scholarly journals Sensory coding and the causal impact of mouse cortex in a visual decision

eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Zatka-Haas ◽  
Nicholas A Steinmetz ◽  
Matteo Carandini ◽  
Kenneth D Harris
Keyword(s):  
Task Performance ◽  
Causal Role ◽  
Behavioral Performance ◽  
Dorsal Cortex ◽  
Related Activity ◽  
Sensory Stimuli ◽  
Visual Contrast ◽  
Mouse Cortex ◽  
Causal Impact ◽  
Motor Actions

Correlates of sensory stimuli and motor actions are found in multiple cortical areas, but such correlates do not indicate whether these areas are causally relevant to task performance. We trained mice to discriminate visual contrast and report their decision by steering a wheel. Widefield calcium imaging and Neuropixels recordings in cortex revealed stimulus-related activity in visual (VIS) and frontal (MOs) areas, and widespread movement-related activity across the whole dorsal cortex. Optogenetic inactivation biased choices only when targeted at VIS and MOs,proportionally to each site's encoding of the visual stimulus, and at times corresponding to peak stimulus decoding. A neurometric model based on summing and subtracting activity in VIS and MOs successfully described behavioral performance and predicted the effect of optogenetic inactivation. Thus, sensory signals localized in visual and frontal cortex play a causal role in task performance, while widespread dorsal cortical signals correlating with movement reflect processes that do not play a causal role.

scholarly journals A perceptual decision requires sensory but not action coding in mouse cortex

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Zatka-Haas ◽  
Nicholas A. Steinmetz ◽  
Matteo Carandini ◽  
Kenneth D. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Task Performance ◽  
Calcium Imaging ◽  
Causal Role ◽  
Dorsal Cortex ◽  
Related Activity ◽  
Perceptual Decision ◽  
Cortical Areas ◽  
Model Based ◽  
Visual Contrast ◽  
Mouse Cortex

AbstractSensory decisions involve multiple cortical areas, but it is unclear to what extent these areas carry distinct signals and play distinct causal roles. We trained head-fixed mice to discriminate visual contrast and report their decision by turning a wheel. Widefield calcium imaging and Neuropixels recordings revealed stimulus-related activity in visual (VIS) and secondary motor (MOs) areas, and widespread movement-related activity across the dorsal cortex. Optogenetic inactivation biased choices only when it was targeted at VIS and MOs, at times corresponding to peak stimulus decoding. A neurometric model based on summing and subtracting activity in VIS and MOs successfully described performance and predicted the effect of optogenetic inactivation. Thus, sensory signals in VIS and MOs are causally necessary for task performance, while diffuse dorsal cortical signals correlating with movement do not play a causal role.

scholarly journals VIP interneurons in mouse whisker S1 exhibit sensory and action-related signals during goal-directed behavior

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deepa L Ramamurthy ◽  
Andrew Chen ◽  
Patrick C Huang ◽  
Priyanka Bharghavan ◽  
Gayathri Krishna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Activity ◽  
Inhibitory Neuron ◽  
Sensory Cortex ◽  
Related Activity ◽  
Sensory Stimuli ◽  
State Dependent ◽  
Sensory Responses ◽  
Motor Actions ◽  
First Time ◽  
Goal Directed Behavior

Vasoactive intestinal peptide-expressing (VIP) interneurons, which constitute 10-15% of the cortical inhibitory neuron population, have emerged as an important cell type for regulating excitatory cell activity based on behavioral state. VIP cells in sensory cortex are potently engaged by neuromodulatory and motor inputs during active exploratory behaviors like locomotion and whisking, which in turn promote pyramidal cell firing via disinhibition. Such state-dependent modulation of activity by VIP cells in sensory cortex has been studied widely in recent years. However, the function of VIP cells during goal-directed behavior is less well understood. It is not clear how task-related events like sensory stimuli, motor actions, or reward activate VIP cells in sensory cortex since there is often temporal overlap in the occurrence of these events. We developed a Go/NoGo whisker touch detection task which incorporates a post-stimulus delay period to separate sensory-driven activity from action- or reward-related activity during behavior. We used 2-photon calcium imaging to measure task-related signals of L2/3 VIP neurons in S1 of behaving mice. We report for the first time that VIP cells in mouse whisker S1 are activated by both whisker stimuli and goal-directed licking. Whisker- and lick-related signals were spatially organized in relation to anatomical columns in S1. Sensory responses of VIP cells were tuned to specific whiskers, whether or not they also displayed lick-related activity.

scholarly journals Triggering visually-guided behavior by holographic activation of pattern completion neurons in cortical ensembles

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Carrillo-Reid ◽  
Shuting Han ◽  
Weijian Yang ◽  
Alejandro Akrouh ◽  
Rafael Yuste
Keyword(s):  
Task Performance ◽  
Behavioral Responses ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Causal Role ◽  
Behavioral Performance ◽  
Visually Guided ◽  
Pattern Completion ◽  
Neuronal Ensembles ◽  
Two Photon

AbstractNeuronal ensembles are building blocks of cortical activity yet it is unclear if they have any causal role in behavior. Here we tested if the precise activation of neuronal ensembles with two-photon holographic optogenetics in mouse primary visual cortex alters behavioral performance in a visual task. Disruption of behaviorally relevant cortical ensembles by activation of non-selective neurons decreased behavioral performance whereas optogenetic targeting of as few as two neurons with pattern completion capability from behaviorally relevant ensembles improved task performance by reliably recalling the whole ensemble. Moreover, in some cases, activation of two pattern completion neurons, in the absence of visual stimulus, triggered correct behavioral responses. Our results demonstrate a causal role of neuronal ensembles in a visually guided behavior and suggest that ensembles could represent perceptual states.

scholarly journals Relationship between individual neuron and network spontaneous activity in developing mouse cortex

2014 ◽  
Vol 112 (12) ◽  
pp. 3033-3045 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather M. Barnett ◽  
Julijana Gjorgjieva ◽  
Keiko Weir ◽  
Cara Comfort ◽  
Adrienne L. Fairhall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Normal Development ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Piriform Cortex ◽  
Intrinsic Excitability ◽  
Intrinsic Activity ◽  
Dorsal Cortex ◽  
Synchronous Activity ◽  
Mouse Cortex ◽  
Propagating Waves ◽  
Autonomous Activity

Spontaneous synchronous activity (SSA) that propagates as electrical waves is found in numerous central nervous system structures and is critical for normal development, but the mechanisms of generation of such activity are not clear. In previous work, we showed that the ventrolateral piriform cortex is uniquely able to initiate SSA in contrast to the dorsal neocortex, which participates in, but does not initiate, SSA (Lischalk JW, Easton CR, Moody WJ. Dev Neurobiol 69: 407–414, 2009). In this study, we used Ca2+ imaging of cultured embryonic day 18 to postnatal day 2 coronal slices (embryonic day 17 + 1–4 days in culture) of the mouse cortex to investigate the different activity patterns of individual neurons in these regions. In the piriform cortex where SSA is initiated, a higher proportion of neurons was active asynchronously between waves, and a larger number of groups of coactive cells was present compared with the dorsal cortex. When we applied GABA and glutamate synaptic antagonists, asynchronous activity and cellular clusters remained, while synchronous activity was eliminated, indicating that asynchronous activity is a result of cell-intrinsic properties that differ between these regions. To test the hypothesis that higher levels of cell-autonomous activity in the piriform cortex underlie its ability to initiate waves, we constructed a conductance-based network model in which three layers differed only in the proportion of neurons able to intrinsically generate bursting behavior. Simulations using this model demonstrated that a gradient of intrinsic excitability was sufficient to produce directionally propagating waves that replicated key experimental features, indicating that the higher level of cell-intrinsic activity in the piriform cortex may provide a substrate for SSA generation.

scholarly journals Thalamic inputs determine functionally distinct gamma bands in mouse primary visual cortex

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolò Meneghetti ◽  
Chiara Cerri ◽  
Elena Tantillo ◽  
Eleonora Vannini ◽  
Matteo Caleo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Primary Visual Cortex ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
Narrow Band ◽  
Broad Band ◽  
Gamma Band ◽  
Neuron Network ◽  
Sensory Stimuli ◽  
Thalamic Input ◽  
Visual Contrast

AbstractGamma band is known to be involved in the encoding of visual features in the primary visual cortex (V1). Recent results in rodents V1 highlighted the presence, within a broad gamma band (BB) increasing with contrast, of a narrow gamma band (NB) peaking at ∼60 Hz suppressed by contrast and enhanced by luminance. However, the processing of visual information by the two channels still lacks a proper characterization. Here, by combining experimental analysis and modeling, we prove that the two bands are sensitive to specific thalamic inputs associated with complementary contrast ranges. We recorded local field potentials from V1 of awake mice during the presentation of gratings and observed that NB power progressively decreased from low to intermediate levels of contrast. Conversely, BB power was insensitive to low levels of contrast but it progressively increased going from intermediate to high levels of contrast. Moreover, BB response was stronger immediately after contrast reversal, while the opposite held for NB. All the aforementioned dynamics were accurately reproduced by a recurrent excitatory-inhibitory leaky integrate-and-fire network, mimicking layer IV of mouse V1, provided that the sustained and periodic component of the thalamic input were modulated over complementary contrast ranges. These results shed new light on the origin and function of the two V1 gamma bands. In addition, here we propose a simple and effective model of response to visual contrast that might help in reconstructing network dysfunction underlying pathological alterations of visual information processing.Significance StatementGamma band is a ubiquitous hallmark of cortical processing of sensory stimuli. Experimental evidence shows that in the mouse visual cortex two types of gamma activity are differentially modulated by contrast: a narrow band (NB), that seems to be rodent specific, and a standard broad band (BB), observed also in other animal models.We found that narrow band correlates and broad band anticorrelates with visual contrast in two complementary contrast ranges (low and high respectively). Moreover, BB displayed an earlier response than NB. A thalamocortical spiking neuron network model reproduced the aforementioned results, suggesting they might be due to the presence of two complementary but distinct components of the thalamic input into visual cortical circuitry.

scholarly journals Enhanced Alpha-oscillations in Visual Cortex during Anticipation of Self-generated Visual Stimulation

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 2540-2551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Max-Philipp Stenner ◽  
Markus Bauer ◽  
Patrick Haggard ◽  
Hans-Jochen Heinze ◽  
Ray Dolan
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Visual Stimulation ◽  
Sensory Information ◽  
Sensory Stimuli ◽  
Forward Models ◽  
Alpha Oscillations ◽  
Time Frequency ◽  
Sensory Attenuation ◽  
Sensory Neural ◽  
Motor Actions

The perceived intensity of sensory stimuli is reduced when these stimuli are caused by the observer's actions. This phenomenon is traditionally explained by forward models of sensory action–outcome, which arise from motor processing. Although these forward models critically predict anticipatory modulation of sensory neural processing, neurophysiological evidence for anticipatory modulation is sparse and has not been linked to perceptual data showing sensory attenuation. By combining a psychophysical task involving contrast discrimination with source-level time–frequency analysis of MEG data, we demonstrate that the amplitude of alpha-oscillations in visual cortex is enhanced before the onset of a visual stimulus when the identity and onset of the stimulus are controlled by participants' motor actions. Critically, this prestimulus enhancement of alpha-amplitude is paralleled by psychophysical judgments of a reduced contrast for this stimulus. We suggest that alpha-oscillations in visual cortex preceding self-generated visual stimulation are a likely neurophysiological signature of motor-induced sensory anticipation and mediate sensory attenuation. We discuss our results in relation to proposals that attribute generic inhibitory functions to alpha-oscillations in prioritizing and gating sensory information via top–down control.

scholarly journals A distributed circuit for associating environmental context with motor choice in retrosplenial cortex

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (35) ◽  
pp. eabf9815
Author(s):  
Luis M. Franco ◽  
Michael J. Goard
Keyword(s):  
Motor Planning ◽  
Retrosplenial Cortex ◽  
Behavioral Performance ◽  
Motor Action ◽  
Motor Outputs ◽  
Cortical Circuit ◽  
Task Variables ◽  
Subcortical Regions ◽  
Motor Actions ◽  
Temporal Profiles

During navigation, animals often use recognition of familiar environmental contexts to guide motor action selection. The retrosplenial cortex (RSC) receives inputs from both visual cortex and subcortical regions required for spatial memory and projects to motor planning regions. However, it is not known whether RSC is important for associating familiar environmental contexts with specific motor actions. We test this possibility by developing a task in which motor trajectories are chosen based on the context. We find that mice exhibit differential predecision activity in RSC and that optogenetic suppression of RSC activity impairs task performance. Individual RSC neurons encode a range of task variables, often multiplexed with distinct temporal profiles. However, the responses are spatiotemporally organized, with task variables represented along a posterior-to-anterior gradient along RSC during the behavioral performance, consistent with histological characterization. These results reveal an anatomically organized retrosplenial cortical circuit for associating environmental contexts with appropriate motor outputs.

scholarly journals A Distributed Circuit for Associating Environmental Context to Motor Choice in Retrosplenial Cortex

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis M. Franco ◽  
Michael J. Goard
Keyword(s):  
Motor Planning ◽  
Retrosplenial Cortex ◽  
Behavioral Performance ◽  
Motor Action ◽  
Motor Outputs ◽  
Cortical Circuit ◽  
Task Variables ◽  
Subcortical Regions ◽  
Motor Actions ◽  
Temporal Profiles

ABSTRACTDuring navigation, animals often use recognition of familiar environmental contexts to guide motor action selection. The retrosplenial cortex (RSC) receives inputs from both visual cortex and subcortical regions required for spatial memory, and projects to motor planning regions. However, it is not known whether RSC is important for associating familiar environmental contexts with specific motor actions. Here, we test this possibility by developing a task in which trajectories are chosen based on the context. We find that mice exhibit differential pre-decision activity in RSC, and that optogenetic suppression of RSC activity impairs task performance. Individual RSC neurons encode a range of task variables, often multiplexed with distinct temporal profiles. However, the responses are spatiotemporally organized, with task variables represented along a posterior-to-anterior gradient along RSC during the behavioral performance, consistent with histological characterization. These results reveal an anatomically-organized retrosplenial cortical circuit for associating environmental contexts to appropriate motor outputs.

scholarly journals Transcriptomic encoding of sensorimotor transformation in the midbrain

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiyong Xie ◽  
Mengdi Wang ◽  
Zeyuan Liu ◽  
Congping Shang ◽  
Changjiang Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prey Capture ◽  
Marker Genes ◽  
Projection Neurons ◽  
Sensorimotor Transformation ◽  
Sensory Stimuli ◽  
Molecular Logic ◽  
Tactile Cues ◽  
Midbrain Structure ◽  
Motor Actions ◽  
The Brain

ABSTRACTSensorimotor transformation, a process that converts sensory stimuli into motor actions, is critical for the brain to initiate behaviors. Although the circuitry involved in sensorimotor transformation has been well delineated, the molecular logic behind this process remains poorly understood. Here, we performed high-throughput and circuit-specific single-cell transcriptomic analyses of neurons in the superior colliculus (SC), a midbrain structure implicated in early sensorimotor transformation. We found that SC neurons in distinct laminae express discrete marker genes. Of particular interest, Cbln2 and Pitx2 are key markers that define glutamatergic projection neurons in the optic nerve (Op) and intermediate gray (InG) layers, respectively. The Cbln2+ neurons responded to visual stimuli mimicking cruising predators, while the Pitx2+ neurons encoded prey-derived vibrissal tactile cues. By forming distinct input and output connections with other brain areas, these neuronal subtypes independently mediate behaviors of predator avoidance and prey capture. Our results reveal that, in the midbrain, sensorimotor transformation for different behaviors may be performed by separate circuit modules that are molecularly defined by distinct transcriptomic codes.

scholarly journals Different inhibitory interneuron cell classes make distinct contributions to visual perception

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jackson J. Cone ◽  
Megan D. Scantlen ◽  
Mark H. Histed ◽  
John H.R. Maunsell
Keyword(s):  
Visual Stimulation ◽  
Inhibitory Neuron ◽  
Inhibitory Interneuron ◽  
Neuron Activity ◽  
Improve Performance ◽  
Sensory Stimuli ◽  
Optogenetic Stimulation ◽  
Visual Contrast ◽  
Cortical Responses ◽  
Contrast Perception

SummaryWhile recent work has revealed how different inhibitory interneurons influence cortical responses to sensory stimuli, little is known about how their activity contributes to sensory perception. Here, we optogenetically stimulated different genetically defined interneurons (parvalbumin (PV), somatostatin (SST), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)) in visual cortex (V1) of mice working at threshold in contrast increment or decrement detection tasks. The visual stimulus was paired with optogenetic stimulation to assess how enhancing V1 inhibitory neuron activity synchronously during cortical responses altered task performance. PV or SST activation impaired, while VIP stimulation improved, contrast increment detection. Notably, PV or SST stimulation also impaired contrast decrement detection, when opsin-evoked inhibition would exaggerate stimulus-evoked decrements in firing rate, and thus might improve performance. The impairment produced by PV or SST stimulation persisted throughout many weeks of testing. In contrast mice learned to reliably detect VIP activation in the absence of natural visual stimulation. Thus, different inhibitory signals make distinct contributions to visual contrast perception.

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