections of one and only one whisker, and that these neurons are strongly tuned for both the speed and direction of individual whisker deflections. During active whisking behavior, however, multiple whiskers will be deflected simultaneously. Very little is known about how neurons at central levels of the trigeminal pathway integrate direction and speed information across multiple whiskers. In the present work, we investigated speed and direction coding in the trigeminal brainstem nuclei, the first stage of neural processing that exhibits multi-whisker receptive fields. Specifically, we recorded both single-unit spikes and local field potentials from fifteen sites in spinal trigeminal nucleus interpolaris and oralis while systematically varying the speed and direction of coherent whisker deflections delivered across the whisker array. For 12/15 neurons, spike rate was higher when the whisker array was stimulated from caudal to rostral rather than rostral to caudal. In addition, 10/15 neurons exhibited higher firing rates for slower stimulus speeds. Interestingly, using a simple decoding strategy for the local field potentials and spike trains, classification of speed and direction was higher for field potentials than for single unit spike trains, suggesting that the field potential is a robust reflection of population activity. Taken together, these results point to the idea that population responses in these brainstem regions in the awake animal will be strongest during behaviors that stimulate a population of whiskers with a directionally coherent motion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aniket S. Kaloti
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States of America
| | - Erik C. Johnson
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, United States of America
- Coordinated Science Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, United States of America
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, United States of America
| | - Chris S. Bresee
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States of America
| | - Stephanie N. Naufel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States of America
| | - Matthew G. Perich
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States of America
| | - Douglas L. Jones
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, United States of America
- Coordinated Science Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, United States of America
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, United States of America
- Advanced Digital Sciences Center, Illinois at Singapore Pte., Singapore, Singapore
| | - Mitra J. Z. Hartmann
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States of America
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Muchlinski MN, Deane AS. Dietary correlates associated with the mental foramen in primates: implications for interpreting the fossil record. J Morphol 2016; 277:978-85. [DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2016] [Revised: 04/04/2016] [Accepted: 04/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena N. Muchlinski
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology; University of Kentucky, College of Medicine; Lexington Kentucky
- Department of Anthropology; University of Kentucky; Lexington Kentucky
| | - Andrew S. Deane
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology; University of Kentucky, College of Medicine; Lexington Kentucky
- Department of Anthropology; University of Kentucky; Lexington Kentucky
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Hobbs JA, Towal RB, Hartmann MJZ. Evidence for Functional Groupings of Vibrissae across the Rodent Mystacial Pad. PLoS Comput Biol 2016; 12:e1004109. [PMID: 26745501 PMCID: PMC4706419 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2014] [Accepted: 01/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
During natural exploration, rats exhibit two particularly conspicuous vibrissal-mediated behaviors: they follow along walls, and “dab” their snouts on the ground at frequencies related to the whisking cycle. In general, the walls and ground may be located at any distance from, and at any orientation relative to, the rat’s head, which raises the question of how the rat might determine the position and orientation of these surfaces. Previous studies have compellingly demonstrated that rats can accurately determine the horizontal angle at which a vibrissa first touches an object, and we therefore asked whether this parameter could provide the rat with information about the pitch, distance, and yaw of a surface relative to its head. We used a three-dimensional model of the whisker array to construct mappings between the horizontal angle of contact of each vibrissa and every possible (pitch, distance, and yaw) configuration of the head relative to a flat surface. The mappings revealed striking differences in the patterns of contact for vibrissae in different regions of the array. The exterior (A, D, E) rows provide information about the relative pitch of the surface regardless of distance. The interior (B, C) rows provide distance cues regardless of head pitch. Yaw is linearly correlated with the difference between the number of right and left whiskers touching the surface. Compared to the long reaches that whiskers can make to the side and below the rat, the reachable distance in front of the rat’s nose is relatively small. We confirmed key predictions of these functional groupings in a behavioral experiment that monitored the contact patterns that the vibrissae made with a flat vertical surface. These results suggest that vibrissae in different regions of the array are not interchangeable sensors, but rather functionally grouped to acquire particular types of information about the environment. Animals do not passively sense the world. They actively move their sensors to acquire the information best suited to their current behavioral needs. Thus, to study neural processing in any sensory system, it is critical to determine the spatiotemporal structure of the inputs to that system. The rat whisker system is a well-studied model of active sensing because rats rhythmically brush and tap their vibrissae against objects during tactual exploration. To date, however, the patterns of sensory input during vibrisso-tactile exploration have not been quantified. This study quantifies some of the statistics of vibrissal-surface contact, focusing specifically on the angle of contact with a flat surface. Given that during exploration the rat could encounter a surface at any position and orientation relative to its head, we simulated the spatial patterns of vibrissal contact for all possible head-surface configurations. Results reveal functional groupings of whiskers across the array, with different whiskers being better suited for different aspects of tactile sensory tasks than others. Key predictions of the simulations were validated in a behavioral experiment that monitored vibrissal contact patterns with a flat wall. These results provide some of the first quantitative insights into the “natural tactile scene” for the vibrisso-trigeminal system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A. Hobbs
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
| | - R. Blythe Towal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Mitra J. Z. Hartmann
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Michalikova M, Remme M, Kempter R. Mechanisms of spikelet generation in cortical pyramidal neurons. BMC Neurosci 2015. [PMCID: PMC4697572 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2202-16-s1-p121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
|
19
|
Jin Y. La(3+) Alters the Response Properties of Neurons in the Mouse Primary Somatosensory Cortex to Low-Temperature Noxious Stimulation of the Dental Pulp. BIOCHEMISTRY INSIGHTS 2015; 8:9-20. [PMID: 26604777 PMCID: PMC4640426 DOI: 10.4137/bci.s30752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2015] [Revised: 10/12/2015] [Accepted: 10/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Although dental pain is a serious health issue with high incidence among the human population, its cellular and molecular mechanisms are still unclear. Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are assumed to be involved in the generation of dental pain. However, most of the studies were conducted with molecular biological or histological methods. In vivo functional studies on the role of TRP channels in the mechanisms of dental pain are lacking. This study uses in vivo cellular electrophysiological and neuropharmacological method to directly disclose the effect of LaCl3, a broad spectrum TRP channel blocker, on the response properties of neurons in the mouse primary somatosensory cortex to low-temperature noxious stimulation of the dental pulp. It was found that LaCl3 suppresses the high-firing-rate responses of all nociceptive neurons to noxious low-temperature stimulation and also inhibits the spontaneous activities in some nonnociceptive neurons. The effect of LaCl3 is reversible. Furthermore, this effect is persistent and stable unless LaCl3 is washed out. Washout of LaCl3 quickly revitalized the responsiveness of neurons to low-temperature noxious stimulation. This study adds direct evidence for the hypothesis that TRP channels are involved in the generation of dental pain and sensation. Blockade of TRP channels may provide a novel therapeutic treatment for dental pain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanjiao Jin
- Department of Stomatology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Heping District, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Niederschuh SJ, Witte H, Schmidt M. The role of vibrissal sensing in forelimb position control during travelling locomotion in the rat (Rattus norvegicus, Rodentia). ZOOLOGY 2014; 118:51-62. [PMID: 25547567 DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2014.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2014] [Revised: 09/02/2014] [Accepted: 09/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
In the stem lineage of therians, a comprehensive reorganization of limb and body mechanics took place to provide dynamic stability for rapid locomotion in a highly structured environment. At what was probably the same time, mammals developed an active sense of touch in the form of movable mystacial vibrissae. The rhythmic movements of the limbs and vibrissae are controlled by central pattern-generating networks which might interact with each other in sensorimotor control. To test this possible interaction, we studied covariation between the two by investigating speed-dependent adjustments in temporal and spatial parameters of forelimb and vibrissal kinematics in the rat. Furthermore, the possible role of carpal vibrissae in connecting the two oscillating systems was explored. We compared locomotion on continuous and discontinuous substrates in the presence and absence of the mystacial or/and carpal vibrissae across a speed range of 0.2-0.5m/s and found that a close coupling of the kinematics of the two oscillating systems appears to be precluded by their differential dependence on the animal's speed. Speed-related changes in forelimb kinematics mainly occur in temporal parameters, whereas vibrissae change their spatial excursion. However, whisking frequency is always high enough that at least one whisk cycle falls into the swing phase of the limb, which is the maximum critical period for sensing the substrate on which the forepaw will be placed. The influence of tactile cues on forelimb positional control is more subtle than expected. Tactile cues appear to affect the degree of parameter variation but not average parameters or the failure rate of limbs during walking on a perforated treadmill. The carpal vibrissae appear to play a role in sensing the animal's speed by measuring the duration of the stance phase. The absence of this cue significantly reduces speed-related variation in stride frequency and vibrissal protraction.
Collapse
|
21
|
Arkley K, Grant R, Mitchinson B, Prescott T. Strategy Change in Vibrissal Active Sensing during Rat Locomotion. Curr Biol 2014; 24:1507-12. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2014.05.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2013] [Revised: 04/15/2014] [Accepted: 05/14/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
|
22
|
Mastication-induced vertigo and nystagmus. J Neurol 2013; 261:480-9. [DOI: 10.1007/s00415-013-7221-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2013] [Revised: 12/13/2013] [Accepted: 12/13/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
|