scholarly journals The Missing Link in Early Emotional Processing

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-244
Author(s):  
Luis Carretié ◽  
Raghunandan K. Yadav ◽  
Constantino Méndez-Bértolo
Keyword(s):  
Visual Information ◽  
Emotional Processing ◽  
Thalamic Reticular Nucleus ◽  
Reticular Nucleus ◽  
Emotional Stimuli ◽  
Visual Thalamus ◽  
Affective Stimuli ◽  
Emotional Evaluation ◽  
Order Structures ◽  
Thalamic Structure

Initial evaluation structures (IESs) currently proposed as the earliest detectors of affective stimuli (e.g., amygdala, orbitofrontal cortex, or insula) are high-order structures (a) whose response latency cannot account for the first visual cortex emotion-related response (~80 ms), and (b) lack the necessary infrastructure to locally analyze the visual features that define emotional stimuli. Several thalamic structures accomplish both criteria. The lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), a first-order thalamic nucleus that actively processes visual information, with the complement of the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) are proposed as core IESs. This LGN–TRN tandem could be supported by the pulvinar, a second-order thalamic structure, and by other extrathalamic nuclei. The visual thalamus, scarcely explored in affective neurosciences, seems crucial in early emotional evaluation.

scholarly journals The Missing Link in Early Emotional Processing

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Carretié ◽  
Raghunandan K. Yadav ◽  
Constantino Méndez-Bértolo
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Emotional Processing ◽  
Second Order ◽  
Initial Evaluation ◽  
Emotional Stimuli ◽  
Missing Link ◽  
First Order ◽  
Visual Thalamus ◽  
Visual Inputs ◽  
Order Structures

Current proposals on the temporal sequence in the processing of emotional visual stimuli are partially incompatible with growing empirical data. In the majority of them, the initial evaluation structures (IES) postulated to be in charge of the earliest detection of emotional stimuli (i.e., salient for the individual), are high order structures (i.e., those receiving visual inputs after several synapses). Thus, their latency of response cannot account for the first visual cortex response to emotional stimuli (peaking 80 ms in humans). Additionally, these proposed structures lack the necessary infrastructure to locally analyze the visual features of the stimulus (shape, color, motion, etc.) that define a stimulus as emotional. In particular, the amygdala is defended as the cornerstone IES also in humans, and cortical areas such as the ventral prefrontal cortex or the insula have been proposed as well to intervene in this initial evaluation process. The present review describes several first-order brain structures (i.e., receiving visual inputs after one synapsis), and second order structures (two synapses) that may complement the former, that accomplish with both prerequisites: presenting response latencies compatible with the observed activity at the visual cortex and possessing the necessary architecture to rudimentarily analyze in situ relevant features of the visual stimulation. The visual thalamus, and particularly the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), a first-order thalamic nucleus that actively processes visual information, is a good candidate to be the core IES, with the complementary action of the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN). This LGN-TRN tandem could be supported, also in an ascending, initial evaluation phase, by the pulvinar, a second order thalamic structure, and first-order extra-thalamic nuclei (superior colliculus and certain nuclei of pretectum and the accessory optic system). In sum, the visual thalamus, scarcely studied in relation to emotional processing, is a serious candidate to be the missing link in early emotional evaluation and, in any case, is worth exploring in future research.

scholarly journals The Missing Link in Early Emotional Processing

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Carretié ◽  
Raghunandan K. Yadav ◽  
Constantino Méndez-Bértolo
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Emotional Processing ◽  
Second Order ◽  
Initial Evaluation ◽  
Emotional Stimuli ◽  
Missing Link ◽  
First Order ◽  
Visual Thalamus ◽  
Visual Inputs ◽  
Order Structures

Current proposals on the temporal sequence in the processing of emotional visual stimuli are partially incompatible with growing empirical data. In the majority of them, the initial evaluation structures (IES) postulated to be in charge of the earliest detection of emotional stimuli (i.e., salient for the individual), are high order structures (i.e., those receiving visual inputs after several synapses). Thus, their latency of response cannot account for the first visual cortex response to emotional stimuli (peaking 80 ms in humans). Additionally, these proposed structures lack the necessary infrastructure to locally analyze the visual features of the stimulus (shape, color, motion, etc.) that define a stimulus as emotional. In particular, the amygdala is defended as the cornerstone IES also in humans, and cortical areas such as the ventral prefrontal cortex or the insula have been proposed as well to intervene in this initial evaluation process. The present review describes several first-order brain structures (i.e., receiving visual inputs after one synapsis), and second order structures (two synapses) that may complement the former, that accomplish with both prerequisites: presenting response latencies compatible with the observed activity at the visual cortex and possessing the necessary architecture to rudimentarily analyze in situ relevant features of the visual stimulation. The visual thalamus, and particularly the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), a first-order thalamic nucleus that actively processes visual information, is a good candidate to be the core IES, with the complementary action of the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN). This LGN-TRN tandem could be supported, also in an ascending, initial evaluation phase, by the pulvinar, a second order thalamic structure, and first-order extra-thalamic nuclei (superior colliculus and certain nuclei of pretectum and the accessory optic system). In sum, the visual thalamus, scarcely studied in relation to emotional processing, is a serious candidate to be the missing link in early emotional evaluation and, in any case, is worth exploring in future research.

The dysfunction of affective picture processing in pituitary patients: an ERPs study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenglong Cao ◽  
Jian Song ◽  
Binbin Liu ◽  
Jianren Yue ◽  
Yuzhao Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pituitary Adenoma ◽  
Patient Group ◽  
Electric Potential ◽  
Emotional Processing ◽  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Emotional Stimuli ◽  
Affective Stimuli ◽  
Related Potentials ◽  
The Right

Abstract Background: Cognitive impairments have been reported in patients with pituitary adenoma; however, there is a lack of knowledge of investigating the emotional stimuli processing in pituitary patients. Thus, we aimed to investigate whether there is emotional processing dysfunction in pituitary patients by recording and analyzing the late positive potential (LPP) elicited by affective stimuli.Methods: Evaluation of emotional stimuli processing by LPP Event related potentials (ERPs) was carried out through central- parietal electrode sites (C3, Cz, C4, P3, Pz, P4) on the head of the patients and healthy controls (HCs).Results: In the negative stimuli, the amplitude of LPP was 2.435 ± 0.419μV for HCs and 0.656 ± 0.427μV for patient group respectively ( p = 0.005). In the positive stimuli, the elicited electric potential 1.450 ± 0.316μV for HCs and 0.495 ± 0.322μV for patient group respectively ( p = 0.040). Moreover, the most obvious difference of LPP amplitude between the two groups existed in the right parietal region. On the right hemisphere (at the P4 site), the elicited electric potential was 1.993 ± 0.299μV for HCs and 0.269 ± 0.305μV for patient group respectively( p = 0.001).Conclusion: There are functional dysfunction of emotional stimuli processing in pituitary adenoma patients. Our research provides the electrophysiological evidence for the presence of cognitive dysfunction which need to be intervened in the pituitary adenoma patients.

scholarly journals Identification of Retinal Ganglion Cell Types and Brain Nuclei expressing the transcription factor Brn3c/Pou4f3 using a Cre recombinase knock-in allele

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadia Parmhans ◽  
Anne Drury Fuller ◽  
Eileen Nguyen ◽  
Katherine Chuang ◽  
David Swygart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Ganglion Cell ◽  
Retinal Ganglion Cell ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Thalamic Reticular Nucleus ◽  
Reticular Nucleus ◽  
Retinal Ganglion ◽  
Brain Nuclei ◽  
The Brain

AbstractMembers of the POU4F/Brn3 transcription factor family have an established role in the development of retinal ganglion cell types (RGCs), the projection sensory neuron conveying visual information from the mammalian eye to the brain. Our previous work using sparse random recombination of a conditional knock-in reporter allele expressing Alkaline Phosphatase (AP) and intersectional genetics had identified three types of Pou4f3/Brn3c positive (Brn3c+) RGCs. Here, we describe a novel Brn3cCre mouse allele generated by serial Dre to Cre recombination. We use this allele to explore the expression overlap of Brn3c with Brn3a and Brn3b and the dendritic arbor morphologies and visual stimulus properties of Brn3c+ RGC types. Furthermore, we explore Brn3c-expressing brain nuclei. Our analysis reveals a much larger number of Brn3c+ RGCs and more diverse set of RGC types than previously reported. The majority of RGCs having expressed Brn3c during development are still Brn3c positive in the adult, and all of them express Brn3a while only about half express Brn3b. Intersection of Brn3b and Brn3c expression highlights an area of increased RGC density, similar to an area centralis, corresponding to part of the binocular field of view of the mouse. Brn3c+ neurons and projections are present in multiple brain nuclei. Brn3c+ RGC projections can be detected in the Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (LGN), Pretectal Area (PTA) and Superior Colliculus (SC) but also in the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN), a visual circuit station that was not previously described to receive retinal input. Most Brn3c+ neurons of the brain are confined to the pretectum and the dorsal midbrain. Amongst theses we identify a previously unknown Brn3c+ subdivision of the deep mesencephalic nucleus (DpMe). Thus, our newly generated allele provides novel biological insights into RGC type classification, brain connectivity and midbrain cytoarchitectonic, and opens the avenue for specific characterization and manipulation of these structures.

Corticothalamic feedback sculpts visual spatial integration in mouse thalamus

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory Born ◽  
Sinem Erisken ◽  
Felix A. Schneider ◽  
Agne Klein ◽  
Milad H. Mobarhan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Information ◽  
Receptive Fields ◽  
Thalamic Reticular Nucleus ◽  
Reticular Nucleus ◽  
Spatial Integration ◽  
Surround Suppression ◽  
Visual Spatial ◽  
Cortical Feedback ◽  
Wide Scale ◽  
Corticothalamic Feedback

ABSTRACTEn route from retina to cortex, visual information travels through the dorsolateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus (dLGN), where extensive cortico-thalamic (CT) feedback has been suggested to modulate spatial processing. How this modulation arises from direct excitatory and indirect inhibitory CT feedback components remains enigmatic. We show that in awake mice topographically organized cortical feedback modulates spatial integration in dLGN by sharpening receptive fields (RFs) and increasing surround suppression. Guided by a network model revealing wide-scale inhibitory CT feedback necessary to reproduce these effects, we targeted the visual sector of the thalamic reticular nucleus (visTRN) for recordings. We found that visTRN neurons have large receptive fields, show little surround suppression, and have strong feedback-dependent responses to large stimuli, making them an ideal candidate for mediating feedback-enhanced surround suppression in dLGN. We conclude that cortical feedback sculpts spatial integration in dLGN, likely via recruitment of neurons in visTRN.

Projections from cingulate cortex to the cat’s thalamic reticular nucleus

2011 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 433-444
Author(s):  
THOMAS FITZGIBBON ◽  
NICK KIKUCHI
Keyword(s):  
Visual Information ◽  
Cingulate Cortex ◽  
Thalamic Reticular Nucleus ◽  
Reticular Nucleus ◽  
Topographic Map ◽  
Thalamic Nuclei ◽  
Area 7 ◽  
Projection Zone ◽  
Pass Through ◽  
High Degree

AbstractThe cingulate cortex (CG) and the adjacent region designated as the splenial visual area (SVA) project to areas of the extrageniculate thalamic system that are concerned with processing visual information. En route to the thalamus, they pass through the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN), an important source of thalamic inhibition. We wished to determine whether SVA axon collaterals projected to the previously defined visual sector of the TRN or a separate projection zone and did this differ from the projection zone of CG. We iontophoretically injected different neuroanatomical tracers into several locations within CG/SVA and traced the labeled axons through the TRN. The CG and SVA have a projection zone that only partially overlaps the dorsorostral regions of the visuocortical projection zone; there was no evidence to suggest separate SVA and CG zones or tiers of label within the TRN. The projection formed only a weak topographic map in the TRN, which is largely defined in the rostrocaudal axis and is similar to that of the area 7 projection; both projections have a high degree of overlap in the dorsal TRN. We postulate that CG/SVA may be involved in the initiation of orientation behaviors via stimulation of thalamic nuclei and attentional mechanisms of the TRN.

Synaptic targets of thalamic reticular nucleus terminals in the visual thalamus of the cat

2001 ◽  
Vol 440 (4) ◽  
pp. 321-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siting Wang ◽  
Martha E. Bickford ◽  
Susan C. van Horn ◽  
Alev Erisir ◽  
Dwayne W. Godwin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thalamic Reticular Nucleus ◽  
Reticular Nucleus ◽  
Visual Thalamus

scholarly journals Modulation of Inhibitory Activity by Nitric Oxide in the Thalamus

2007 ◽  
Vol 97 (5) ◽  
pp. 3386-3395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunggu Yang ◽  
Charles L. Cox
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Inhibitory Activity ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
Information Transfer ◽  
Inhibitory Neurons ◽  
Dorsal Lateral Geniculate Nucleus ◽  
Thalamic Reticular Nucleus ◽  
Reticular Nucleus ◽  
No Production ◽  
No Donor

The dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) is essential for the transfer of visual information from the retina to visual cortex, and inhibitory mechanisms can play a critical in regulating such information transfer. Nitric oxide (NO) is an atypical neuromodulator that is released in gaseous form and can alter neural activity without direct synaptic connections. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS), an essential enzyme for NO production, is localized in thalamic inhibitory neurons and cholinergic brain stem neurons that innervate the thalamus, although NO-mediated effects on thalamic inhibitory activity remain unknown. We investigated NO effects on inhibitory activity in dLGN using an in vitro slice preparation. The NO donor, SNAP, selectively potentiated the frequency, but not amplitude, of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) in thalamocortical relay neurons. This increase also persisted in tetrodotoxin (TTX), consistent with an increase in GABA release from presynaptic terminals. The SNAP-mediated actions were attenuated not only by the NO scavenger carboxy-PTIO but also by the guanylyl cyclase inhibitor ODQ. The endogenous NO precursor l-arginine produced actions similar to those of SNAP on sIPSC activity and these l-arginine–mediated actions were attenuated by the NOS inhibitor L-NMMA acetate. The SNAP-mediated increase in sIPSC activity was observed in both dLGN and ventrobasal thalamic nucleus (VB) neurons. Considering the lack of interneurons in rodent VB, the NO-mediated actions likely involve an increase in the output of axon terminals of thalamic reticular nucleus neurons. Our results indicate that NO upregulates thalamic inhibitory activity and thus these actions likely influence sensory information transfer through thalamocortical circuits.

Thalamic Reticular Nucleus in Caiman crocodilus: Immunohistochemical Staining

2018 ◽  
Vol 92 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 142-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael B. Pritz
Keyword(s):  
Glutamic Acid ◽  
Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase ◽  
Immunohistochemical Staining ◽  
Medial Forebrain Bundle ◽  
Transverse Plane ◽  
Thalamic Reticular Nucleus ◽  
Reticular Nucleus ◽  
Acid Decarboxylase ◽  
Caiman Crocodilus ◽  
Monoclonal Mouse

The thalamic reticular nucleus in reptiles, Caiman crocodilus, shares a number of morphological similarities with its counterpart in mammals. In view of the immunohistochemical properties of this nucleus in mammals and the more recently identified complexity of this neuronal aggregate in Caiman, this nucleus was investigated using a number of antibodies. These results were compared with findings described for other amniotes. The following antibodies gave consistent and reproducible results: polyclonal sheep anti-parvalbumin (PV), monoclonal mouse anti-PV, and polyclonal sheep anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD). In the transverse plane, this nucleus is divided into two. In each part, a compact group of cells sits on top of the fibers of the forebrain bundle with scattered cells among these fibers. In the lateral forebrain bundle, this neuronal aggregate is represented by the dorsal peduncular nucleus and the perireticular nucleus while, in the medial forebrain bundle, these parts are the interstitial nucleus and the scattered cells in this fiber tract. The results of this study are the following. First, the thalamic reticular nucleus of Caiman contains GAD(+) and PV(+) neurons, which is similar to what has been described in other amniotes. Second, the morphology and distribution of many GAD(+) and PV(+) neurons in the dorsal peduncular and perireticular nuclei are similar and suggest that these neurons colocalize these markers. Third, neurons in the interstitial nucleus and in the medial forebrain bundle are GAD(+) and PV(+). At the caudal pole of the thalamic reticular nucleus, PV immunoreactive cells predominated and avoided the central portion of this nucleus where GAD(+) cells were preferentially located. However, GAD(+) cells were sparse when compared with PV(+) cells. This immunohistochemically different area in the caudal pole is considered to be an area separate from the thalamic reticular nucleus.

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