scholarly journals The influence of cortical depth on neuronal responses in mouse visual cortex

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip O’Herron ◽  
John Woodward ◽  
Prakash Kara
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Neuronal Response ◽  
Superficial Layer ◽  
Cortical Layer ◽  
Contrast Imaging ◽  
Response Properties ◽  
Layer 2 ◽  
Layer 4 ◽  
Thalamic Projections ◽  
Mouse Visual Cortex

AbstractWith the advent of two-photon imaging as a tool for systems neuroscience, the mouse has become a preeminent model system for studying sensory processing. One notable difference that has been found however, between mice and traditional model species like cats and primates is the responsiveness of the cortex. In the primary visual cortex of cats and primates, nearly all neurons respond to simple visual stimuli like drifting gratings. In contrast, imaging studies in mice consistently find that only around half of the neurons respond to such stimuli. Here we show that visual responsiveness is strongly dependent on the cortical depth of neurons. Moving from superficial layer 2 down to layer 4, the percentage of responsive neurons increases dramatically, ultimately reaching levels similar to what is seen in other species. Over this span of cortical depth, neuronal response amplitude also increases and orientation selectivity moderately decreases. These depth dependent response properties may be explained by the distribution of thalamic inputs in mouse V1. Unlike in cats and primates where thalamic projections to the granular layer are constrained to layer 4, in mice they spread up into layer 2/3, qualitatively matching the distribution of response properties we see. These results show that the analysis of neural response properties must take into consideration not only the overall cortical lamina boundaries but also the depth of recorded neurons within each cortical layer. Furthermore, the inability to drive the majority of neurons in superficial layer 2/3 of mouse V1 with grating stimuli indicates that there may be fundamental differences in the role of V1 between rodents and other mammals.

scholarly journals Orientation tuning depends on spatial frequency in mouse visual cortex

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inbal Ayzenshtat ◽  
Jesse Jackson ◽  
Rafael Yuste
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Spatial Frequency ◽  
Visual System ◽  
Primary Visual Cortex ◽  
Receptive Fields ◽  
Orientation Selectivity ◽  
Natural Scenes ◽  
Response Properties ◽  
Layer 2 ◽  
Mouse Visual Cortex

AbstractThe response properties of neurons to sensory stimuli have been used to identify their receptive fields and functionally map sensory systems. In primary visual cortex, most neurons are selective to a particular orientation and spatial frequency of the visual stimulus. Using two-photon calcium imaging of neuronal populations from the primary visual cortex of mice, we have characterized the response properties of neurons to various orientations and spatial frequencies. Surprisingly, we found that the orientation selectivity of neurons actually depends on the spatial frequency of the stimulus. This dependence can be easily explained if one assumed spatially asymmetric Gabor-type receptive fields. We propose that receptive fields of neurons in layer 2/3 of visual cortex are indeed spatially asymmetric, and that this asymmetry could be used effectively by the visual system to encode natural scenes.Significance StatementIn this manuscript we demonstrate that the orientation selectivity of neurons in primary visual cortex of mouse is highly dependent on the stimulus SF. This dependence is realized quantitatively in a decrease in the selectivity strength of cells in non-optimum SF, and more importantly, it is also evident qualitatively in a shift in the preferred orientation of cells in non-optimum SF. We show that a receptive-field model of a 2D asymmetric Gabor, rather than a symmetric one, can explain this surprising observation. Therefore, we propose that the receptive fields of neurons in layer 2/3 of mouse visual cortex are spatially asymmetric and this asymmetry could be used effectively by the visual system to encode natural scenes.Highlights–Orientation selectivity is dependent on spatial frequency.–Asymmetric Gabor model can explain this dependence.

scholarly journals Asymmetric Temporal Integration of Layer 4 and Layer 2/3 Inputs in Visual Cortex

2011 ◽  
Vol 105 (1) ◽  
pp. 347-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giao B. Hang ◽  
Yang Dan
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Visual Processing ◽  
Pyramidal Neurons ◽  
Temporal Integration ◽  
Cortical Inhibition ◽  
Multiple Sources ◽  
Layer 2 ◽  
Layer 4 ◽  
The Difference

Neocortical neurons in vivo receive concurrent synaptic inputs from multiple sources, including feedforward, horizontal, and feedback pathways. Layer 2/3 of the visual cortex receives feedforward input from layer 4 and horizontal input from layer 2/3. Firing of the pyramidal neurons, which carries the output to higher cortical areas, depends critically on the interaction of these pathways. Here we examined synaptic integration of inputs from layer 4 and layer 2/3 in rat visual cortical slices. We found that the integration is sublinear and temporally asymmetric, with larger responses if layer 2/3 input preceded layer 4 input. The sublinearity depended on inhibition, and the asymmetry was largely attributable to the difference between the two inhibitory inputs. Interestingly, the asymmetric integration was specific to pyramidal neurons, and it strongly affected their spiking output. Thus via cortical inhibition, the temporal order of activation of layer 2/3 and layer 4 pathways can exert powerful control of cortical output during visual processing.

scholarly journals Vision reconstructs the cellular composition of binocular circuitry during the critical period

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liming Tan ◽  
Elaine Tring ◽  
Dario L. Ringach ◽  
S. Lawrence Zipursky ◽  
Joshua T. Trachtenberg
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Receptive Field ◽  
Primary Visual Cortex ◽  
Critical Period ◽  
Cellular Composition ◽  
Feature Detectors ◽  
Layer 2 ◽  
Layer 4 ◽  
High Acuity ◽  
Longitudinal Imaging

AbstractHigh acuity binocularity is established in primary visual cortex during an early postnatal critical period. In contrast to current models for the developmental of binocular neurons, we find that the binocular network present at the onset of the critical period is dismantled and remade. Using longitudinal imaging of receptive field tuning (e.g. orientation selectivity) of thousands of layer 2/3 neurons through development, we show most binocular neurons present at critical-period onset are poorly tuned and rendered monocular. These are replenished by newly formed binocular neurons that are established by a vision-dependent recruitment of well-tuned ipsilateral inputs to contralateral monocular neurons with matched tuning properties. The binocular network in layer 4 is equally unstable but does not improve. Thus, vision instructs a new and more sharply tuned binocular network in layer 2/3 by exchanging one population of neurons for another and not by refining an extant network.One Sentence SummaryUnstable binocular circuitry is transformed by vision into a network of highly tuned complex feature detectors in the cortex.

Progressive restriction in fate potential by neural progenitors during cerebral cortical development

Development ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 127 (13) ◽  
pp. 2863-2872 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.R. Desai ◽  
S.K. McConnell
Keyword(s):  
Progenitor Cells ◽  
Ventricular Zone ◽  
Cortical Development ◽  
Cortical Layer ◽  
Neural Progenitors ◽  
Environmental Cues ◽  
Middle Stage ◽  
Layer 2 ◽  
Layer 4 ◽  
Cortical Progenitor

During early stages of cerebral cortical development, progenitor cells in the ventricular zone are multipotent, producing neurons of many layers over successive cell divisions. The laminar fate of their progeny depends on environmental cues to which the cells respond prior to mitosis. By the end of neurogenesis, however, progenitors are lineally committed to producing upper-layer neurons. Here we assess the laminar fate potential of progenitors at a middle stage of cortical development. The progenitors of layer 4 neurons were first transplanted into older brains in which layer 2/3 was being generated. The transplanted neurons adopted a laminar fate appropriate for the new environment (layer 2/3), revealing that layer 4 progenitors are multipotent. Mid-stage progenitors were then transplanted into a younger environment, in which layer 6 neurons were being generated. The transplanted neurons bypassed layer 6, revealing that layer 4 progenitors have a restricted fate potential and are incompetent to respond to environmental cues that trigger layer 6 production. Instead, the transplanted cells migrated to layer 4, the position typical of their origin, and also to layer 5, a position appropriate for neither the host nor the donor environment. Because layer 5 neurogenesis is complete by the stage that progenitors were removed for transplantation, restrictions in laminar fate potential must lag behind the final production of a cortical layer. These results suggest that a combination of intrinsic and environmental cues controls the competence of cortical progenitor cells to produce neurons of different layers.

scholarly journals Vision and locomotion shape the interactions between neuron types in mouse visual cortex

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mario Dipoppa ◽  
Adam Ranson ◽  
Michael Krumin ◽  
Marius Pachitariu ◽  
Matteo Carandini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Synaptic Connectivity ◽  
Cortical Function ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Layer 2 ◽  
Measured Activity ◽  
Sensory Responses ◽  
Mouse Visual Cortex

SummaryIn the mouse primary visual cortex (V1), sensory responses are shaped by behavioral factors such as locomotion. These factors are thought to control a disinhibitory circuit, whereby interneurons expressing vasoactive intestinal peptide (Vip) inhibit those expressing somatostatin (Sst), disinhibiting pyramidal cells (Pyr). We measured the effect of locomotion on these neurons and on interneurons expressing parvalbumin (Pvalb) in layer 2/3 of mouse V1, and found in-consistencies with the disinhibitory model. In the presence of large stimuli, locomotion increased Sst cell responses without suppressing Vip cells. In the presence of small stimuli, locomotion increased Vip cell responses without suppressing Sst cells. A circuit model could reproduce each cell type’s activity from the measured activity of other cell types, but only if we allowed locomotion to increase feedforward synaptic weights while modulating recurrent weights. These results suggest that locomotion alters cortical function by changing effective synaptic connectivity, rather than only through disinhibition.

Structure of the Retinae of the Principal Eyes of Jumping Spiders (Salticidae: Dendryphantinae) in Relation to Visual Optics

1969 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 443-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. F. LAND
Keyword(s):  
Spherical Aberration ◽  
Incident Light ◽  
Red Light ◽  
Green Light ◽  
Chromatic Aberration ◽  
Superficial Layer ◽  
Visual Optics ◽  
Jumping Spiders ◽  
Layer 2 ◽  
Layer 4

1. The retinae of the principal (AM) eyes of jumping spiders contain four layers of receptors, one behind the other with respect to the incident light. The distribution of receptors in each layer has been determined. 2. The deepest layers (1 and 2) cover the whole area of the retina, and have the greatest density of receptors. The minimum receptor separation is 1.7 µm., or 11 min. visual angle. The more superficial layers (3 and 4) are confined to the central region of the retina. 3. In layers 1, 2 and 3 the rhabdomere-containing segments are rod-shaped, and are parallel to the incident light. In layer 4 they are ovoid, and are oriented approximately at right angles to the light. 4. At the first optic glomerulus the primary fibres from each receptor layer appear to terminate in separate regions of neuropile. 5. The focal lengths, radii of curvature and refractive indices of the lenses of the principal and side eyes have been measured. For the principal eyes, estimates have also been made of the diffraction limit, the depth of focus, and the magnitudes of chromatic and spherical aberration. 6. The normal position of the image in the eye was found by ophthalmoscopy. For blue-green light, the best image of distant objects is formed on the next-to-deepest layer (2). 7. The deepest layer (1) is conjugate with a plane about 2 cm. in front of the animal for blue-green light, or with infinity for red light, because of the eye's chromatic aberration. 8. Two theories are offered to account for the retinal layering. Either the spider uses different layers to examine maximally sharp images of objects at different dis tances; or each layer exploits the sharpest image of distant objects, but for light of different wavelengths. 9. Optical considerations indicate that either theory is possible, but the seconds (wavelength) theory is the more probable, because jumping spiders are known to possess colour vision. It predicts that layer 1 receptors contain red-sensitive, layer 2 blue-green sensitive and layer 3 violet-ultraviolet Sensitive pigments. 10. The structural peculiarities of the most superficial layer (4), and the fact that it is not conjugate with any plane in front of the animal for any visible wavelength, suggest that it is not resolving an image, but performing some other function. Reasons are given for thinking that this might be the analysis of the pattern of polarization of skylight.

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