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Gilad A. Wide-field imaging in behaving mice as a tool to study cognitive function. NEUROPHOTONICS 2024; 11:033404. [PMID: 38384657 PMCID: PMC10879934 DOI: 10.1117/1.nph.11.3.033404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Cognitive functions are mediated through coordinated and dynamic neuronal responses that involve many different areas across the brain. Therefore, it is of high interest to simultaneously record neuronal activity from as many brain areas as possible while the subject performs a cognitive behavioral task. One of the emerging tools to achieve a mesoscopic field of view is wide-field imaging of cortex-wide dynamics in mice. Wide-field imaging is cost-effective, user-friendly, and enables obtaining cortex-wide signals from mice performing complex and demanding cognitive tasks. Importantly, wide-field imaging offers an unbiased cortex-wide observation that sheds light on overlooked cortical regions and highlights parallel processing circuits. Recent wide-field imaging studies have shown that multi-area cortex-wide patterns, rather than just a single area, are involved in encoding cognitive functions. The optical properties of wide-field imaging enable imaging of different brain signals, such as layer-specific, inhibitory subtypes, or neuromodulation signals. Here, I review the main advantages of wide-field imaging in mice, review the recent literature, and discuss future directions of the field. It is expected that wide-field imaging in behaving mice will continue to gain popularity and aid in understanding the mesoscale dynamics underlying cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel Gilad
- Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Department of Medical Neurobiology, Faculty of Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel
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2
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McFarlan AR, Guo C, Gomez I, Weinerman C, Liang TA, Sjöström PJ. The spike-timing-dependent plasticity of VIP interneurons in motor cortex. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1389094. [PMID: 38706517 PMCID: PMC11066220 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1389094] [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: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The plasticity of inhibitory interneurons (INs) plays an important role in the organization and maintenance of cortical microcircuits. Given the many different IN types, there is an even greater diversity in synapse-type-specific plasticity learning rules at excitatory to excitatory (E→I), I→E, and I→I synapses. I→I synapses play a key disinhibitory role in cortical circuits. Because they typically target other INs, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) INs are often featured in I→I→E disinhibition, which upregulates activity in nearby excitatory neurons. VIP IN dysregulation may thus lead to neuropathologies such as epilepsy. In spite of the important activity regulatory role of VIP INs, their long-term plasticity has not been described. Therefore, we characterized the phenomenology of spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) at inputs and outputs of genetically defined VIP INs. Using a combination of whole-cell recording, 2-photon microscopy, and optogenetics, we explored I→I STDP at layer 2/3 (L2/3) VIP IN outputs onto L5 Martinotti cells (MCs) and basket cells (BCs). We found that VIP IN→MC synapses underwent causal long-term depression (LTD) that was presynaptically expressed. VIP IN→BC connections, however, did not undergo any detectable plasticity. Conversely, using extracellular stimulation, we explored E→I STDP at inputs to VIP INs which revealed long-term potentiation (LTP) for both causal and acausal timings. Taken together, our results demonstrate that VIP INs possess synapse-type-specific learning rules at their inputs and outputs. This suggests the possibility of harnessing VIP IN long-term plasticity to control activity-related neuropathologies such as epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda R. McFarlan
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, BRaIN Program, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Connie Guo
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, BRaIN Program, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Isabella Gomez
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, BRaIN Program, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Chaim Weinerman
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, BRaIN Program, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Tasha A. Liang
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, BRaIN Program, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - P. Jesper Sjöström
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, BRaIN Program, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
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3
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Dunton KL, Hedrick NG, Meamardoost S, Ren C, Howe JR, Wang J, Root CM, Gunawan R, Komiyama T, Zhang Y, Hwang EJ. Divergent Learning-Related Transcriptional States of Cortical Glutamatergic Neurons. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e0302232023. [PMID: 38238073 PMCID: PMC10919205 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0302-23.2023] [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: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Experience-dependent gene expression reshapes neural circuits, permitting the learning of knowledge and skills. Most learning involves repetitive experiences during which neurons undergo multiple stages of functional and structural plasticity. Currently, the diversity of transcriptional responses underlying dynamic plasticity during repetition-based learning is poorly understood. To close this gap, we analyzed single-nucleus transcriptomes of L2/3 glutamatergic neurons of the primary motor cortex after 3 d motor skill training or home cage control in water-restricted male mice. "Train" and "control" neurons could be discriminated with high accuracy based on expression patterns of many genes, indicating that recent experience leaves a widespread transcriptional signature across L2/3 neurons. These discriminating genes exhibited divergent modes of coregulation, differentiating neurons into discrete clusters of transcriptional states. Several states showed gene expressions associated with activity-dependent plasticity. Some of these states were also prominent in the previously published reference, suggesting that they represent both spontaneous and task-related plasticity events. Markedly, however, two states were unique to our dataset. The first state, further enriched by motor training, showed gene expression suggestive of late-stage plasticity with repeated activation, which is suitable for expected emergent neuronal ensembles that stably retain motor learning. The second state, equally found in both train and control mice, showed elevated levels of metabolic pathways and norepinephrine sensitivity, suggesting a response to common experiences specific to our experimental conditions, such as water restriction or circadian rhythm. Together, we uncovered divergent transcriptional responses across L2/3 neurons, each potentially linked with distinct features of repetition-based motor learning such as plasticity, memory, and motivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie L Dunton
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, College of the Environment and Life Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston 02881, Rhode Island
| | - Nathan G Hedrick
- Department of Neurobiology, Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, Department of Neurosciences, and Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla 92093, California
| | - Saber Meamardoost
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at Buffalo-SUNY, Buffalo 14260, New York
| | - Chi Ren
- Department of Neurobiology, Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, Department of Neurosciences, and Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla 92093, California
| | - James R Howe
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla 92093, California
- Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla 92093, California
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, College of the Environment and Life Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston 02881, Rhode Island
| | - Cory M Root
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla 92093, California
| | - Rudiyanto Gunawan
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at Buffalo-SUNY, Buffalo 14260, New York
| | - Takaki Komiyama
- Department of Neurobiology, Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, Department of Neurosciences, and Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla 92093, California
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, College of the Environment and Life Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston 02881, Rhode Island
| | - Eun Jung Hwang
- Department of Neurobiology, Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, Department of Neurosciences, and Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla 92093, California
- Cell Biology and Anatomy, Chicago Medical School, Stanson Toshok Center for Brain Function and Repair, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago 60064, Illinois
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4
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Huang S, Wu SJ, Sansone G, Ibrahim LA, Fishell G. Layer 1 neocortex: Gating and integrating multidimensional signals. Neuron 2024; 112:184-200. [PMID: 37913772 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.09.041] [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: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Layer 1 (L1) of the neocortex acts as a nexus for the collection and processing of widespread information. By integrating ascending inputs with extensive top-down activity, this layer likely provides critical information regulating how the perception of sensory inputs is reconciled with expectation. This is accomplished by sorting, directing, and integrating the complex network of excitatory inputs that converge onto L1. These signals are combined with neuromodulatory afferents and gated by the wealth of inhibitory interneurons that either are embedded within L1 or send axons from other cortical layers. Together, these interactions dynamically calibrate information flow throughout the neocortex. This review will primarily focus on L1 within the primary sensory cortex and will use these insights to understand L1 in other cortical areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuhan Huang
- Harvard Medical School, Blavatnik Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Program in Neuroscience, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Sherry Jingjing Wu
- Harvard Medical School, Blavatnik Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Giulia Sansone
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Leena Ali Ibrahim
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
| | - Gord Fishell
- Harvard Medical School, Blavatnik Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
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5
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Sohn J. Synaptic configuration and reconfiguration in the neocortex are spatiotemporally selective. Anat Sci Int 2024; 99:17-33. [PMID: 37837522 PMCID: PMC10771605 DOI: 10.1007/s12565-023-00743-5] [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: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
Brain computation relies on the neural networks. Neurons extend the neurites such as dendrites and axons, and the contacts of these neurites that form chemical synapses are the biological basis of signal transmissions in the central nervous system. Individual neuronal outputs can influence the other neurons within the range of the axonal spread, while the activities of single neurons can be affected by the afferents in their somatodendritic fields. The morphological profile, therefore, binds the functional role each neuron can play. In addition, synaptic connectivity among neurons displays preference based on the characteristics of presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons. Here, the author reviews the "spatial" and "temporal" connection selectivity in the neocortex. The histological description of the neocortical circuitry depends primarily on the classification of cell types, and the development of gene engineering techniques allows the cell type-specific visualization of dendrites and axons as well as somata. Using genetic labeling of particular cell populations combined with immunohistochemistry and imaging at a subcellular spatial resolution, we revealed the "spatial selectivity" of cortical wirings in which synapses are non-uniformly distributed on the subcellular somatodendritic domains in a presynaptic cell type-specific manner. In addition, cortical synaptic dynamics in learning exhibit presynaptic cell type-dependent "temporal selectivity": corticocortical synapses appear only transiently during the learning phase, while learning-induced new thalamocortical synapses persist, indicating that distinct circuits may supervise learning-specific ephemeral synapse and memory-specific immortal synapse formation. The selectivity of spatial configuration and temporal reconfiguration in the neural circuitry may govern diverse functions in the neocortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaerin Sohn
- Department of Systematic Anatomy and Neurobiology, Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
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6
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Rahmatullah N, Schmitt LM, De Stefano L, Post S, Robledo J, Chaudhari G, Pedapati E, Erickson C, Portera-Cailliau C, Goel A. Hypersensitivity to Distractors in Fragile X Syndrome from Loss of Modulation of Cortical VIP Interneurons. J Neurosci 2023; 43:8172-8188. [PMID: 37816596 PMCID: PMC10697397 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0571-23.2023] [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: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Attention deficit is one of the most prominent and disabling symptoms in Fragile X syndrome (FXS). Hypersensitivity to sensory stimuli contributes to attention difficulties by overwhelming and/or distracting affected individuals, which disrupts activities of daily living at home and learning at school. We find that auditory or visual distractors selectively impair visual discrimination performance in humans and mice with FXS but not in typically developing controls. In both species, males and females were examined. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) neurons were significantly modulated by incorrect responses in the poststimulus period during early distractor trials in WT mice, consistent with their known role as error signals. Strikingly, however, VIP cells from Fmr1 -/- mice showed little modulation in error trials, and this correlated with their poor performance on the distractor task. Thus, VIP interneurons and their reduced modulatory influence on pyramidal cells could be a potential therapeutic target for attentional difficulties in FXS.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Sensory hypersensitivity, impulsivity, and persistent inattention are among the most consistent clinical features of FXS, all of which impede daily functioning and create barriers to learning. However, the neural mechanisms underlying sensory over-reactivity remain elusive. To overcome a significant challenge in translational FXS research we demonstrate a compelling alignment of sensory over-reactivity in both humans with FXS and Fmr1 -/- mice (the principal animal model of FXS) using a novel analogous distractor task. Two-photon microscopy in mice revealed that lack of modulation by VIP cells contributes to susceptibility to distractors. Implementing research efforts we describe here can help identify dysfunctional neural mechanisms associated not only with sensory issues but broader impairments, including those in learning and cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noorhan Rahmatullah
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California 92521
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California 92521
| | - Lauren M Schmitt
- Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati OH 45267
| | - Lisa De Stefano
- Department of Psychiatry, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnatti, Ohio 45267
| | - Sam Post
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California 92521
| | - Jessica Robledo
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California 92521
| | - Gunvant Chaudhari
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Ernest Pedapati
- Department of Psychiatry, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnatti, Ohio 45267
- Department of Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnatti, Ohio 45267
| | - Craig Erickson
- Department of Psychiatry, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnatti, Ohio 45267
| | - Carlos Portera-Cailliau
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Anubhuti Goel
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California 92521
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California 92521
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Kogan E, Lu J, Zuo Y. Cortical circuit dynamics underlying motor skill learning: from rodents to humans. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1292685. [PMID: 37965043 PMCID: PMC10641381 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1292685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Motor learning is crucial for the survival of many animals. Acquiring a new motor skill involves complex alterations in both local neural circuits in many brain regions and long-range connections between them. Such changes can be observed anatomically and functionally. The primary motor cortex (M1) integrates information from diverse brain regions and plays a pivotal role in the acquisition and refinement of new motor skills. In this review, we discuss how motor learning affects the M1 at synaptic, cellular, and circuit levels. Wherever applicable, we attempt to relate and compare findings in humans, non-human primates, and rodents. Understanding the underlying principles shared by different species will deepen our understanding of the neurobiological and computational basis of motor learning.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yi Zuo
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
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8
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Hernández-Frausto M, Bilash OM, Masurkar AV, Basu J. Local and long-range GABAergic circuits in hippocampal area CA1 and their link to Alzheimer's disease. Front Neural Circuits 2023; 17:1223891. [PMID: 37841892 PMCID: PMC10570439 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2023.1223891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
GABAergic inhibitory neurons are the principal source of inhibition in the brain. Traditionally, their role in maintaining the balance of excitation-inhibition has been emphasized. Beyond homeostatic functions, recent circuit mapping and functional manipulation studies have revealed a wide range of specific roles that GABAergic circuits play in dynamically tilting excitation-inhibition coupling across spatio-temporal scales. These span from gating of compartment- and input-specific signaling, gain modulation, shaping input-output functions and synaptic plasticity, to generating signal-to-noise contrast, defining temporal windows for integration and rate codes, as well as organizing neural assemblies, and coordinating inter-regional synchrony. GABAergic circuits are thus instrumental in controlling single-neuron computations and behaviorally-linked network activity. The activity dependent modulation of sensory and mnemonic information processing by GABAergic circuits is pivotal for the formation and maintenance of episodic memories in the hippocampus. Here, we present an overview of the local and long-range GABAergic circuits that modulate the dynamics of excitation-inhibition and disinhibition in the main output area of the hippocampus CA1, which is crucial for episodic memory. Specifically, we link recent findings pertaining to GABAergic neuron molecular markers, electrophysiological properties, and synaptic wiring with their function at the circuit level. Lastly, given that area CA1 is particularly impaired during early stages of Alzheimer's disease, we emphasize how these GABAergic circuits may contribute to and be involved in the pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Hernández-Frausto
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Olesia M. Bilash
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, United States
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Arjun V. Masurkar
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Center for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jayeeta Basu
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY, United States
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Ferguson KA, Salameh J, Alba C, Selwyn H, Barnes C, Lohani S, Cardin JA. VIP interneurons regulate cortical size tuning and visual perception. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113088. [PMID: 37682710 PMCID: PMC10618959 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113088] [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: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Cortical circuit function is regulated by extensively interconnected, diverse populations of GABAergic interneurons that may play key roles in shaping circuit operation according to behavioral context. A specialized population of interneurons that co-express vasoactive intestinal peptides (VIP-INs) are activated during arousal and innervate other INs and pyramidal neurons (PNs). Although state-dependent modulation of VIP-INs has been extensively studied, their role in regulating sensory processing is less well understood. We examined the impact of VIP-INs in the primary visual cortex of awake behaving mice. Loss of VIP-IN activity alters the behavioral state-dependent modulation of somatostatin-expressing INs (SST-INs) but not PNs. In contrast, reduced VIP-IN activity globally disrupts visual feature selectivity for stimulus size. Moreover, the impact of VIP-INs on perceptual behavior varies with context and is more acute for small than large visual cues. VIP-INs thus contribute to both state-dependent modulation of cortical activity and sensory context-dependent perceptual performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie A Ferguson
- Department of Neuroscience, Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Jenna Salameh
- Department of Neuroscience, Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Christopher Alba
- Department of Neuroscience, Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Hannah Selwyn
- Department of Neuroscience, Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Clayton Barnes
- Department of Neuroscience, Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Sweyta Lohani
- Department of Neuroscience, Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Jessica A Cardin
- Department of Neuroscience, Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
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Dai J, Sun QQ. Learning induced neuronal identity switch in the superficial layers of the primary somatosensory cortex. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.30.555603. [PMID: 37693620 PMCID: PMC10491147 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.30.555603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
During learning, multi-dimensional inputs are integrated within the sensory cortices. However, the strategies by which the sensory cortex employs to achieve learning remains poorly understood. We studied the sensory cortical neuronal coding of trace eyeblink conditioning (TEC) in head-fixed, freely running mice, where whisker deflection was used as a conditioned stimulus (CS) and an air puff to the cornea delivered after an interval was used as unconditioned stimulus (US). After training, mice learned the task with a set of stereotypical behavioral changes, most prominent ones include prolonged closure of eyelids, and increased reverse running between CS and US onset. The local blockade of the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) activities with muscimol abolished the behavior learning suggesting that S1 is required for the TEC. In naive animals, based on the response properties to the CS and US, identities of the small proportion (~20%) of responsive primary neurons (PNs) were divided into two subtypes: CR (i.e. CS-responsive) and UR neurons (i.e. US-responsive). After animals learned the task, identity of CR and UR neurons changed: while the CR neurons are less responsive to CS, UR neurons gain responsiveness to CS, a new phenomenon we defined as 'learning induced neuronal identity switch (LINIS)'. To explore the potential mechanisms underlying LINIS, we found that systemic and local (i.e. in S1) administration of the nicotinic receptor antagonist during TEC training blocked the LINIS, and concomitantly disrupted the behavior learning. Additionally, we monitored responses of two types of cortical interneurons (INs) and observed that the responses of the somatostatin-expressing (SST), but not parvalbumin-expressing (PV) INs are negatively correlated with the learning performance, suggesting that SST-INs contribute to the LINIS. Thus, we conclude that L2/3 PNs in S1 encode perceptual learning by LINIS like mechanisms, and cholinergic pathways and cortical SST interneurons are involved in the formation of LINIS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaman Dai
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY82071, USA
- Wyoming Sensory Biology Center of Biomedical Research Excellence, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY82071, USA
| | - Qian-Quan Sun
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY82071, USA
- Wyoming Sensory Biology Center of Biomedical Research Excellence, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY82071, USA
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11
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Arroyo S, Barati S, Kim K, Aparicio F, Ganguly K. Emergence of preparatory dynamics in VIP interneurons during motor learning. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112834. [PMID: 37467107 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112834] [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: 11/06/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
To determine what actions to perform in each context, animals must learn how to execute motor programs in response to sensory cues. In rodents, the interface between sensory processing and motor planning occurs in the secondary motor cortex (M2). Here, we investigate dynamics in vasointestinal peptide (VIP) and somatostatin (SST) interneurons in M2 during acquisition of a cue-based, reach-to-grasp (RTG) task in mice. We observe the emergence of preparatory activity consisting of sensory responses and ramping activation in a subset of VIP interneurons during motor learning. We show that preparatory and movement activities in VIP neurons exhibit compartmentalized dynamics, with principal component 1 (PC1) and PC2 reflecting primarily movement and preparatory activity, respectively. In contrast, we observe later and more synchronous activation of SST neurons during the movement epoch with learning. Our results reveal how VIP population dynamics might support sensorimotor learning and compartmentalization of sensory processing and movement execution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Arroyo
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Sapeeda Barati
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Kyungsoo Kim
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Francisco Aparicio
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Karunesh Ganguly
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Neurology Service, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA.
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12
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Ramamurthy DL, Chen A, Zhou J, Park C, Huang PC, Bharghavan P, Krishna G, Liu J, Casale K, Feldman DE. VIP interneurons in sensory cortex encode sensory and action signals but not direct reward signals. Curr Biol 2023; 33:3398-3408.e7. [PMID: 37499665 PMCID: PMC10528032 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.06.086] [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: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) interneurons in sensory cortex modulate sensory responses based on global exploratory behavior and arousal state, but their function during non-exploratory, goal-directed behavior is not well understood. In particular, whether VIP cells are activated by sensory cues, reward-seeking actions, or directly by reinforcement is unclear. We trained mice on a Go/NoGo whisker touch detection task that included a delay period and other features designed to separate sensory-evoked, action-related, and reward-related neural activity. Mice had to lick in response to a whisker stimulus to receive a variable-sized reward. Using two-photon calcium imaging, we measured ΔF/F responses of L2/3 VIP neurons in whisker somatosensory cortex (S1) during behavior. In both expert and novice mice, VIP cells were strongly activated by whisker stimuli and goal-directed actions (licking), but not by reinforcement. VIP cells showed somatotopic whisker tuning that was spatially organized relative to anatomical columns in S1, unlike lick-related signals which were spatially widespread. In expert mice, lick-related VIP responses were suppressed, not enhanced, when a reward was delivered, and the amount of suppression increased with reward size. This reward-related suppression was not seen in novice mice, where reward delivery was not yoked to licking. These results indicate that besides arousal and global state variables, VIP cells are activated by local sensory features and goal-directed actions, but not directly by reinforcement. Instead, our results are consistent with a role for VIP cells in encoding the expectation of reward associated with motor actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepa L Ramamurthy
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3200, USA.
| | - Andrew Chen
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3200, USA
| | - Jiayu Zhou
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3200, USA
| | - Chanbin Park
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3200, USA
| | - Patrick C Huang
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3200, USA
| | - Priyanka Bharghavan
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3200, USA
| | - Gayathri Krishna
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3200, USA
| | - Jinjian Liu
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3200, USA
| | - Kayla Casale
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3200, USA
| | - Daniel E Feldman
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3200, USA.
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13
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Greene AS, Horien C, Barson D, Scheinost D, Constable RT. Why is everyone talking about brain state? Trends Neurosci 2023; 46:508-524. [PMID: 37164869 PMCID: PMC10330476 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2023.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The rapid and coordinated propagation of neural activity across the brain provides the foundation for complex behavior and cognition. Technical advances across neuroscience subfields have advanced understanding of these dynamics, but points of convergence are often obscured by semantic differences, creating silos of subfield-specific findings. In this review we describe how a parsimonious conceptualization of brain state as the fundamental building block of whole-brain activity offers a common framework to relate findings across scales and species. We present examples of the diverse techniques commonly used to study brain states associated with physiology and higher-order cognitive processes, and discuss how integration across them will enable a more comprehensive and mechanistic characterization of the neural dynamics that are crucial to survival but are disrupted in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail S Greene
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; MD/PhD program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
| | - Corey Horien
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; MD/PhD program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
| | - Daniel Barson
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; MD/PhD program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
| | - Dustin Scheinost
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale School of Engineering and Applied Science, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Statistics and Data Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - R Todd Constable
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale School of Engineering and Applied Science, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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14
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Lee C, Côté SL, Raman N, Chaudhary H, Mercado BC, Chen SX. Whole-brain mapping of long-range inputs to the VIP-expressing inhibitory neurons in the primary motor cortex. Front Neural Circuits 2023; 17:1093066. [PMID: 37275468 PMCID: PMC10237295 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2023.1093066] [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: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The primary motor cortex (MOp) is an important site for motor skill learning. Interestingly, neurons in MOp possess reward-related activity, presumably to facilitate reward-based motor learning. While pyramidal neurons (PNs) and different subtypes of GABAergic inhibitory interneurons (INs) in MOp all undergo cell-type specific plastic changes during motor learning, the vasoactive intestinal peptide-expressing inhibitory interneurons (VIP-INs) in MOp have been shown to preferentially respond to reward and play a critical role in the early phases of motor learning by triggering local circuit plasticity. To understand how VIP-INs might integrate various streams of information, such as sensory, pre-motor, and reward-related inputs, to regulate local plasticity in MOp, we performed monosynaptic rabies tracing experiments and employed an automated cell counting pipeline to generate a comprehensive map of brain-wide inputs to VIP-INs in MOp. We then compared this input profile to the brain-wide inputs to somatostatin-expressing inhibitory interneurons (SST-INs) and parvalbumin-expressing inhibitory interneurons (PV-INs) in MOp. We found that while all cell types received major inputs from sensory, motor, and prefrontal cortical regions, as well as from various thalamic nuclei, VIP-INs received more inputs from the orbital frontal cortex (ORB) - a region associated with reinforcement learning and value predictions. Our findings provide insight on how the brain leverages microcircuit motifs by both integrating and partitioning different streams of long-range input to modulate local circuit activity and plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candice Lee
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Sandrine L. Côté
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Nima Raman
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Hritvic Chaudhary
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Bryan C. Mercado
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Simon X. Chen
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Center for Neural Dynamics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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15
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Ferguson KA, Salameh J, Alba C, Selwyn H, Barnes C, Lohani S, Cardin JA. VIP interneurons regulate cortical size tuning and visual perception. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.14.532664. [PMID: 37162871 PMCID: PMC10168200 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.14.532664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Local cortical circuit function is regulated by diverse populations of GABAergic interneurons with distinct properties and extensive interconnectivity. Inhibitory-to-inhibitory interactions between interneuron populations may play key roles in shaping circuit operation according to behavioral context. A specialized population of GABAergic interneurons that co-express vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP-INs) are activated during arousal and locomotion and innervate other local interneurons and pyramidal neurons. Although modulation of VIP-IN activity by behavioral state has been extensively studied, their role in regulating information processing and selectivity is less well understood. Using a combination of cellular imaging, short and long-term manipulation, and perceptual behavior, we examined the impact of VIP-INs on their synaptic target populations in the primary visual cortex of awake behaving mice. We find that loss of VIP-IN activity alters the behavioral state-dependent modulation of somatostatin-expressing interneurons (SST-INs) but not pyramidal neurons (PNs). In contrast, reduced VIP-IN activity disrupts visual feature selectivity for stimulus size in both populations. Inhibitory-to inhibitory interactions thus directly shape the selectivity of GABAergic interneurons for sensory stimuli. Moreover, the impact of VIP-IN activity on perceptual behavior varies with visual context and is more acute for small than large visual cues. VIP-INs thus contribute to both state-dependent modulation of cortical circuit activity and sensory context-dependent perceptual performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie A Ferguson
- Department of Neuroscience, Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510 USA
| | - Jenna Salameh
- Department of Neuroscience, Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510 USA
| | - Christopher Alba
- Department of Neuroscience, Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510 USA
| | - Hannah Selwyn
- Department of Neuroscience, Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510 USA
| | - Clayton Barnes
- Department of Neuroscience, Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510 USA
| | - Sweyta Lohani
- Department of Neuroscience, Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510 USA
| | - Jessica A Cardin
- Department of Neuroscience, Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510 USA
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16
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Rahmatullah N, Schmitt LM, De Stefano L, Post S, Robledo J, Chaudhari GR, Pedapati E, Erickson CA, Portera-Cailliau C, Goel A. Hypersensitivity to distractors in Fragile X syndrome from loss of modulation of cortical VIP interneurons. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.03.522654. [PMID: 36711901 PMCID: PMC9881942 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.03.522654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Attention deficit is one of the most prominent and disabling symptoms in Fragile X Syndrome (FXS). Hypersensitivity to sensory stimuli contributes to attention difficulties by overwhelming and/or distracting affected individuals, which disrupts activities of daily living at home and learning at school. We find that auditory or visual distractors selectively impair visual discrimination performance in both humans and mice with FXS, but not their typically developing controls. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) neurons were significantly modulated by incorrect responses in the post-stimulus period during early distractor trials in WT mice, consistent with their known role as 'error' signals. Strikingly, however, VIP cells from Fmr1-/- mice showed little modulation in error trials, and this correlated with their poor performance on the distractor task. Thus, VIP interneurons and their reduced modulatory influence on pyramidal cells, could be a potential therapeutic target for attentional difficulties in FXS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noorhan Rahmatullah
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, UC Riverside, CA
- Department of Psychology, UC Riverside, CA
| | - Lauren M. Schmitt
- Department of Psychiatry, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, OH
| | - Lisa De Stefano
- Department of Psychiatry, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, OH
| | - Sam Post
- Department of Psychology, UC Riverside, CA
| | | | | | - Ernest Pedapati
- Department of Psychiatry, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, OH
- Department of Neurology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, OH
| | - Craig A. Erickson
- Department of Psychiatry, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, OH
| | - Carlos Portera-Cailliau
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, CA
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, CA
| | - Anubhuti Goel
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, UC Riverside, CA
- Department of Psychology, UC Riverside, CA
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17
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Kida H, Kawakami R, Sakai K, Otaku H, Imamura K, Han TZ, Sakimoto Y, Mitsushima D. Motor training promotes both synaptic and intrinsic plasticity of layer V pyramidal neurons in the primary motor cortex. J Physiol 2023; 601:335-353. [PMID: 36515167 DOI: 10.1113/jp283755] [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: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Layer V neurons in the primary motor cortex (M1) are important for motor skill learning. Since pretreatment of either CNQX or APV in rat M1 layer V impaired rotor rod learning, we analysed training-induced synaptic plasticity by whole-cell patch-clamp technique in acute brain slices. Rats trained for 1 day showed a decrease in small inhibitory postsynaptic current (mIPSC) frequency and an increase in the paired-pulse ratio of evoked IPSCs, suggesting a transient decrease in presynaptic GABA release in the early phase. Rats trained for 2 days showed an increase in miniature excitatory postsynaptic current (mEPSC) amplitudes/frequency and elevated AMPA/NMDA ratios, suggesting a long-term strengthening of AMPA receptor-mediated excitatory synapses. Importantly, rotor rod performance in trained rats was correlated with the mean mEPSC amplitude and the frequency obtained from that animal. In current-clamp analysis, 1-day-trained rats transiently decreased the current-induced firing rate, while 2-day-trained rats returned to pre-training levels, suggesting dynamic changes in intrinsic properties. Furthermore, western blot analysis of layer V detected decreased phosphorylation of Ser408-409 in GABAA receptor β3 subunits in 1-day-trained rats, and increased phosphorylation of Ser831 in AMPA receptor GluA1 subunits in 2-day-trained rats. Finally, live-imaging analysis of Thy1-YFP transgenic mice showed that the training rapidly recruited a substantial number of spines for long-term plasticity in M1 layer V neurons. Taken together, these results indicate that motor training induces complex and diverse plasticity in M1 layer V pyramidal neurons. KEY POINTS: Here we examined motor training-induced synaptic and intrinsic plasticity of layer V pyramidal neurons in the primary motor cortex. The training reduced presynaptic GABA release in the early phase, but strengthened AMPA receptor-mediated excitatory synapses in the later phase: acquired motor performance after training correlated with the strength of excitatory synapses rather than inhibitory synapses. As to the intrinsic property, the training transiently decreased the firing rate in the early phase, but returned to pre-training levels in the later phase. Western blot analysis detected decreased phosphorylation of Ser408-409 in GABAA receptor β3 subunits in the acute phase, and increased phosphorylation of Ser831 in AMPA receptor GluA1 subunits in the later phase. Live-imaging analysis of Thy1-YFP transgenic mice showed rapid and long-term spine plasticity in M1 layer V neurons, suggesting training-induced increases in self-entropy per spine.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Kida
- Department of Physiology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - R Kawakami
- Department of Molecular Medicine for Pathogenesis, Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime University, Ehime, Japan
| | - K Sakai
- Department of Physiology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - H Otaku
- Department of Physiology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - K Imamura
- Department of Physiology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Thiri-Zin Han
- Department of Physiology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Y Sakimoto
- Department of Physiology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Dai Mitsushima
- Department of Physiology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi, Japan.,The Research Institute for Time Studies, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan
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18
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Szadai Z, Pi HJ, Chevy Q, Ócsai K, Albeanu DF, Chiovini B, Szalay G, Katona G, Kepecs A, Rózsa B. Cortex-wide response mode of VIP-expressing inhibitory neurons by reward and punishment. eLife 2022; 11:78815. [PMID: 36416886 PMCID: PMC9683790 DOI: 10.7554/elife.78815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Neocortex is classically divided into distinct areas, each specializing in different function, but all could benefit from reinforcement feedback to inform and update local processing. Yet it remains elusive how global signals like reward and punishment are represented in local cortical computations. Previously, we identified a cortical neuron type, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-expressing interneurons, in auditory cortex that is recruited by behavioral reinforcers and mediates disinhibitory control by inhibiting other inhibitory neurons. As the same disinhibitory cortical circuit is present virtually throughout cortex, we wondered whether VIP neurons are likewise recruited by reinforcers throughout cortex. We monitored VIP neural activity in dozens of cortical regions using three-dimensional random access two-photon microscopy and fiber photometry while mice learned an auditory discrimination task. We found that reward and punishment during initial learning produce rapid, cortex-wide activation of most VIP interneurons. This global recruitment mode showed variations in temporal dynamics in individual neurons and across areas. Neither the weak sensory tuning of VIP interneurons in visual cortex nor their arousal state modulation was fully predictive of reinforcer responses. We suggest that the global response mode of cortical VIP interneurons supports a cell-type-specific circuit mechanism by which organism-level information about reinforcers regulates local circuit processing and plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoltán Szadai
- Laboratory of 3D functional network and dendritic imaging, Institute of Experimental Medicine
- MTA-PPKE ITK-NAP B – 2p Measurement Technology Group, The Faculty of Information Technology, Pázmány Péter Catholic University
- János Szentágothai Doctoral School of Neurosciences, Semmelweis University
- BrainVisionCenter
| | - Hyun-Jae Pi
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- Volen Center for Complex Systems, Biology Department, Brandeis University
| | - Quentin Chevy
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- Departments of Neuroscience and Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine
| | - Katalin Ócsai
- MTA-PPKE ITK-NAP B – 2p Measurement Technology Group, The Faculty of Information Technology, Pázmány Péter Catholic University
- BrainVisionCenter
- Computational Systems Neuroscience Lab, Wigner Research Centre for Physics
- Department of Mathematical Geometry, Institute of Mathematics, Budapest University of Technology and Economics
| | | | - Balázs Chiovini
- Laboratory of 3D functional network and dendritic imaging, Institute of Experimental Medicine
| | - Gergely Szalay
- Laboratory of 3D functional network and dendritic imaging, Institute of Experimental Medicine
| | - Gergely Katona
- MTA-PPKE ITK-NAP B – 2p Measurement Technology Group, The Faculty of Information Technology, Pázmány Péter Catholic University
| | - Adam Kepecs
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- Departments of Neuroscience and Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine
| | - Balázs Rózsa
- Laboratory of 3D functional network and dendritic imaging, Institute of Experimental Medicine
- BrainVisionCenter
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19
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Bowles S, Hickman J, Peng X, Williamson WR, Huang R, Washington K, Donegan D, Welle CG. Vagus nerve stimulation drives selective circuit modulation through cholinergic reinforcement. Neuron 2022; 110:2867-2885.e7. [PMID: 35858623 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a neuromodulation therapy for a broad and expanding set of neurologic conditions. However, the mechanism through which VNS influences central nervous system circuitry is not well described, limiting therapeutic optimization. VNS leads to widespread brain activation, but the effects on behavior are remarkably specific, indicating plasticity unique to behaviorally engaged neural circuits. To understand how VNS can lead to specific circuit modulation, we leveraged genetic tools including optogenetics and in vivo calcium imaging in mice learning a skilled reach task. We find that VNS enhances skilled motor learning in healthy animals via a cholinergic reinforcement mechanism, producing a rapid consolidation of an expert reach trajectory. In primary motor cortex (M1), VNS drives precise temporal modulation of neurons that respond to behavioral outcome. This suggests that VNS may accelerate motor refinement in M1 via cholinergic signaling, opening new avenues for optimizing VNS to target specific disease-relevant circuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spencer Bowles
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Jordan Hickman
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Xiaoyu Peng
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - W Ryan Williamson
- IDEA Core, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Rongchen Huang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Kayden Washington
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Dane Donegan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Cristin G Welle
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
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