1
|
Cortes N, Ladret HJ, Abbas-Farishta R, Casanova C. The pulvinar as a hub of visual processing and cortical integration. Trends Neurosci 2024; 47:120-134. [PMID: 38143202 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2023.11.008] [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: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
The pulvinar nucleus of the thalamus is a crucial component of the visual system and plays significant roles in sensory processing and cognitive integration. The pulvinar's extensive connectivity with cortical regions allows for bidirectional communication, contributing to the integration of sensory information across the visual hierarchy. Recent findings underscore the pulvinar's involvement in attentional modulation, feature binding, and predictive coding. In this review, we highlight recent advances in clarifying the pulvinar's circuitry and function. We discuss the contributions of the pulvinar to signal modulation across the global cortical network and place these findings within theoretical frameworks of cortical processing, particularly the global neuronal workspace (GNW) theory and predictive coding.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nelson Cortes
- Visual Neuroscience Laboratory, School of Optometry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Hugo J Ladret
- Visual Neuroscience Laboratory, School of Optometry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada; Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone, UMR 7289, CNRS and Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, 13005, France
| | - Reza Abbas-Farishta
- Visual Neuroscience Laboratory, School of Optometry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Christian Casanova
- Visual Neuroscience Laboratory, School of Optometry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Yao S, Shi S, Zhou Q, Wang J, Du X, Takahata T, Roe AW. Functional topography of pulvinar-visual cortex networks in macaques revealed by INS-fMRI. J Comp Neurol 2023; 531:681-700. [PMID: 36740976 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The pulvinar in the macaque monkey contains three divisions: the medial pulvinar (PM), the lateral pulvinar (PL), and the inferior pulvinar (PI). Anatomical studies have shown that connections of PM are preferentially distributed to higher association areas, those of PL are biased toward the ventral visual pathway, and those of PI are biased with the dorsal visual pathway. To study functional connections of the pulvinar at mesoscale, we used a novel method called INS-fMRI (infrared neural stimulation and functional magnetic resonance imaging). This method permits studies and comparisons of multiple pulvinar networks within single animals. As previously revealed, stimulations of different sites in PL and PI produced topographically organized focal activations in visual areas V1, V2, and V3. In contrast, PM stimulation elicited little or diffuse response. The relative activations of areas V1, V2, V3A, V3d, V3v, V4, MT, and MST revealed that connections of PL are biased to ventral pathway areas, and those of PI are biased to dorsal areas. Different statistical values of activated blood-oxygen-level-dependent responses produced the same center of activation, indicating stability of connectivity; it also suggests possible dynamics of broad to focal responses from single stimulation sites. These results demonstrate that infrared neural stimulation-induced connectivity is largely consistent with previous anatomical connectivity studies, thereby demonstrating validity of our novel method. In addition, it suggests additional interpretations of functional connectivity to complement anatomical studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Songping Yao
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Sunhang Shi
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qiuying Zhou
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Neurology and Ophthalmology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jianbao Wang
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiao Du
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Toru Takahata
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Neurology and Ophthalmology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Anna Wang Roe
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Neurosurgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Santana NNM, Silva EHA, dos Santos SF, Costa MSMO, Nascimento Junior ES, Engelberth RCJG, Cavalcante JS. Retinorecipient areas in the common marmoset ( Callithrix jacchus): An image-forming and non-image forming circuitry. Front Neural Circuits 2023; 17:1088686. [PMID: 36817647 PMCID: PMC9932520 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2023.1088686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The mammalian retina captures a multitude of diverse features from the external environment and conveys them via the optic nerve to a myriad of retinorecipient nuclei. Understanding how retinal signals act in distinct brain functions is one of the most central and established goals of neuroscience. Using the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), a monkey from Northeastern Brazil, as an animal model for parsing how retinal innervation works in the brain, started decades ago due to their marmoset's small bodies, rapid reproduction rate, and brain features. In the course of that research, a large amount of new and sophisticated neuroanatomical techniques was developed and employed to explain retinal connectivity. As a consequence, image and non-image-forming regions, functions, and pathways, as well as retinal cell types were described. Image-forming circuits give rise directly to vision, while the non-image-forming territories support circadian physiological processes, although part of their functional significance is uncertain. Here, we reviewed the current state of knowledge concerning retinal circuitry in marmosets from neuroanatomical investigations. We have also highlighted the aspects of marmoset retinal circuitry that remain obscure, in addition, to identify what further research is needed to better understand the connections and functions of retinorecipient structures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nelyane Nayara M. Santana
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology and Behavior, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Eryck H. A. Silva
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology and Behavior, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Sâmarah F. dos Santos
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology and Behavior, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Miriam S. M. O. Costa
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy, Department of Morphology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Expedito S. Nascimento Junior
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy, Department of Morphology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Rovena Clara J. G. Engelberth
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology and Behavior, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Jeferson S. Cavalcante
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology and Behavior, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil,*Correspondence: Jeferson S. Cavalcante,
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wang Q, Stepniewska I, Liao CC, Kaas JH. Thalamocortical and corticothalamic connections of multiple functional domains in posterior parietal cortex of galagos. J Comp Neurol 2023; 531:25-47. [PMID: 36117273 PMCID: PMC9754705 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
In prosimian galagos, the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) is subdivided into a number of functional domains where long-train intracortical microstimulation evoked different types of complex movements. Here, we placed anatomical tracers in multiple locations of PPC to reveal the origins and targets of thalamic connections of four PPC domains for different types of hindlimb, forelimb, or face movements. Thalamic connections of all four domains included nuclei of the motor thalamus, ventral anterior and ventral lateral nuclei, as well as parts of the sensory thalamus, the anterior pulvinar, posterior and ventral posterior superior nuclei, consistent with the sensorimotor functions of PPC domains. PPC domains also projected to the thalamic reticular nucleus in a somatotopic pattern. Quantitative differences in the distributions of labeled neurons in thalamic nuclei suggested that connectional patterns of these domains differed from each other.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qimeng Wang
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Iwona Stepniewska
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Chia-Chi Liao
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jon H Kaas
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Shine JM. Adaptively navigating affordance landscapes: How interactions between the superior colliculus and thalamus coordinate complex, adaptive behaviour. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 143:104921. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
|
6
|
Djebbara Z, Jensen OB, Parada FJ, Gramann K. Neuroscience and architecture: Modulating behavior through sensorimotor responses to the built environment. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 138:104715. [PMID: 35654280 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
As we move through the world, natural and built environments implicitly guide behavior by appealing to certain sensory and motor dynamics. This process can be motivated by automatic attention to environmental features that resonate with specific sensorimotor responses. This review aims at providing a psychobiological framework describing how environmental features can lead to automated sensorimotor responses through defined neurophysiological mechanisms underlying attention. Through the use of automated processes in subsets of cortical structures, the goal of this framework is to describe on a neuronal level the functional link between the designed environment and sensorimotor responses. By distinguishing between environmental features and sensorimotor responses we elaborate on how automatic behavior employs the environment for sensorimotor adaptation. This is realized through a thalamo-cortical network integrating environmental features with motor aspects of behavior. We highlight the underlying transthalamic transmission from an Enactive and predictive perspective and review recent studies that effectively modulated behavior by systematically manipulating environmental features. We end by suggesting a promising combination of neuroimaging and computational analysis for future studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zakaria Djebbara
- Department of Architecture, Design, Media, and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark; Biopsychology and Neuroergonomics, Technical University Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Ole B Jensen
- Department of Architecture, Design, Media, and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Francisco J Parada
- Centro de Estudios en Neurociencia Humana y Neuropsicología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
| | - Klaus Gramann
- Biopsychology and Neuroergonomics, Technical University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Rockland KS. Cytochrome oxidase "blobs": a call for more anatomy. Brain Struct Funct 2021; 226:2793-2806. [PMID: 34382115 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-021-02360-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
An ordered relation of structure and function has been a cornerstone in thinking about brain organization. Like the brain itself, however, this is not straightforward and is confounded both by functional intricacy and structural plasticity (many routes to a given outcome). As a striking case of putative structure-function correlation, this mini-review focuses on the relatively well-characterized pattern of cytochrome oxidase (CO) blobs (aka "patches" or "puffs") in the supragranular layers of macaque monkey visual cortex. The pattern is without doubt visually compelling, and the semi-dichotomous array of CO+ blobs and CO- interblobs is consistent with multiple studies reporting compartment-specific preferential connectivity and distinctive physiological response properties. Nevertheless, as briefly reviewed here, the finer anatomical organization of this system is surprisingly under-investigated, and the relation to functional aspects, therefore, unclear. Microcircuitry, cell type, and three-dimensional spatiotemporal level investigations of the CO+ CO- pattern are needed and may open new views to structure-function organization of visual cortex, and to phylogenetic and ontogenetic comparisons across nonhuman primates (NHP), and between NHP and humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen S Rockland
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord St., Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Liu Y, Hu J, Yao S, Zhou Q, Li H, Takahata T. Multiple Visuotopically Organized Subdivisions of the Lateral Pulvinar/Central Lateral Inferior Pulvinar Project into Thin and Thick Stripe Compartments of V2 in Macaques. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:3788-3803. [PMID: 33772553 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The lateral and central lateral inferior pulvinar (PL/PIcl) of primates has been implicated in playing an important role in visual processing, but its physiological and anatomical characteristics remain to be elucidated. It has been suggested that there are two complete visuotopic maps in the PL/PIcl, each of which sends afferents into V2 and V4 in primates. Given that functionally distinct thin and thick stripes of V2 both receive inputs from the PL/PIcl, this raises the possibility of a presence of parallel segregated pathways within the PL/PIcl. To address this question, we selectively injected three types of retrograde tracers (CTB-488, CTB-555, and BDA) into thin or thick stripes in V2 and examined labeling in the PL/PIcl in macaques. As a result, we found that every cluster of retrograde labeling in the PL/PIcl included all three types of signals next to each other, suggesting that thin stripe- and thick stripe-projecting compartments are not segregated into domains. Unexpectedly, we found at least five topographically organized retrograde labeling clusters in the PL/PIcl, indicating the presence of more than two V2-projecting maps. Our results suggest that the PL/PIcl exhibits greater compartmentalization than previously thought. They may be functionally similar but participate in multiple cortico-pulvinar-cortical loops.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ye Liu
- Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310029, P. R. China
| | - Jiaming Hu
- Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310029, P. R. China
| | - Songping Yao
- Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310029, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University,Hangzhou 310029, P. R. China
| | - Qiuying Zhou
- Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310029, P. R. China
| | - Hangqi Li
- Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310029, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University,Hangzhou 310029, P. R. China
| | - Toru Takahata
- Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310029, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University,Hangzhou 310029, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Untangling the cortico-thalamo-cortical loop: cellular pieces of a knotty circuit puzzle. Nat Rev Neurosci 2021; 22:389-406. [PMID: 33958775 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-021-00459-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Functions of the neocortex depend on its bidirectional communication with the thalamus, via cortico-thalamo-cortical (CTC) loops. Recent work dissecting the synaptic connectivity in these loops is generating a clearer picture of their cellular organization. Here, we review findings across sensory, motor and cognitive areas, focusing on patterns of cell type-specific synaptic connections between the major types of cortical and thalamic neurons. We outline simple and complex CTC loops, and note features of these loops that appear to be general versus specialized. CTC loops are tightly interlinked with local cortical and corticocortical (CC) circuits, forming extended chains of loops that are probably critical for communication across hierarchically organized cerebral networks. Such CTC-CC loop chains appear to constitute a modular unit of organization, serving as scaffolding for area-specific structural and functional modifications. Inhibitory neurons and circuits are embedded throughout CTC loops, shaping the flow of excitation. We consider recent findings in the context of established CTC and CC circuit models, and highlight current efforts to pinpoint cell type-specific mechanisms in CTC loops involved in consciousness and perception. As pieces of the connectivity puzzle fall increasingly into place, this knowledge can guide further efforts to understand structure-function relationships in CTC loops.
Collapse
|
10
|
Yao S, Zhou Q, Li S, Takahata T. Immunoreactivity of Vesicular Glutamate Transporter 2 Corresponds to Cytochrome Oxidase-Rich Subcompartments in the Visual Cortex of Squirrel Monkeys. Front Neuroanat 2021; 15:629473. [PMID: 33679337 PMCID: PMC7930324 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2021.629473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytochrome oxidase (CO) histochemistry has been used to reveal the cytoarchitecture of the primate brain, including blobs/puffs/patches in the striate cortex (V1), and thick, thin and pale stripes in the middle layer of the secondary visual cortex (V2). It has been suggested that CO activity is coupled with the spiking activity of neurons, implying that neurons in these CO-rich subcompartments are more active than surrounding regions. However, we have discussed possibility that CO histochemistry represents the distribution of thalamo-cortical afferent terminals that generally use vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGLUT2) as their main glutamate transporter, and not the activity of cortical neurons. In this study, we systematically compared the labeling patterns observed between CO histochemistry and immunohistochemistry (IHC) for VGLUT2 from the system to microarchitecture levels in the visual cortex of squirrel monkeys. The two staining patterns bore striking similarities at all levels of the visual cortex, including the honeycomb structure of V1 layer 3Bβ (Brodmann's layer 4A), the patchy architecture in the deep layers of V1, the superficial blobs of V1, and the V2 stripes. The microarchitecture was more evident in VGLUT2 IHC, as expected. VGLUT2 protein expression that produced specific IHC labeling is thought to originate from the thalamus since the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and the pulvinar complex both show high expression levels of VGLUT2 mRNA, but cortical neurons do not. These observations support our theory that the subcompartments revealed by CO histochemistry represent the distribution of thalamo-cortical afferent terminals in the primate visual cortex.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Songping Yao
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qiuying Zhou
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shuiyu Li
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Toru Takahata
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Turner EC, Gabi M, Liao CC, Kaas JH. The postnatal development of MT, V1, LGN, pulvinar and SC in prosimian galagos (Otolemur garnettii). J Comp Neurol 2020; 528:3075-3094. [PMID: 32067231 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Considerable evidence supports the premise that the visual system of primates develops hierarchically, with primary visual cortex developing structurally and functionally first, thereby influencing the subsequent development of higher cortical areas. An apparent exception is the higher order middle temporal visual area (MT), which appears to be histologically distinct near the time of birth in marmosets. Here we used a number of histological and immunohistological markers to evaluate the maturation of cortical and subcortical components of the visual system in galagos ranging from newborns to adults. Galagos are representative of the large strepsirrhine branch of primate evolution, and studies of these primates help identify brain features that are broadly similar across primate taxa. The histological results support the view that MT is functional at or near the time of birth, as is primary visual cortex. Likewise, the superior colliculus, dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus, and the posterior nucleus of the pulvinar are well-developed by birth. Thus, these subcortical structures likely provide visual information directly or indirectly to cortex in newborn galagos. We conclude that MT resembles a primary sensory area by developing early, and that the early development of MT may influence the subsequent development of dorsal stream visual areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily C Turner
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Mariana Gabi
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Chia-Chi Liao
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Jon H Kaas
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
de Souza BOF, Frigon ÉM, Tremblay-Laliberté R, Casanova C, Boire D. Laminar distribution of cortical projection neurons to the pulvinar: A comparative study in cats and mice. J Comp Neurol 2020; 529:2055-2069. [PMID: 33226127 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The cortical processing of visual information is thought to follow a hierarchical framework. This framework of connections between visual areas is based on the laminar patterns of direct feedforward and feedback cortico-cortical projections. However, this view ignores the cortico-thalamo-cortical projections to the pulvinar nucleus in the thalamus, which provides an alternative transthalamic information transfer between cortical areas. It was proposed that corticothalamic (CT) pathways follow a similar hierarchical pattern as cortico-cortical connections. Two main types of CT projections have been recognized: drivers and modulators. Drivers originate mainly in Layer 5 whereas modulators are from Layer 6. Little is known about the laminar distribution of these projections to the pulvinar across visual cortical areas. Here, we analyzed the distribution of CT neurons projecting to the lateral posterior (LP) thalamus in two species: cats and mice. Injections of the retrograde tracer fragment B of cholera toxin (CTb) were performed in the LP. The morphology and cortical laminar distribution of CTb-labeled neurons was assessed. In cats, neurons were mostly found in Layer 6 except in Area 17, where they were mostly in Layer 5. In contrast, CT neurons in mice were mostly located in Layer 6 across all areas. Thus, our results demonstrate that CT projections in mice do not follow the same organization as cats suggesting that the transthalamic pathways play distinct roles in these species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Éve-Marie Frigon
- Département d'Anatomie, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
| | | | | | - Denis Boire
- Département d'Anatomie, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada.,École d'Optométrie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Arafune-Mishima A, Abe H, Tani T, Mashiko H, Watanabe S, Sakai K, Suzuki W, Mizukami H, Watakabe A, Yamamori T, Ichinohe N. Axonal Projections from Middle Temporal Area to the Pulvinar in the Common Marmoset. Neuroscience 2020; 446:145-156. [PMID: 32866602 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.08.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The pulvinar, the largest thalamic nucleus in the primate brain, has connections with a variety of cortical areas and is involved in many aspects of higher brain functions. Among cortico-pulvino-cortical systems, the connection between the middle temporal area (MT) and the pulvinar has been thought to contribute significantly to complex motion recognition. Recently, the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), has become a valuable model for a variety of neuroscience studies, including visual neuroscience and translational research of neurological and psychiatric disorders. However, information on projections from MT to the pulvinar in the marmoset brain is scant. We addressed this deficiency by injecting sensitive anterograde viral tracers into MT to examine the distribution of labeled terminations in the pulvinar. The injection sites were placed retinotopically according to visual field coordinates mapped by optical intrinsic imaging. All injections produced anterograde terminal labeling, which was densest in the medial nucleus of the inferior pulvinar (PIm), sparser in the central nucleus of the inferior pulvinar, and weakest in the lateral pulvinar. Within each subnucleus, terminations formed separate retinotopic fields. Most labeled terminals were small but these comingled with a few large terminals, distributed mainly in the dorsomedial part of the PIm. Our results further delineate the organization of projections from MT to the pulvinar in the marmoset as forming parallel complex networks, which may differentially contribute to motion processing. It is interesting that the densest projections from MT target the PIm, the subnucleus recently reported to preferentially receive direct retinal projections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Akira Arafune-Mishima
- Department of Ultrastructural Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan; Department of NCNP Brain Physiology and Pathology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Abe
- Laboratory for Molecular Analysis of Higher Brain Function, Center for Brain Science, RIKEN, Saitama, Japan
| | - Toshiki Tani
- Laboratory for Molecular Analysis of Higher Brain Function, Center for Brain Science, RIKEN, Saitama, Japan
| | - Hiromi Mashiko
- Laboratory for Molecular Analysis of Higher Brain Function, Center for Brain Science, RIKEN, Saitama, Japan
| | - Satoshi Watanabe
- Department of Ultrastructural Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuhisa Sakai
- Department of Ultrastructural Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Wataru Suzuki
- Department of Ultrastructural Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Mizukami
- Division of Genetic Therapeutics, Center for Molecular Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Akiya Watakabe
- Laboratory for Molecular Analysis of Higher Brain Function, Center for Brain Science, RIKEN, Saitama, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Yamamori
- Laboratory for Molecular Analysis of Higher Brain Function, Center for Brain Science, RIKEN, Saitama, Japan
| | - Noritaka Ichinohe
- Department of Ultrastructural Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan; Ichinohe Group, Laboratory for Molecular Analysis of Higher Brain Function, Center for Brain Science, RIKEN, Saitama, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Scholl LR, Foik AT, Lyon DC. Projections between visual cortex and pulvinar in the rat. J Comp Neurol 2020; 529:129-140. [PMID: 32361987 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The extrageniculate visual pathway, which carries visual information from the retina through the superficial layers of the superior colliculus and the pulvinar, is poorly understood. The pulvinar is thought to modulate information flow between cortical areas, and has been implicated in cognitive tasks like directing visually guided actions. In order to better understand the underlying circuitry, we performed retrograde injections of modified rabies virus in the visual cortex and pulvinar of the Long-Evans rat. We found a relatively small population of cells projecting to primary visual cortex (V1), compared to a much larger population projecting to higher visual cortex. Reciprocal corticothalamic projections showed a similar result, implying that pulvinar does not play as big a role in directly modulating rodent V1 activity as previously thought.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leo R Scholl
- Department of Cognitive Sciences, School of Social Sciences, University of California, Irvine, California, USA.,Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Andrzej T Foik
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - David C Lyon
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Rockland KS. What we can learn from the complex architecture of single axons. Brain Struct Funct 2020; 225:1327-1347. [DOI: 10.1007/s00429-019-02023-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
|
16
|
Kaas JH, Baldwin MKL. The Evolution of the Pulvinar Complex in Primates and Its Role in the Dorsal and Ventral Streams of Cortical Processing. Vision (Basel) 2019; 4:E3. [PMID: 31905909 PMCID: PMC7157193 DOI: 10.3390/vision4010003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Current evidence supports the view that the visual pulvinar of primates consists of at least five nuclei, with two large nuclei, lateral pulvinar ventrolateral (PLvl) and central lateral nucleus of the inferior pulvinar (PIcl), contributing mainly to the ventral stream of cortical processing for perception, and three smaller nuclei, posterior nucleus of the inferior pulvinar (PIp), medial nucleus of the inferior pulvinar (PIm), and central medial nucleus of the inferior pulvinar (PIcm), projecting to dorsal stream visual areas for visually directed actions. In primates, both cortical streams are highly dependent on visual information distributed from primary visual cortex (V1). This area is so vital to vision that patients with V1 lesions are considered "cortically blind". When the V1 inputs to dorsal stream area middle temporal visual area (MT) are absent, other dorsal stream areas receive visual information relayed from the superior colliculus via PIp and PIcm, thereby preserving some dorsal stream functions, a phenomenon called "blind sight". Non-primate mammals do not have a dorsal stream area MT with V1 inputs, but superior colliculus inputs to temporal cortex can be more significant and more visual functions are preserved when V1 input is disrupted. The current review will discuss how the different visual streams, especially the dorsal stream, have changed during primate evolution and we propose which features are retained from the common ancestor of primates and their close relatives.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jon H. Kaas
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37240, USA
| | - Mary K. L. Baldwin
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA 95618, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Saraf MP, Balaram P, Pifferi F, Kennedy H, Kaas JH. The sensory thalamus and visual midbrain in mouse lemurs. J Comp Neurol 2019; 527:2599-2611. [PMID: 30927368 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Revised: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Mouse lemurs are the smallest of extant primates and are thought to resemble early primates in many ways. We provide histological descriptions of the major sensory nuclei of the dorsal thalamus and the superior colliculus (SC) of mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus). The dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus has the six layers typical of strepsirrhine primates, with matching pairs of magnocellular, parvocellular, and koniocellular layers, one of each pair for each eye. Unlike most primates, magnocellular and parvocellular layers exhibit only small differences in cell size. All layers express vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGLUT2), reflecting terminations of retinal inputs, and the expression of VGLUT2 is much less dense in the koniocellular layers. Parvalbumin is densely expressed in all layers, while SMI-32 is densely expressed only in the magnocellular layers. The adjoining pulvinar complex has a posterior nucleus with strong VGLUT2 expression, reflecting terminations from the SC. The SC is laminated with dense expression of VGLUT2 in the upper superficial gray layer, reflecting terminations from the retina. The ventral (MGNv), medial, and dorsal divisions of the medial geniculate complex are only moderately differentiated, although patches of dense VGLUT2 expression are found along the outer border of MGNv. The ventroposterior nucleus has darkly stained cells in Nissl stained sections, and narrow septa separating patchy regions of dense VGLUT2 expression that likely represent different body parts. Overall, these structures resemble those in other strepsirrhine primates, although they are smaller, with the sensory nuclei appearing to occupy proportionately more of the dorsal thalamus than in larger primates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mansi P Saraf
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Pooja Balaram
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Fabien Pifferi
- MECADEV UMR 7179, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Brunoy, France
| | - Henry Kennedy
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Inserm, Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute U1208, Bron, France.,Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, Chinese Academy of Science (CAS), Shanghai, China
| | - Jon H Kaas
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| |
Collapse
|