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Li Y, Dai W, Wang T, Wu Y, Dou F, Xing D. Visual surround suppression at the neural and perceptual levels. Cogn Neurodyn 2024; 18:741-756. [PMID: 38699623 PMCID: PMC11061091 DOI: 10.1007/s11571-023-10027-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Surround suppression was initially identified as a phenomenon at the neural level in which stimuli outside the neuron's receptive field alone cannot activate responses but can modulate neural responses to stimuli covered inside the receptive field. Subsequent studies showed that surround suppression is not only a critical property of neurons across species and brain areas but also has been found in visual perceptions. More importantly, surround suppression varies across individuals and shows significant differences between normal controls and patients with certain mental disorders. Here, we combined results from related literature and summarized the findings derived from physiological and psychophysical evidence. We first outline the basic properties of surround suppression in the visual system and perceptions. Then, we mainly summarize the differences in perceptual surround suppression among different human subjects. Our review suggests that there is no consensus regarding whether the strength of perceptual surround suppression could be used as an effective index to distinguish particular populations. Then, we summarized the similar mechanisms for surround suppression and cognitive impairments to further explore the potential clinical applications of surround suppression. A clearer understanding of the mechanisms of surround suppression in neural responses and perceptions is necessary for facilitating its clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Li
- School of Criminology, People’s Public Security University of China, Beijing, 100038 China
| | - Weifeng Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875 China
| | - Tian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875 China
- College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875 China
| | - Yujie Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875 China
| | - Fei Dou
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875 China
- College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875 China
| | - Dajun Xing
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875 China
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Yu H, Chen S, Ye Z, Zhang Q, Tu Y, Hua T. Top-down influence of areas 21a and 7 differently affects the surround suppression of V1 neurons in cats. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:11047-11059. [PMID: 37724432 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad344] [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: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Surround suppression (SS) is a phenomenon whereby a neuron's response to stimuli in its central receptive field (cRF) is suppressed by stimuli extending to its surround receptive field (sRF). Recent evidence show that top-down influence contributed to SS in the primary visual cortex (V1). However, how the top-down influence from different high-level cortical areas affects SS in V1 has not been comparatively observed. The present study applied transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to modulate the neural activity in area 21a (A21a) and area 7 (A7) of cats and examined the changes in the cRF and sRF of V1 neurons. We found that anode-tDCS at A21a reduced V1 neurons' cRF size and increased their response to visual stimuli in cRF, causing an improved SS strength. By contrast, anode-tDCS at A7 increased V1 neurons' sRF size and response to stimuli in cRF, also enhancing the SS. Modeling analysis based on DoG function indicated that the increased SS of V1 neurons after anode-tDCS at A21a could be explained by a center-only mechanism, whereas the improved SS after anode-tDCS at A7 might be mediated through a combined center and surround mechanism. In conclusion, A21a and A7 may affect the SS of V1 neurons through different mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Yu
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Beijing East Road, Jinghu District, Wuhu, Anhui 241000, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wannan Medical College, West Wenchang Road, Yijiang District, Wuhu, Anhui, China
| | - Shunshun Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Beijing East Road, Jinghu District, Wuhu, Anhui 241000, China
| | - Zheng Ye
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Beijing East Road, Jinghu District, Wuhu, Anhui 241000, China
| | - Qiuyu Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Beijing East Road, Jinghu District, Wuhu, Anhui 241000, China
| | - Yanni Tu
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Beijing East Road, Jinghu District, Wuhu, Anhui 241000, China
| | - Tianmiao Hua
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Beijing East Road, Jinghu District, Wuhu, Anhui 241000, China
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Altered visual cortex excitability in premenstrual dysphoric disorder: Evidence from magnetoencephalographic gamma oscillations and perceptual suppression. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0279868. [PMID: 36584199 PMCID: PMC9803314 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a psychiatric condition characterized by extreme mood shifts during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle (MC) due to abnormal sensitivity to neurosteroids and unbalanced neural excitation/inhibition (E/I) ratio. We hypothesized that in women with PMDD in the luteal phase, these factors would alter the frequency of magnetoencephalographic visual gamma oscillations, affect modulation of their power by excitatory drive, and decrease perceptual spatial suppression. Women with PMDD and control women were examined twice-during the follicular and luteal phases of their MC. We recorded visual gamma response (GR) while modulating the excitatory drive by increasing the drift rate of the high-contrast grating (static, 'slow', 'medium', and 'fast'). Contrary to our expectations, GR frequency was not affected in women with PMDD in either phase of the MC. GR power suppression, which is normally associated with a switch from the 'optimal' for GR slow drift rate to the medium drift rate, was reduced in women with PMDD and was the only GR parameter that distinguished them from control participants specifically in the luteal phase and predicted severity of their premenstrual symptoms. Over and above the atypical luteal GR suppression, in both phases of the MC women with PMDD had abnormally strong GR facilitation caused by a switch from the 'suboptimal' static to the 'optimal' slow drift rate. Perceptual spatial suppression did not differ between the groups but decreased from the follicular to the luteal phase only in PMDD women. The atypical modulation of GR power suggests that neuronal excitability in the visual cortex is constitutively elevated in PMDD and that this E/I imbalance is further exacerbated during the luteal phase. However, the unaltered GR frequency does not support the hypothesis of inhibitory neuron dysfunction in PMDD.
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Schach S, Surges R, Helmstaedter C. Visual surround suppression in people with epilepsy correlates with attentional-executive functioning, but not with epilepsy or seizure types. Epilepsy Behav 2021; 121:108080. [PMID: 34062447 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2021.108080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Following reports that an index of visual surround suppression (SI) may serve as a biomarker for an imbalance of cortical excitation and inhibition in different psychiatric and neurological disorders including epilepsy, we evaluated whether SI is associated with seizure susceptibility, seizure spread, and inhibitory effects of antiseizure medication (ASM). METHODS In this prospective controlled study, we examined SI with a motion discrimination task in people with genetic generalized epilepsy (GGE) and focal epilepsy with and without focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures. Cofactors such as GABAergic ASM, attentional-executive functioning, and depression were taken into account. RESULTS Data of 45 patients were included in the final analysis. Suppression index was not related to epilepsy or seizure type, GABAergic ASM treatment or mood. However, SI correlated with attentional-executive functioning (r = 0.32), which in turn was associated with ASM load (r = -0.38). Repeated task administration (N = 7) proved a high stability over a one-week interval (rtt = 0.89). CONCLUSIONS Our results do not support the hypothesis that SI is a reliable biomarker for mechanisms related to inhibition of seizure spread or seizure frequency, i.e., it does not seem to reflect inhibitory capacities in epilepsy. Likewise, SI did not differentiate GGE from focal epilepsy, nor was it influenced by ASM load or mode of action. Thus, in epilepsy, no added value of including SI to routine diagnostics can be concluded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Schach
- Department of Epileptology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany.
| | - Rainer Surges
- Department of Epileptology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Christoph Helmstaedter
- Department of Epileptology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany
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Wu SZ, Masurkar AV, Balcer LJ. Afferent and Efferent Visual Markers of Alzheimer's Disease: A Review and Update in Early Stage Disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2020; 12:572337. [PMID: 33061906 PMCID: PMC7518395 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.572337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Vision, which requires extensive neural involvement, is often impaired in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Over the last few decades, accumulating evidence has shown that various visual functions and structures are compromised in Alzheimer's dementia and when measured can detect those with dementia from those with normal aging. These visual changes involve both the afferent and efferent parts of the visual system, which correspond to the sensory and eye movement aspects of vision, respectively. There are fewer, but a growing number of studies, that focus on the detection of predementia stages. Visual biomarkers that detect these stages are paramount in the development of successful disease-modifying therapies by identifying appropriate research participants and in identifying those who would receive future therapies. This review provides a summary and update on common afferent and efferent visual markers of AD with a focus on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and preclinical disease detection. We further propose future directions in this area. Given the ease of performing visual tests, the accessibility of the eye, and advances in ocular technology, visual measures have the potential to be effective, practical, and non-invasive biomarkers of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirley Z. Wu
- Department of Neurology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Arjun V. Masurkar
- Department of Neurology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Laura J. Balcer
- Department of Neurology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
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Validation of motion perception of briefly displayed images using a tablet. Sci Rep 2018; 8:16056. [PMID: 30375459 PMCID: PMC6207664 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-34466-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2018] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Motion perception of briefly displayed images has been reported to be abnormal in clinical populations afflicted with schizophrenia, major depression, autism, Alzheimer’s disease and epilepsy. These abnormalities have been measured using CRT monitors connected to a computer. Given that the use of this experimental set-up in clinical environments can be difficult, we tested whether motion perception of briefly displayed images could also be measured using a tablet. For 13 participants, we found similar estimates of motion discrimination on a tablet and a CRT. This validates a tablet to measure motion perception of briefly displayed images.
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Schallmo MP, Kale AM, Millin R, Flevaris AV, Brkanac Z, Edden RA, Bernier RA, Murray SO. Suppression and facilitation of human neural responses. eLife 2018; 7:30334. [PMID: 29376822 PMCID: PMC5812713 DOI: 10.7554/elife.30334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 01/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Efficient neural processing depends on regulating responses through suppression and facilitation of neural activity. Utilizing a well-known visual motion paradigm that evokes behavioral suppression and facilitation, and combining five different methodologies (behavioral psychophysics, computational modeling, functional MRI, pharmacology, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy), we provide evidence that challenges commonly held assumptions about the neural processes underlying suppression and facilitation. We show that: (1) both suppression and facilitation can emerge from a single, computational principle – divisive normalization; there is no need to invoke separate neural mechanisms, (2) neural suppression and facilitation in the motion-selective area MT mirror perception, but strong suppression also occurs in earlier visual areas, and (3) suppression is not primarily driven by GABA-mediated inhibition. Thus, while commonly used spatial suppression paradigms may provide insight into neural response magnitudes in visual areas, they should not be used to infer neural inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexander M Kale
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, United States
| | - Rachel Millin
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, United States
| | | | - Zoran Brkanac
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, United States
| | - Richard Ae Edden
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States
| | - Raphael A Bernier
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, United States
| | - Scott O Murray
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, United States
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Nguyen BN, Hew SA, Ly J, Shin HY, Wong JC, Yeung E, McKendrick AM. Acute caffeine ingestion affects surround suppression of perceived contrast. J Psychopharmacol 2018; 32:81-88. [PMID: 28879800 DOI: 10.1177/0269881117725684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Caffeine is a widely used psychostimulant that is associated with increased acetylcholine levels in mammalian brain and acetycholinesterase antagonism. Acetylcholine, a neuromodulator, plays an important role in the processing of visual information. One key example in human vision, thought to at least partly involve cholinergic neuromodulation, is perceptual surround suppression of contrast, whereby the perceived contrast of a pattern is altered by the presence of a neighbouring pattern. Perceptual surround suppression is weaker with pharmacological administration of donepezil (a centrally-acting acetylcholine enzyme inhibitor) in healthy human observers. Here, we test whether temporarily manipulating caffeine levels (from complete washout to a controlled dose of caffeine) has a similar effect on perceptual surround suppression in 21 healthy young adults (aged 20-24 years, 11 females). Neither ingestion of a caffeine pill nor placebo altered contrast judgments when the target pattern was presented on a uniform grey background ( p=0.54). With caffeine ingestion, perceptual surround suppression strength was reduced relative to baseline (prior to pill ingestion, p=0.003) and placebo ( p=0.029), irrespective of whether the surround was oriented parallel or orthogonal to the central target. While daily habitual caffeine consumption of low-to-moderate doses (<400 mg/day, estimated from a written questionnaire) is not predictive of performance, our study indicates that acute consumption of caffeine on the day of testing influences perceptual surround suppression strength. Perceptual surround suppression is predominantly attributed to inhibitory processes involving the major cortical inhibitory neurotransmitter, gamma-aminobutyric acid. Our results point to the involvement of other neuromodulators, possibly cholinergic, in perceptual surround suppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bao N Nguyen
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sui-Ann Hew
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - John Ly
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Hee-Young Shin
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jessica C Wong
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Emily Yeung
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Allison M McKendrick
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
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