scholarly journals How Sleep Shapes Thalamocortical Circuit Function in the Visual System

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 295-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaclyn M. Durkin ◽  
Sara J. Aton
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Plasticity ◽  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Primary Visual Cortex ◽  
Memory Consolidation ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Declarative Memory ◽  
Visual Response ◽  
And Function ◽  
Circuit Function

Recent data have shown that sleep plays a beneficial role for cognitive functions such as declarative memory consolidation and perceptual learning. In this article, we review recent findings on the role of sleep in promoting adaptive visual response changes in the lateral geniculate nucleus and primary visual cortex following novel visual experiences. We discuss these findings in the context of what is currently known about how sleep affects the activity and function of thalamocortical circuits and current hypotheses regarding how sleep facilitates synaptic plasticity.

scholarly journals Causal role for sleep-dependent reactivation of learning-activated sensory ensembles for fear memory consolidation

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brittany C. Clawson ◽  
Emily J. Pickup ◽  
Amy Ensing ◽  
Laura Geneseo ◽  
James Shaver ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Primary Visual Cortex ◽  
Memory Consolidation ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Visual Presentation ◽  
Fear Memory ◽  
Memory Recall ◽  
Visual Cue ◽  
V1 Neurons ◽  
Targeted Recombination

AbstractLearning-activated engram neurons play a critical role in memory recall. An untested hypothesis is that these same neurons play an instructive role in offline memory consolidation. Here we show that a visually-cued fear memory is consolidated during post-conditioning sleep in mice. We then use TRAP (targeted recombination in active populations) to genetically label or optogenetically manipulate primary visual cortex (V1) neurons responsive to the visual cue. Following fear conditioning, mice respond to activation of this visual engram population in a manner similar to visual presentation of fear cues. Cue-responsive neurons are selectively reactivated in V1 during post-conditioning sleep. Mimicking visual engram reactivation optogenetically leads to increased representation of the visual cue in V1. Optogenetic inhibition of the engram population during post-conditioning sleep disrupts consolidation of fear memory. We conclude that selective sleep-associated reactivation of learning-activated sensory populations serves as a necessary instructive mechanism for memory consolidation.

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