1
|
Gardères PM, Le Gal S, Rousseau C, Mamane A, Ganea DA, Haiss F. Coexistence of state, choice, and sensory integration coding in barrel cortex LII/III. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4782. [PMID: 38839747 PMCID: PMC11153558 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49129-9] [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: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
During perceptually guided decisions, correlates of choice are found as upstream as in the primary sensory areas. However, how well these choice signals align with early sensory representations, a prerequisite for their interpretation as feedforward substrates of perception, remains an open question. We designed a two alternative forced choice task (2AFC) in which male mice compared stimulation frequencies applied to two adjacent vibrissae. The optogenetic silencing of individual columns in the primary somatosensory cortex (wS1) resulted in predicted shifts of psychometric functions, demonstrating that perception depends on focal, early sensory representations. Functional imaging of layer II/III single neurons revealed mixed coding of stimuli, choices and engagement in the task. Neurons with multi-whisker suppression display improved sensory discrimination and had their activity increased during engagement in the task, enhancing selectively representation of the signals relevant to solving the task. From trial to trial, representation of stimuli and choice varied substantially, but mostly orthogonally to each other, suggesting that perceptual variability does not originate from wS1 fluctuations but rather from downstream areas. Together, our results highlight the role of primary sensory areas in forming a reliable sensory substrate that could be used for flexible downstream decision processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Marie Gardères
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Unit of Neural Circuits Dynamics and Decision Making, F-75015, Paris, France.
- IZKF Aachen, Medical School, RWTH Aachen University, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Sébastien Le Gal
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Unit of Neural Circuits Dynamics and Decision Making, F-75015, Paris, France
| | - Charly Rousseau
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Unit of Neural Circuits Dynamics and Decision Making, F-75015, Paris, France
| | - Alexandre Mamane
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Unit of Neural Circuits Dynamics and Decision Making, F-75015, Paris, France
| | - Dan Alin Ganea
- IZKF Aachen, Medical School, RWTH Aachen University, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- University of Basel, Department of Biomedicine, 4001, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Florent Haiss
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Unit of Neural Circuits Dynamics and Decision Making, F-75015, Paris, France.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mosneag IE, Flaherty SM, Wykes RC, Allan SM. Stroke and Translational Research - Review of Experimental Models with a Focus on Awake Ischaemic Induction and Anaesthesia. Neuroscience 2023:S0306-4522(23)00535-3. [PMID: 38065289 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.11.034] [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: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Animal models are an indispensable tool in the study of ischaemic stroke with hundreds of drugs emerging from the preclinical pipeline. However, all of these drugs have failed to translate into successful treatments in the clinic. This has brought into focus the need to enhance preclinical studies to improve translation. The confounding effects of anaesthesia on preclinical stroke modelling has been raised as an important consideration. Various volatile and injectable anaesthetics are used in preclinical models during stroke induction and for outcome measurements such as imaging or electrophysiology. However, anaesthetics modulate several pathways essential in the pathophysiology of stroke in a dose and drug dependent manner. Most notably, anaesthesia has significant modulatory effects on cerebral blood flow, metabolism, spreading depolarizations, and neurovascular coupling. To minimise anaesthetic complications and improve translational relevance, awake stroke induction has been attempted in limited models. This review outlines anaesthetic strategies employed in preclinical ischaemic rodent models and their reported cerebral effects. Stroke related complications are also addressed with a focus on infarct volume, neurological deficits, and thrombolysis efficacy. We also summarise routinely used focal ischaemic stroke rodent models and discuss the attempts to induce some of these models in awake rodents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ioana-Emilia Mosneag
- Division of Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom; Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.
| | - Samuel M Flaherty
- Division of Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom; Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Robert C Wykes
- Division of Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom; Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom; Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stuart M Allan
- Division of Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom; Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Narasimhan S, Schriver BJ, Wang Q. Adaptive decision-making depends on pupil-linked arousal in rats performing tactile discrimination tasks. J Neurophysiol 2023; 130:1541-1551. [PMID: 37964751 PMCID: PMC11068411 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00309.2022] [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: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Perceptual decision-making is a dynamic cognitive process and is shaped by many factors, including behavioral state, reward contingency, and sensory environment. To understand the extent to which adaptive behavior in decision-making is dependent on pupil-linked arousal, we trained head-fixed rats to perform perceptual decision-making tasks and systematically manipulated the probability of Go and No-go stimuli while simultaneously measuring their pupil size in the tasks. Our data demonstrated that the animals adaptively modified their behavior in response to the changes in the sensory environment. The response probability to both Go and No-go stimuli decreased as the probability of the Go stimulus being presented decreased. Analyses within the signal detection theory framework showed that while the animals' perceptual sensitivity was invariant, their decision criterion increased as the probability of the Go stimulus decreased. Simulation results indicated that the adaptive increase in the decision criterion will increase possible water rewards during the task. Moreover, the adaptive decision-making is dependent on pupil-linked arousal as the increase in the decision criterion was the largest during low pupil-linked arousal periods. Taken together, our results demonstrated that the rats were able to adjust their decision-making to maximize rewards in the tasks, and that adaptive behavior in perceptual decision-making is dependent on pupil-linked arousal.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Perceptual decision-making is a dynamic cognitive process and is shaped by many factors. However, the extent to which changes in sensory environment result in adaptive decision-making remains poorly understood. Our data provided new experimental evidence demonstrating that the rats were able to adaptively modify their decision criterion to maximize water reward in response to changes in the statistics of the sensory environment. Furthermore, the adaptive decision-making is dependent on pupil-linked arousal.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shreya Narasimhan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York City, New York, United States
| | - Brian J Schriver
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York City, New York, United States
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York City, New York, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Vandevelde JR, Yang JW, Albrecht S, Lam H, Kaufmann P, Luhmann HJ, Stüttgen MC. Layer- and cell-type-specific differences in neural activity in mouse barrel cortex during a whisker detection task. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:1361-1382. [PMID: 35417918 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac141] [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: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
To address the question which neocortical layers and cell types are important for the perception of a sensory stimulus, we performed multielectrode recordings in the barrel cortex of head-fixed mice performing a single-whisker go/no-go detection task with vibrotactile stimuli of differing intensities. We found that behavioral detection probability decreased gradually over the course of each session, which was well explained by a signal detection theory-based model that posits stable psychometric sensitivity and a variable decision criterion updated after each reinforcement, reflecting decreasing motivation. Analysis of multiunit activity demonstrated highest neurometric sensitivity in layer 4, which was achieved within only 30 ms after stimulus onset. At the level of single neurons, we observed substantial heterogeneity of neurometric sensitivity within and across layers, ranging from nonresponsiveness to approaching or even exceeding psychometric sensitivity. In all cortical layers, putative inhibitory interneurons on average proffered higher neurometric sensitivity than putative excitatory neurons. In infragranular layers, neurons increasing firing rate in response to stimulation featured higher sensitivities than neurons decreasing firing rate. Offline machine-learning-based analysis of videos of behavioral sessions showed that mice performed better when not moving, which at the neuronal level, was reflected by increased stimulus-evoked firing rates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jens R Vandevelde
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, 55128 Mainz, Germany.,Institute of Pathophysiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Jenq-Wei Yang
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Steffen Albrecht
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Henry Lam
- Computational Intelligence, Faculty of Law, Management and Economics, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Jakob-Welder-Weg 9, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Paul Kaufmann
- Computational Intelligence, Faculty of Law, Management and Economics, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Jakob-Welder-Weg 9, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Heiko J Luhmann
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Maik C Stüttgen
- Institute of Pathophysiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Barkus C, Bergmann C, Branco T, Carandini M, Chadderton PT, Galiñanes GL, Gilmour G, Huber D, Huxter JR, Khan AG, King AJ, Maravall M, O'Mahony T, Ragan CI, Robinson ESJ, Schaefer AT, Schultz SR, Sengpiel F, Prescott MJ. Refinements to rodent head fixation and fluid/food control for neuroscience. J Neurosci Methods 2022; 381:109705. [PMID: 36096238 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2022.109705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The use of head fixation in mice is increasingly common in research, its use having initially been restricted to the field of sensory neuroscience. Head restraint has often been combined with fluid control, rather than food restriction, to motivate behaviour, but this too is now in use for both restrained and non-restrained animals. Despite this, there is little guidance on how best to employ these techniques to optimise both scientific outcomes and animal welfare. This article summarises current practices and provides recommendations to improve animal wellbeing and data quality, based on a survey of the community, literature reviews, and the expert opinion and practical experience of an international working group convened by the UK's National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs). Topics covered include head fixation surgery and post-operative care, habituation to restraint, and the use of fluid/food control to motivate performance. We also discuss some recent developments that may offer alternative ways to collect data from large numbers of behavioural trials without the need for restraint. The aim is to provide support for researchers at all levels, animal care staff, and ethics committees to refine procedures and practices in line with the refinement principle of the 3Rs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chris Barkus
- National Centre for Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs), London, UK.
| | | | - Tiago Branco
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre, University College London, London, UK
| | - Matteo Carandini
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Paul T Chadderton
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | | | - Daniel Huber
- Department of Basic Neurosciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Adil G Khan
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Andrew J King
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Miguel Maravall
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | - Tina O'Mahony
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre, University College London, London, UK
| | - C Ian Ragan
- National Centre for Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs), London, UK
| | - Emma S J Robinson
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Andreas T Schaefer
- Sensory Circuits and Neurotechnology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK; Department of Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Simon R Schultz
- Centre for Neurotechnology and Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Mark J Prescott
- National Centre for Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs), London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Megemont M, McBurney-Lin J, Yang H. Pupil diameter is not an accurate real-time readout of locus coeruleus activity. eLife 2022; 11:70510. [PMID: 35107419 PMCID: PMC8809893 DOI: 10.7554/elife.70510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Pupil diameter is often treated as a noninvasive readout of activity in the locus coeruleus (LC). However, how accurately it can be used to index LC activity is not known. To address this question, we established a graded relationship between pupil size changes and LC spiking activity in mice, where pupil dilation increased monotonically with the number of LC spikes. However, this relationship exists with substantial variability such that pupil diameter can only be used to accurately predict a small fraction of LC activity on a moment-by-moment basis. In addition, pupil exhibited large session-to-session fluctuations in response to identical optical stimulation in the LC. The variations in the pupil–LC relationship were strongly correlated with decision bias-related behavioral variables. Together, our data show that substantial variability exists in an overall graded relationship between pupil diameter and LC activity, and further suggest that the pupil–LC relationship is dynamically modulated by brain states, supporting and extending our previous findings (Yang et al., 2021).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marine Megemont
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, United States
| | - Jim McBurney-Lin
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, United States.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, United States
| | - Hongdian Yang
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, United States.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, United States
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Chandra NS, McCarron WM, Yan Y, Ruiz LC, Sallinger EG, Birenbaum NK, Burton H, Green L, Moran DW, Ray WZ, MacEwan MR. Sensory Percepts Elicited by Chronic Macro-Sieve Electrode Stimulation of the Rat Sciatic Nerve. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:758427. [PMID: 34690689 PMCID: PMC8530229 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.758427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Intuitive control of conventional prostheses is hampered by their inability to provide the real-time tactile and proprioceptive feedback of natural sensory pathways. The macro-sieve electrode (MSE) is a candidate interface to amputees’ truncated peripheral nerves for introducing sensory feedback from external sensors to facilitate prosthetic control. Its unique geometry enables selective control of the complete nerve cross-section by current steering. Unlike previously studied interfaces that target intact nerve, the MSE’s implantation requires transection and subsequent regeneration of the target nerve. Therefore, a key determinant of the MSE’s suitability for this task is whether it can elicit sensory percepts at low current levels in the face of altered morphology and caliber distribution inherent to axon regeneration. The present in vivo study describes a combined rat sciatic nerve and behavioral model developed to answer this question. Approach: Rats learned a go/no-go detection task using auditory stimuli and then underwent surgery to implant the MSE in the sciatic nerve. After healing, they were trained with monopolar electrical stimuli with one multi-channel and eight single-channel stimulus configurations. Psychometric curves derived by the method of constant stimuli (MCS) were used to calculate 50% detection thresholds and associated psychometric slopes. Thresholds and slopes were calculated at two time points 3 weeks apart. Main Results: For the multi-channel stimulus configuration, the average current required for stimulus detection was 19.37 μA (3.87 nC) per channel. Single-channel thresholds for leads located near the nerve’s center were, on average, half those of leads located near the periphery (54.92 μA vs. 110.71 μA, or 10.98 nC vs. 22.14 nC). Longitudinally, 3 of 5 leads’ thresholds decreased or remained stable over the 3-week span. The remaining two leads’ thresholds increased by 70–74%, possibly due to scarring or device failure. Significance: This work represents an important first step in establishing the MSE’s viability as a sensory feedback interface. It further lays the groundwork for future experiments that will extend this model to the study of other devices, stimulus parameters, and task paradigms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nikhil S Chandra
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Weston M McCarron
- Department of Neurosurgery, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Ying Yan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Luis C Ruiz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Eric G Sallinger
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Nathan K Birenbaum
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Harold Burton
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Leonard Green
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Daniel W Moran
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Wilson Z Ray
- Department of Neurosurgery, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Matthew R MacEwan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Rungta RL, Zuend M, Aydin AK, Martineau É, Boido D, Weber B, Charpak S. Diversity of neurovascular coupling dynamics along vascular arbors in layer II/III somatosensory cortex. Commun Biol 2021; 4:855. [PMID: 34244604 PMCID: PMC8270975 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02382-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The spatial-temporal sequence of cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV) and blood velocity changes triggered by neuronal activation is critical for understanding functional brain imaging. This sequence follows a stereotypic pattern of changes across different zones of the vasculature in the olfactory bulb, the first relay of olfaction. However, in the cerebral cortex, where most human brain mapping studies are performed, the timing of activity evoked vascular events remains controversial. Here we utilized a single whisker stimulation model to map out functional hyperemia along vascular arbours from layer II/III to the surface of primary somatosensory cortex, in anesthetized and awake Thy1-GCaMP6 mice. We demonstrate that sensory stimulation triggers an increase in blood velocity within the mid-capillary bed and a dilation of upstream large capillaries, and the penetrating and pial arterioles. We report that under physiological stimulation, response onset times are highly variable across compartments of different vascular arbours. Furthermore, generating transfer functions (TFs) between neuronal Ca2+ and vascular dynamics across different brain states demonstrates that anesthesia decelerates neurovascular coupling (NVC). This spatial-temporal pattern of vascular events demonstrates functional diversity not only between different brain regions but also at the level of different vascular arbours within supragranular layers of the cerebral cortex.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ravi L Rungta
- INSERM U1128, Laboratory of Neurophysiology and New Microscopy, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France.
- Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
- Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherche sur le Cerveau et l'Apprentissage, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
- Groupe de Recherche sur le Système Nerveux Central, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
| | - Marc Zuend
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ali-Kemal Aydin
- INSERM U1128, Laboratory of Neurophysiology and New Microscopy, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
- INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Éric Martineau
- Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherche sur le Cerveau et l'Apprentissage, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Groupe de Recherche sur le Système Nerveux Central, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Davide Boido
- INSERM U1128, Laboratory of Neurophysiology and New Microscopy, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
- NeuroSpin, Bat. 145, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique ' Saclay Center, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Bruno Weber
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Serge Charpak
- INSERM U1128, Laboratory of Neurophysiology and New Microscopy, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France.
- INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ganea DA, Bexter A, Günther M, Gardères PM, Kampa BM, Haiss F. Pupillary Dilations of Mice Performing a Vibrotactile Discrimination Task Reflect Task Engagement and Response Confidence. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:159. [PMID: 33088265 PMCID: PMC7494826 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.00159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Pupillometry, the measure of pupil size and reactivity, has been widely used to assess cognitive processes. Changes in pupil size have been shown to correlate with various behavioral states, both externally and internally induced such as locomotion, arousal, cortical state, and decision-making processes. Besides, these pupillary responses have also been linked to the activity of neuromodulatory systems that modulate attention and perception such as the noradrenergic and cholinergic systems. Due to the extent of processes the pupil reflects, we aimed at further resolving pupillary responses in the context of behavioral state and task performance while recording pupillary transients of mice performing a vibrotactile two-alternative forced-choice task (2-AFC). We show that before the presentation of task-relevant information, pre-stimulus, pupil size differentiates between states of disengagement from task performance vs. engagement. Also, when subjects have to attend to task stimuli to attain a reward, post-stimulus, pupillary dilations exhibit a difference between correct and error responses with this difference reflecting an internal decision variable. We hypothesize that this internal decision variable relates to response confidence, the internal perception of the confidence the subject has in its choice. As opposed to this, we show that in a condition of passive performance, when the stimulus has no more task relevance due to reward being provided automatically, pupillary dilations reflect the occurrence of stimulation and reward provision but not decisional variables as under active performance. Our results provide evidence that in addition to reflecting attentiveness under task performance rather than arousal per se, pupil dilations also reflect the confidence of the subject in his ensuing response. This confidence coding is overlaid within a more pronounced pupil dilation that reflects post-decision components that are related to the response itself but not to the decision. We also provide evidence as to how different behavioral states, imposed by task demands, modulate what the pupil is reflecting, presumably showing what the underlying cognitive network is coding for.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dan Alin Ganea
- IZKF, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,Institute of Neuropathology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,Department of Ophthalmology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Alexander Bexter
- Department of Neurophysiology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,Research Training Group 2416 MultiSenses-MultiScales, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Mathias Günther
- IZKF, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,Institute of Neuropathology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,Department of Ophthalmology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Pierre-Marie Gardères
- IZKF, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,Institute of Neuropathology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,Department of Ophthalmology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,Unit of Neural Circuits Dynamics and Decision Making, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Björn M Kampa
- Department of Neurophysiology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,Research Training Group 2416 MultiSenses-MultiScales, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,JARA-BRAIN Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, Jülich Forschungszentrum, Jülich, Germany
| | - Florent Haiss
- IZKF, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,Institute of Neuropathology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,Department of Ophthalmology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,Unit of Neural Circuits Dynamics and Decision Making, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Staiger JF, Petersen CCH. Neuronal Circuits in Barrel Cortex for Whisker Sensory Perception. Physiol Rev 2020; 101:353-415. [PMID: 32816652 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00019.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The array of whiskers on the snout provides rodents with tactile sensory information relating to the size, shape and texture of objects in their immediate environment. Rodents can use their whiskers to detect stimuli, distinguish textures, locate objects and navigate. Important aspects of whisker sensation are thought to result from neuronal computations in the whisker somatosensory cortex (wS1). Each whisker is individually represented in the somatotopic map of wS1 by an anatomical unit named a 'barrel' (hence also called barrel cortex). This allows precise investigation of sensory processing in the context of a well-defined map. Here, we first review the signaling pathways from the whiskers to wS1, and then discuss current understanding of the various types of excitatory and inhibitory neurons present within wS1. Different classes of cells can be defined according to anatomical, electrophysiological and molecular features. The synaptic connectivity of neurons within local wS1 microcircuits, as well as their long-range interactions and the impact of neuromodulators, are beginning to be understood. Recent technological progress has allowed cell-type-specific connectivity to be related to cell-type-specific activity during whisker-related behaviors. An important goal for future research is to obtain a causal and mechanistic understanding of how selected aspects of tactile sensory information are processed by specific types of neurons in the synaptically connected neuronal networks of wS1 and signaled to downstream brain areas, thus contributing to sensory-guided decision-making.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jochen F Staiger
- University Medical Center Göttingen, Institute for Neuroanatomy, Göttingen, Germany; and Laboratory of Sensory Processing, Faculty of Life Sciences, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Carl C H Petersen
- University Medical Center Göttingen, Institute for Neuroanatomy, Göttingen, Germany; and Laboratory of Sensory Processing, Faculty of Life Sciences, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
McBurney-Lin J, Sun Y, Tortorelli LS, Nguyen QAT, Haga-Yamanaka S, Yang H. Bidirectional pharmacological perturbations of the noradrenergic system differentially affect tactile detection. Neuropharmacology 2020; 174:108151. [PMID: 32445638 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The brain neuromodulatory systems heavily influence behavioral and cognitive processes. Previous work has shown that norepinephrine (NE), a classic neuromodulator mainly derived from the locus coeruleus (LC), enhances neuronal responses to sensory stimuli. However, the role of the LC-NE system in modulating perceptual task performance is not well understood. In addition, systemic perturbation of NE signaling has often been proposed to specifically target the LC in functional studies, yet the assumption that localized (specific) and systemic (nonspecific) perturbations of LC-NE have the same behavioral impact remains largely untested. In this study, we trained mice to perform a head-fixed, quantitative tactile detection task, and administered an α2 adrenergic receptor agonist or antagonist to pharmacologically down- or up-regulate LC-NE activity, respectively. We addressed the outstanding question of how bidirectional perturbations of LC-NE activity affect tactile detection, and tested whether localized and systemic drug treatments exert the same behavioral effects. We found that both localized and systemic suppression of LC-NE impaired tactile detection by reducing motivation. Surprisingly, while locally activating LC-NE enabled mice to perform in a near-optimal regime, systemic activation impaired behavior by promoting impulsivity. Our results demonstrate that localized silencing and activation of LC-NE differentially affect tactile detection, and that localized and systemic NE activation induce distinct behavioral changes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jim McBurney-Lin
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Yina Sun
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Lucas S Tortorelli
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Quynh Anh T Nguyen
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Sachiko Haga-Yamanaka
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Hongdian Yang
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Bjerre AS, Palmer LM. Probing Cortical Activity During Head-Fixed Behavior. Front Mol Neurosci 2020; 13:30. [PMID: 32180705 PMCID: PMC7059801 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2020.00030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The cortex is crucial for many behaviors, ranging from sensory-based behaviors to working memory and social behaviors. To gain an in-depth understanding of the contribution to these behaviors, cellular and sub-cellular recordings from both individual and populations of cortical neurons are vital. However, techniques allowing such recordings, such as two-photon imaging and whole-cell electrophysiology, require absolute stability of the head, a requirement not often fulfilled in freely moving animals. Here, we review and compare behavioral paradigms that have been developed and adapted for the head-fixed preparation, which together offer the needed stability for live recordings of neural activity in behaving animals. We also review how the head-fixed preparation has been used to explore the function of primary sensory cortices, posterior parietal cortex (PPC) and anterior lateral motor (ALM) cortex in sensory-based behavioral tasks, while also discussing the considerations of performing such recordings. Overall, this review highlights the head-fixed preparation as allowing in-depth investigation into the neural activity underlying behaviors by providing highly controllable settings for precise stimuli presentation which can be combined with behavioral paradigms ranging from simple sensory detection tasks to complex, cross-modal, memory-guided decision-making tasks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ann-Sofie Bjerre
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Lucy M Palmer
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Zuend M, Saab AS, Wyss MT, Ferrari KD, Hösli L, Looser ZJ, Stobart JL, Duran J, Guinovart JJ, Barros LF, Weber B. Arousal-induced cortical activity triggers lactate release from astrocytes. Nat Metab 2020; 2:179-191. [PMID: 32694692 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-020-0170-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
It has been suggested that, in states of arousal, release of noradrenaline and β-adrenergic signalling affect long-term memory formation by stimulating astrocytic lactate production from glycogen. However, the temporal relationship between cortical activity and cellular lactate fluctuations upon changes in arousal remains to be fully established. Also, the role of β-adrenergic signalling and brain glycogen metabolism on neural lactate dynamics in vivo is still unknown. Here, we show that an arousal-induced increase in cortical activity triggers lactate release into the extracellular space, and this correlates with a fast and prominent lactate dip in astrocytes. The immediate drop in astrocytic lactate concentration and the parallel increase in extracellular lactate levels underline an activity-dependent lactate release from astrocytes. Moreover, when β-adrenergic signalling is blocked or the brain is depleted of glycogen, the arousal-evoked cellular lactate surges are significantly reduced. We provide in vivo evidence that cortical activation upon arousal triggers lactate release from astrocytes, a rise in intracellular lactate levels mediated by β-adrenergic signalling and the mobilization of lactate from glycogen stores.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marc Zuend
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Aiman S Saab
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Matthias T Wyss
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Kim David Ferrari
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ladina Hösli
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Zoe J Looser
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jillian L Stobart
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jordi Duran
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joan J Guinovart
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Bruno Weber
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Adibi M. Whisker-Mediated Touch System in Rodents: From Neuron to Behavior. Front Syst Neurosci 2019; 13:40. [PMID: 31496942 PMCID: PMC6712080 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2019.00040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
A key question in systems neuroscience is to identify how sensory stimuli are represented in neuronal activity, and how the activity of sensory neurons in turn is “read out” by downstream neurons and give rise to behavior. The choice of a proper model system to address these questions, is therefore a crucial step. Over the past decade, the increasingly powerful array of experimental approaches that has become available in non-primate models (e.g., optogenetics and two-photon imaging) has spurred a renewed interest for the use of rodent models in systems neuroscience research. Here, I introduce the rodent whisker-mediated touch system as a structurally well-established and well-organized model system which, despite its simplicity, gives rise to complex behaviors. This system serves as a behaviorally efficient model system; known as nocturnal animals, along with their olfaction, rodents rely on their whisker-mediated touch system to collect information about their surrounding environment. Moreover, this system represents a well-studied circuitry with a somatotopic organization. At every stage of processing, one can identify anatomical and functional topographic maps of whiskers; “barrelettes” in the brainstem nuclei, “barreloids” in the sensory thalamus, and “barrels” in the cortex. This article provides a brief review on the basic anatomy and function of the whisker system in rodents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Adibi
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Tactile Perception and Learning Lab, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy.,Padua Neuroscience Center, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Mayrhofer JM, El-Boustani S, Foustoukos G, Auffret M, Tamura K, Petersen CCH. Distinct Contributions of Whisker Sensory Cortex and Tongue-Jaw Motor Cortex in a Goal-Directed Sensorimotor Transformation. Neuron 2019; 103:1034-1043.e5. [PMID: 31402199 PMCID: PMC6859494 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Revised: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The neural circuits underlying goal-directed sensorimotor transformations in the mammalian brain are incompletely understood. Here, we compared the role of primary tongue-jaw motor cortex (tjM1) and primary whisker sensory cortex (wS1) in head-restrained mice trained to lick a reward spout in response to whisker deflection. Two-photon microscopy combined with microprisms allowed imaging of neuronal network activity across cortical layers in transgenic mice expressing a genetically encoded calcium indicator. Early-phase activity in wS1 encoded the whisker sensory stimulus and was necessary for detection of whisker stimuli. Activity in tjM1 encoded licking direction during task execution and was necessary for contralateral licking. Pre-stimulus activity in tjM1, but not wS1, was predictive of lick direction and contributed causally to small preparatory jaw movements. Our data reveal a shift in coding scheme from wS1 to tjM1, consistent with the hypothesis that these areas represent cortical start and end points for this goal-directed sensorimotor transformation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johannes M Mayrhofer
- Laboratory of Sensory Processing, Brain Mind Institute, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Sami El-Boustani
- Laboratory of Sensory Processing, Brain Mind Institute, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Georgios Foustoukos
- Laboratory of Sensory Processing, Brain Mind Institute, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Matthieu Auffret
- Laboratory of Sensory Processing, Brain Mind Institute, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Keita Tamura
- Laboratory of Sensory Processing, Brain Mind Institute, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Carl C H Petersen
- Laboratory of Sensory Processing, Brain Mind Institute, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Evoked Response Strength in Primary Auditory Cortex Predicts Performance in a Spectro-Spatial Discrimination Task in Rats. J Neurosci 2019; 39:6108-6121. [PMID: 31175214 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0041-18.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Revised: 04/19/2019] [Accepted: 05/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The extent to which the primary auditory cortex (A1) participates in instructing animal behavior remains debated. Although multiple studies have shown A1 activity to correlate with animals' perceptual judgments (Jaramillo and Zador, 2011; Bizley et al., 2013; Rodgers and DeWeese, 2014), others have found no relationship between A1 responses and reported auditory percepts (Lemus et al., 2009; Dong et al., 2011). To address this ambiguity, we performed chronic recordings of evoked local field potentials (eLFPs) in A1 of head-fixed female rats performing a two-alternative forced-choice auditory discrimination task. Rats were presented with two interleaved sequences of pure tones from opposite sides and had to indicate the side from which the higher-frequency target stimulus was played. Animal performance closely correlated (r rm = 0.68) with the difference between the target and distractor eLFP responses: the more the target response exceeded the distractor response, the better the animals were at identifying the side of the target frequency. Reducing the evoked response of either frequency through stimulus-specific adaptation affected performance in the expected way: target localization accuracy was degraded when the target frequency was adapted and improved when the distractor frequency was adapted. Target frequency eLFPs were stronger on hit trials than on error trials. Our results suggest that the degree to which one stimulus stands out over others within A1 activity may determine its perceptual saliency for the animals and accordingly bias their behavioral choices.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The brain must continuously calibrate the saliency of sensory percepts against their relevance to the current behavioral goal. The inability to ignore irrelevant distractors characterizes a spectrum of human attentional disorders. Meanwhile, the connection between the neural underpinnings of stimulus saliency and sensory decisions remains elusive. Here, we record local field potentials in the primary auditory cortex of rats engaged in auditory discrimination to investigate how the cortical representation of target and distractor stimuli impacts behavior. We find that the amplitude difference between target- and distractor-evoked activity predicts discrimination performance (r rm = 0.68). Specific adaptation of target or distractor shifts performance either below or above chance, respectively. It appears that recent auditory history profoundly influences stimulus saliency, biasing animals toward diametrically-opposed decisions.
Collapse
|
17
|
Williams B, Speed A, Haider B. A novel device for real-time measurement and manipulation of licking behavior in head-fixed mice. J Neurophysiol 2018; 120:2975-2987. [PMID: 30256741 PMCID: PMC6442917 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00500.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2018] [Revised: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The mouse has become an influential model system for investigating the mammalian nervous system. Technologies in mice enable recording and manipulation of neural circuits during tasks where they respond to sensory stimuli by licking for liquid rewards. Precise monitoring of licking during these tasks provides an accessible metric of sensory-motor processing, particularly when combined with simultaneous neural recordings. There are several challenges in designing and implementing lick detectors during head-fixed neurophysiological experiments in mice. First, mice are small, and licking behaviors are easily perturbed or biased by large sensors. Second, neural recordings during licking are highly sensitive to electrical contact artifacts. Third, submillisecond lick detection latencies are required to generate control signals that manipulate neural activity at appropriate time scales. Here we designed, characterized, and implemented a contactless dual-port device that precisely measures directional licking in head-fixed mice performing visual behavior. We first determined the optimal characteristics of our detector through design iteration and then quantified device performance under ideal conditions. We then tested performance during head-fixed mouse behavior with simultaneous neural recordings in vivo. We finally demonstrate our device's ability to detect directional licks and generate appropriate control signals in real time to rapidly suppress licking behavior via closed-loop inhibition of neural activity. Our dual-port detector is cost effective and easily replicable, and it should enable a wide variety of applications probing the neural circuit basis of sensory perception, motor action, and learning in normal and transgenic mouse models. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Mice readily learn tasks in which they respond to sensory cues by licking for liquid rewards; tasks that involve multiple licking responses allow study of neural circuits underlying decision making and sensory-motor integration. Here we design, characterize, and implement a novel dual-port lick detector that precisely measures directional licking in head-fixed mice performing visual behavior, enabling simultaneous neural recording and closed-loop manipulation of licking.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brice Williams
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University , Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Anderson Speed
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University , Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Bilal Haider
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University , Atlanta, Georgia
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Hu X, Urhie O, Chang K, Hostetler R, Agmon A. A Novel Method for Training Mice in Visuo-Tactile 3-D Object Discrimination and Recognition. Front Behav Neurosci 2018; 12:274. [PMID: 30555307 PMCID: PMC6282041 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Perceiving, recognizing and remembering 3-dimensional (3-D) objects encountered in the environment has a very high survival value; unsurprisingly, this ability is shared among many animal species, including humans. The psychological, psychophysical and neural basis for object perception, discrimination, recognition and memory has been extensively studied in humans, monkeys, pigeons and rodents, but is still far from understood. Nearly all 3-D object recognition studies in the rodent used the "novel object recognition" paradigm, which relies on innate rather than learned behavior; however, this procedure has several important limitations. Recently, investigators have begun to recognize the power of behavioral tasks learned through reinforcement training (operant conditioning) to reveal the sensorimotor and cognitive abilities of mice and to elucidate their underlying neural mechanisms. Here, we describe a novel method for training and testing mice in visual and tactile object discrimination, recognition and memory, and use it to begin to examine the underlying sensory basis for these cognitive capacities. A custom-designed Y maze was used to train mice to associate one of two 3-D objects with a food reward. Out of nine mice trained in two cohorts, seven reached performance criterion in about 20-35 daily sessions of 20 trials each. The learned association was retained, or rapidly re-acquired, after a 6 weeks hiatus in training. When tested under low light conditions, individual animals differed in the degree to which they used tactile or visual cues to identify the objects. Switching to total darkness resulted only in a transient dip in performance, as did subsequent trimming of all large whiskers (macrovibrissae). Additional removal of the small whiskers (microvibrissae) did not degrade performance, but transiently increased the time spent inspecting the object. This novel method can be combined in future studies with the large arsenal of genetic tools available in the mouse, to elucidate the neural basis of object perception, recognition and memory.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xian Hu
- Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, United States
| | - Ogaga Urhie
- Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, United States
| | - Kevin Chang
- Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, United States
| | - Rachel Hostetler
- Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, United States
| | - Ariel Agmon
- Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, United States
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Solari N, Sviatkó K, Laszlovszky T, Hegedüs P, Hangya B. Open Source Tools for Temporally Controlled Rodent Behavior Suitable for Electrophysiology and Optogenetic Manipulations. Front Syst Neurosci 2018; 12:18. [PMID: 29867383 PMCID: PMC5962774 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2018.00018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2017] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding how the brain controls behavior requires observing and manipulating neural activity in awake behaving animals. Neuronal firing is timed at millisecond precision. Therefore, to decipher temporal coding, it is necessary to monitor and control animal behavior at the same level of temporal accuracy. However, it is technically challenging to deliver sensory stimuli and reinforcers as well as to read the behavioral responses they elicit with millisecond precision. Presently available commercial systems often excel in specific aspects of behavior control, but they do not provide a customizable environment allowing flexible experimental design while maintaining high standards for temporal control necessary for interpreting neuronal activity. Moreover, delay measurements of stimulus and reinforcement delivery are largely unavailable. We combined microcontroller-based behavior control with a sound delivery system for playing complex acoustic stimuli, fast solenoid valves for precisely timed reinforcement delivery and a custom-built sound attenuated chamber using high-end industrial insulation materials. Together this setup provides a physical environment to train head-fixed animals, enables calibrated sound stimuli and precisely timed fluid and air puff presentation as reinforcers. We provide latency measurements for stimulus and reinforcement delivery and an algorithm to perform such measurements on other behavior control systems. Combined with electrophysiology and optogenetic manipulations, the millisecond timing accuracy will help interpret temporally precise neural signals and behavioral changes. Additionally, since software and hardware provided here can be readily customized to achieve a large variety of paradigms, these solutions enable an unusually flexible design of rodent behavioral experiments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Solari
- Lendület Laboratory of Systems Neuroscience, Department of Cellular and Network Neurobiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Katalin Sviatkó
- Lendület Laboratory of Systems Neuroscience, Department of Cellular and Network Neurobiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary.,János Szentágothai Doctoral School of Neurosciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tamás Laszlovszky
- Lendület Laboratory of Systems Neuroscience, Department of Cellular and Network Neurobiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary.,János Szentágothai Doctoral School of Neurosciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Panna Hegedüs
- Lendület Laboratory of Systems Neuroscience, Department of Cellular and Network Neurobiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Balázs Hangya
- Lendület Laboratory of Systems Neuroscience, Department of Cellular and Network Neurobiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Bilateral Tactile Input Patterns Decoded at Comparable Levels But Different Time Scales in Neocortical Neurons. J Neurosci 2018. [PMID: 29540549 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2891-17.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The presence of contralateral tactile input can profoundly affect ipsilateral tactile perception, and unilateral stroke in somatosensory areas can result in bilateral tactile deficits, suggesting that bilateral tactile integration is an important part of brain function. Although previous studies have shown that bilateral tactile inputs exist and that there are neural interactions between inputs from the two sides, no previous study explored to what extent the local neuronal circuitry processing contains detailed information about the nature of the tactile input from the two sides. To address this question, we used a recently introduced approach to deliver a set of electrical, reproducible, tactile afferent, spatiotemporal activation patterns, which permits a high-resolution analysis of the neuronal decoding capacity, to the skin of the second forepaw digits of the anesthetized male rat. Surprisingly, we found that individual neurons of the primary somatosensory can decode contralateral and ipsilateral input patterns to comparable extents. Although the contralateral input was stronger and more rapidly decoded, given sufficient poststimulus processing time, ipsilateral decoding levels essentially caught up to contralateral levels. Moreover, there was a weak but significant correlation for neurons with high decoding performance for contralateral tactile input to also perform well on decoding ipsilateral input. Our findings shed new light on the brain mechanisms underlying bimanual haptic integration.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Here we demonstrate that the spiking activity of single neocortical neurons in the somatosensory cortex of the rat can be used to decode patterned tactile stimuli delivered to the distal ventral skin of the second forepaw digits on both sides of the body. Even though comparable levels of decoding of the tactile input were achieved faster for contralateral input, given sufficient integration time each neuron was found to decode ipsilateral input with a comparable level of accuracy. Given that the neocortical neurons could decode ipsilateral inputs with such small differences between the patterns suggests that S1 cortex has access to very precise information about ipsilateral events. The findings shed new light on possible network mechanisms underlying bimanual haptic processing.
Collapse
|
21
|
Pinto L, Koay SA, Engelhard B, Yoon AM, Deverett B, Thiberge SY, Witten IB, Tank DW, Brody CD. An Accumulation-of-Evidence Task Using Visual Pulses for Mice Navigating in Virtual Reality. Front Behav Neurosci 2018; 12:36. [PMID: 29559900 PMCID: PMC5845651 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The gradual accumulation of sensory evidence is a crucial component of perceptual decision making, but its neural mechanisms are still poorly understood. Given the wide availability of genetic and optical tools for mice, they can be useful model organisms for the study of these phenomena; however, behavioral tools are largely lacking. Here, we describe a new evidence-accumulation task for head-fixed mice navigating in a virtual reality (VR) environment. As they navigate down the stem of a virtual T-maze, they see brief pulses of visual evidence on either side, and retrieve a reward on the arm with the highest number of pulses. The pulses occur randomly with Poisson statistics, yielding a diverse yet well-controlled stimulus set, making the data conducive to a variety of computational approaches. A large number of mice of different genotypes were able to learn and consistently perform the task, at levels similar to rats in analogous tasks. They are sensitive to side differences of a single pulse, and their memory of the cues is stable over time. Moreover, using non-parametric as well as modeling approaches, we show that the mice indeed accumulate evidence: they use multiple pulses of evidence from throughout the cue region of the maze to make their decision, albeit with a small overweighting of earlier cues, and their performance is affected by the magnitude but not the duration of evidence. Additionally, analysis of the mice's running patterns revealed that trajectories are fairly stereotyped yet modulated by the amount of sensory evidence, suggesting that the navigational component of this task may provide a continuous readout correlated to the underlying cognitive variables. Our task, which can be readily integrated with state-of-the-art techniques, is thus a valuable tool to study the circuit mechanisms and dynamics underlying perceptual decision making, particularly under more complex behavioral contexts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Pinto
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States
| | - Sue A Koay
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States
| | - Ben Engelhard
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States
| | - Alice M Yoon
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States
| | - Ben Deverett
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States.,Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Stephan Y Thiberge
- Bezos Center for Neural Dynamics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States
| | - Ilana B Witten
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States.,Department of Psychology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States
| | - David W Tank
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States.,Bezos Center for Neural Dynamics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States.,Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States
| | - Carlos D Brody
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States.,Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Helmchen F, Gilad A, Chen JL. Neocortical dynamics during whisker-based sensory discrimination in head-restrained mice. Neuroscience 2017; 368:57-69. [PMID: 28919043 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Revised: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
A fundamental task frequently encountered by brains is to rapidly and reliably discriminate between sensory stimuli of the same modality, be it distinct auditory sounds, odors, visual patterns, or tactile textures. A key mammalian brain structure involved in discrimination behavior is the neocortex. Sensory processing not only involves the respective primary sensory area, which is crucial for perceptual detection, but additionally relies on cortico-cortical communication among several regions including higher-order sensory areas as well as frontal cortical areas. It remains elusive how these regions exchange information to process neural representations of distinct stimuli to bring about a decision and initiate appropriate behavioral responses. Likewise, it is poorly understood how these neural computations are conjured during task learning. In this review, we discuss recent studies investigating cortical dynamics during discrimination behaviors that utilize head-fixed behavioral tasks in combination with in vivo electrophysiology, two-photon calcium imaging, and cell-type-specific targeting. We particularly focus on information flow in distinct cortico-cortical pathways when mice use their whiskers to discriminate between different objects or different locations. Within the primary and secondary somatosensory cortices (S1 and S2, respectively) as well as vibrissae motor cortex (M1), intermingled functional representations of touch, whisking, and licking were found, which partially re-organized during discrimination learning. These findings provide first glimpses of cortico-cortical communication but emphasize that for understanding the complete process of discrimination it will be crucial to elucidate the details of how neural processing is coordinated across brain-wide neuronal networks including the S1-S2-M1 triangle and cortical areas beyond.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fritjof Helmchen
- Laboratory of Neural Circuit Dynamics, Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Ariel Gilad
- Laboratory of Neural Circuit Dynamics, Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jerry L Chen
- Laboratory of Neural Circuit Dynamics, Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Estebanez L, Férézou I, Ego-Stengel V, Shulz DE. Representation of tactile scenes in the rodent barrel cortex. Neuroscience 2017; 368:81-94. [PMID: 28843997 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.08.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Revised: 08/17/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
After half a century of research, the sensory features coded by neurons of the rodent barrel cortex remain poorly understood. Still, views of the sensory representation of whisker information are increasingly shifting from a labeled line representation of single-whisker deflections to a selectivity for specific elements of the complex statistics of the multi-whisker deflection patterns that take place during spontaneous rodent behavior - so called natural tactile scenes. Here we review the current knowledge regarding the coding of patterns of whisker stimuli by barrel cortex neurons, from responses to single-whisker deflections to the representation of complex tactile scenes. A number of multi-whisker tunings have already been identified, including center-surround feature extraction, angular tuning during edge-like multi-whisker deflections, and even tuning to specific statistical properties of the tactile scene such as the level of correlation across whiskers. However, a more general model of the representation of multi-whisker information in the barrel cortex is still missing. This is in part because of the lack of a human intuition regarding the perception emerging from a whisker system, but also because in contrast to other primary sensory cortices such as the visual cortex, the spatial feature selectivity of barrel cortex neurons rests on highly nonlinear interactions that remained hidden to classical receptive field approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luc Estebanez
- Unité de Neuroscience, Information et Complexité (UNIC), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, FRE 3693, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Isabelle Férézou
- Unité de Neuroscience, Information et Complexité (UNIC), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, FRE 3693, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Valérie Ego-Stengel
- Unité de Neuroscience, Information et Complexité (UNIC), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, FRE 3693, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Daniel E Shulz
- Unité de Neuroscience, Information et Complexité (UNIC), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, FRE 3693, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Bilateral Discrimination of Tactile Patterns without Whisking in Freely Running Rats. J Neurosci 2017; 37:7567-7579. [PMID: 28663200 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0528-17.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Revised: 05/22/2017] [Accepted: 06/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A majority of whisker discrimination tasks in rodents are performed on head-fixed animals to facilitate tracking or control of the sensory inputs. However, head fixation critically restrains the behavior and thus the incoming stimuli compared with those occurring in natural conditions. In this study, we investigated whether freely behaving rats can discriminate fine tactile patterns while running, in particular when stimuli are presented simultaneously on both sides of the snout. We developed a two-alternative forced-choice task in an automated modified T-maze. Stimuli were either a surface with no bars (smooth) or with vertical bars spaced irregularly or regularly. While running at full speed, rats encountered simultaneously the two discriminanda placed on the two sides of the central aisle. Rats learned to recognize regular bars versus a smooth surface in 8 weeks. They solved the task while running at an average speed of 1 m/s, so that the contact with the stimulus lasted <1 typical whisking cycle, precluding the use of active whisking. Whisker-tracking analysis revealed an asymmetry in the position of the whiskers: they oriented toward the rewarded stimulus during successful trials as early as 60 ms after the first possible contact. We showed that the whiskers and activity in the primary somatosensory cortex are involved during the discrimination process. Finally, we identified irregular patterns of bars that the rats can discriminate from the regular one. This novel task shows that freely moving rodents can make simultaneous bilateral tactile discrimination without whisking.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The whisker system of rodents is a widely used model to study tactile processing. Rats show remarkable abilities in discriminating surfaces by actively moving their whiskers (whisking) against stimuli, typically sampling them several times. This motor strategy affects considerably the way that tactile information is acquired and thus the way that neuronal networks process the information. However, when rats run at high speed, they protract their whiskers in front of the snout without large movements. Here, we investigated whether rats are able to discriminate regular and irregular patterns of vertical bars while running without whisking. We found that the animals can perform a bilateral simultaneous discrimination without whisking and that this involves both whiskers and barrel cortex activity.
Collapse
|
25
|
Gao YR, Ma Y, Zhang Q, Winder AT, Liang Z, Antinori L, Drew PJ, Zhang N. Time to wake up: Studying neurovascular coupling and brain-wide circuit function in the un-anesthetized animal. Neuroimage 2016; 153:382-398. [PMID: 27908788 PMCID: PMC5526447 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.11.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2016] [Revised: 11/18/2016] [Accepted: 11/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has allowed the noninvasive study of task-based and resting-state brain dynamics in humans by inferring neural activity from blood-oxygenation-level dependent (BOLD) signal changes. An accurate interpretation of the hemodynamic changes that underlie fMRI signals depends on the understanding of the quantitative relationship between changes in neural activity and changes in cerebral blood flow, oxygenation and volume. While there has been extensive study of neurovascular coupling in anesthetized animal models, anesthesia causes large disruptions of brain metabolism, neural responsiveness and cardiovascular function. Here, we review work showing that neurovascular coupling and brain circuit function in the awake animal are profoundly different from those in the anesthetized state. We argue that the time is right to study neurovascular coupling and brain circuit function in the awake animal to bridge the physiological mechanisms that underlie animal and human neuroimaging signals, and to interpret them in light of underlying neural mechanisms. Lastly, we discuss recent experimental innovations that have enabled the study of neurovascular coupling and brain-wide circuit function in un-anesthetized and behaving animal models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Rong Gao
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, Unidted States; Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, Unidted States
| | - Yuncong Ma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, Unidted States
| | - Qingguang Zhang
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, Unidted States
| | - Aaron T Winder
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, Unidted States
| | - Zhifeng Liang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, Unidted States
| | - Lilith Antinori
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, Unidted States
| | - Patrick J Drew
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, Unidted States; Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, Unidted States; Department of Neurosurgery, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, Unidted States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, Unidted States.
| | - Nanyin Zhang
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, Unidted States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, Unidted States.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Performance in a GO/NOGO perceptual task reflects a balance between impulsive and instrumental components of behaviour. Sci Rep 2016; 6:27389. [PMID: 27272438 PMCID: PMC4895381 DOI: 10.1038/srep27389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2015] [Accepted: 05/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, simple GO/NOGO behavioural tasks have become popular due to the relative ease with which they can be combined with technologies such as in vivo multiphoton imaging. To date, it has been assumed that behavioural performance can be captured by the average performance across a session, however this neglects the effect of motivation on behaviour within individual sessions. We investigated the effect of motivation on mice performing a GO/NOGO visual discrimination task. Performance within a session tended to follow a stereotypical trajectory on a Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) chart, beginning with an over-motivated state with many false positives, and transitioning through a more or less optimal regime to end with a low hit rate after satiation. Our observations are reproduced by a new model, the Motivated Actor-Critic, introduced here. Our results suggest that standard measures of discriminability, obtained by averaging across a session, may significantly underestimate behavioural performance.
Collapse
|
27
|
Fazlali Z, Ranjbar-Slamloo Y, Adibi M, Arabzadeh E. Correlation between Cortical State and Locus Coeruleus Activity: Implications for Sensory Coding in Rat Barrel Cortex. Front Neural Circuits 2016; 10:14. [PMID: 27047339 PMCID: PMC4805600 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2016.00014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2015] [Accepted: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cortical state modulates the background activity of cortical neurons, and their evoked response to sensory stimulation. Multiple mechanisms are involved in switching between cortical states including various neuromodulatory systems. Locus Coeruleus (LC) is one of the major neuromodulatory nuclei in the brainstem with widespread projections throughout the brain and modulates the activity of cells and networks. Here, we quantified the link between the LC spontaneous activity, cortical state and sensory processing in the rat vibrissal somatosensory "barrel" cortex (BC). We simultaneously recorded unit activity from LC and BC along with prefrontal electroencephalogram (EEG) while presenting brief whisker deflections under urethane anesthesia. The ratio of low to high frequency components of EEG (referred to as the L/H ratio) was employed to identify cortical state. We found that the spontaneous activity of LC units exhibited a negative correlation with the L/H ratio. Cross-correlation analysis revealed that changes in LC firing preceded changes in the cortical state: the correlation of the LC firing profile with the L/H ratio was maximal at an average lag of -1.2 s. We further quantified BC neuronal responses to whisker stimulation during the synchronized and desynchronized states. In the desynchronized state, BC neurons showed lower stimulus detection threshold, higher response fidelity, and shorter response latency. The most prominent change was observed in the late phase of BC evoked activity (100-400 ms post stimulus onset): almost every BC unit exhibited a greater late response during the desynchronized state. Categorization of the BC evoked responses based on LC activity (into high and low LC discharge rates) resulted in highly similar response profiles compared to categorization based on the cortical state (low and high L/H ratios). These findings provide evidence for the involvement of the LC neuromodulatory system in desynchronization of cortical state and the consequent enhancement of sensory coding efficiency.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zeinab Fazlali
- School of Cognitive Sciences, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM)Tehran, Iran
- Eccles Institute of Neuroscience, John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National UniversityCanberra, ACT, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, The Australian National University NodeCanberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Yadollah Ranjbar-Slamloo
- School of Cognitive Sciences, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM)Tehran, Iran
- Eccles Institute of Neuroscience, John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National UniversityCanberra, ACT, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, The Australian National University NodeCanberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Mehdi Adibi
- Eccles Institute of Neuroscience, John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National UniversityCanberra, ACT, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, The Australian National University NodeCanberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Ehsan Arabzadeh
- Eccles Institute of Neuroscience, John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National UniversityCanberra, ACT, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, The Australian National University NodeCanberra, ACT, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Roohbakhsh A, Shamsizadeh A, Arababadi MK, Ayoobi F, Fatemi I, Allahtavakoli M, Mohammad-Zadeh M. Tactile learning in rodents: Neurobiology and neuropharmacology. Life Sci 2016; 147:1-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2016.01.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2015] [Revised: 12/28/2015] [Accepted: 01/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
|
29
|
Roh M, Lee K, Jang IS, Suk K, Lee MG. Acrylic Resin Molding Based Head Fixation Technique in Rodents. J Vis Exp 2016:e53064. [PMID: 26862716 DOI: 10.3791/53064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Head fixation is a technique of immobilizing animal's head by attaching a head-post on the skull for rigid clamping. Traditional head fixation requires surgical attachment of metallic frames on the skull. The attached frames are then clamped to a stationary platform resulting in immobilization of the head. However, metallic frames for head fixation have been technically difficult to design and implement in general laboratory environment. In this study, we provide a novel head fixation method. Using a custom-made head fixation bar, head mounter is constructed during implantation surgery. After the application of acrylic resin for affixing implants such as electrodes and cannula on the skull, additional resins applied on top of that to build a mold matching to the port of the fixation bar. The molded head mounter serves as a guide rails, investigators conveniently fixate the animal's head by inserting the head mounter into the port of the fixation bar. This method could be easily applicable if implantation surgery using dental acrylics is necessary and might be useful for laboratories that cannot easily fabricate CNC machined metal head-posts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mootaek Roh
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine and Brain Science and Engineering Institute, Kyungpook National University
| | - Kyungmin Lee
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine and Brain Science and Engineering Institute, Kyungpook National University
| | - Il-Sung Jang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Dentistry and Brain Science and Engineering Institute, Kyungpook National University
| | - Kyoungho Suk
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine and Brain Science and Engineering Institute, Kyungpook National University
| | - Maan-Gee Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine and Brain Science and Engineering Institute, Kyungpook National University;
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Mayrhofer JM, Haiss F, Haenni D, Weber S, Zuend M, Barrett MJP, Ferrari KD, Maechler P, Saab AS, Stobart JL, Wyss MT, Johannssen H, Osswald H, Palmer LM, Revol V, Schuh CD, Urban C, Hall A, Larkum ME, Rutz-Innerhofer E, Zeilhofer HU, Ziegler U, Weber B. Design and performance of an ultra-flexible two-photon microscope for in vivo research. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2015; 6:4228-37. [PMID: 26600989 PMCID: PMC4646533 DOI: 10.1364/boe.6.004228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2015] [Revised: 09/28/2015] [Accepted: 09/28/2015] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
We present a cost-effective in vivo two-photon microscope with a highly flexible frontend for in vivo research. Our design ensures fast and reproducible access to the area of interest, including rotation of imaging plane, and maximizes space for auxiliary experimental equipment in the vicinity of the animal. Mechanical flexibility is achieved with large motorized linear stages that move the objective in the X, Y, and Z directions up to 130 mm. 360° rotation of the frontend (rotational freedom for one axis) is achieved with the combination of a motorized high precision bearing and gearing. Additionally, the modular design of the frontend, based on commercially available optomechanical parts, allows straightforward updates to future scanning technologies. The design exceeds the mobility of previous movable microscope designs while maintaining high optical performance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johannes M. Mayrhofer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Florent Haiss
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- IZKF Aachen, Medical Faculty of the RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
- Institute for Neuropathology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
- Department of Ophthalmology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Dominik Haenni
- Center for Microscopy and Image Analysis, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Weber
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Marc Zuend
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Matthew J. P. Barrett
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Kim David Ferrari
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Philipp Maechler
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Aiman S. Saab
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jillian L. Stobart
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Matthias T. Wyss
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Helge Johannssen
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Harald Osswald
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Lucy M. Palmer
- Florey Instittue, University of Melbourne, 30 Royal Parade, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
- Neuroscience Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Vincent Revol
- CSEM Suisse d’Electronique et de Microtechnique, Technoparkstrasse 1, 8005 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Claus-Dieter Schuh
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Claus Urban
- CSEM Suisse d’Electronique et de Microtechnique, Technoparkstrasse 1, 8005 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andrew Hall
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Matthew E. Larkum
- Neuroscience Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Edith Rutz-Innerhofer
- CSEM Suisse d’Electronique et de Microtechnique, Technoparkstrasse 1, 8005 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Hanns Ulrich Zeilhofer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Urs Ziegler
- Center for Microscopy and Image Analysis, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Bruno Weber
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Mayrhofer JM, Haiss F, Helmchen F, Weber B. Sparse, reliable, and long-term stable representation of periodic whisker deflections in the mouse barrel cortex. Neuroimage 2015; 115:52-63. [PMID: 25934471 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.04.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2015] [Revised: 03/24/2015] [Accepted: 04/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The rodent whisker system is a preferred model for studying plasticity in the somatosensory cortex (barrel cortex). Contrarily, only a small amount of research has been conducted to characterize the stability of neuronal population activity in the barrel cortex. We used the mouse whisker system to address the neuronal basis of stable perception in the somatosensory cortex. Cortical representation of periodic whisker deflections was studied in populations of neurons in supragranular layers over extended time periods (up to 3 months) with long-term two-photon Ca(2+) imaging in anesthetized mice. We found that in most of the neurons (87%), Ca(2+) responses increased sublinearly with increasing number of contralateral whisker deflections. The imaged population of neurons was activated in a stereotypic way over days and for different deflection rates (pulse frequencies). Thus, pulse frequencies are coded by response strength rather than by distinct neuronal sub-populations. A small population of highly responsive neurons (~3%) was sufficient to decode the whisker stimulus. This conserved functional map, led by a small set of highly responsive neurons, might form the foundation of stable sensory percepts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johannes M Mayrhofer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Florent Haiss
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland; IZKF Aachen, Medical Faculty of the RWTH Aachen University, D-52062 Aachen, Germany; Institute for Neuropathology, RWTH Aachen University, D-52062 Aachen, Germany; Department of Ophthalmology, RWTH Aachen University, D-52062 Aachen, Germany
| | - Fritjof Helmchen
- Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Bruno Weber
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
McDonald JS, Adibi M, Clifford CWG, Arabzadeh E. Sampling time and performance in rat whisker sensory system. PLoS One 2014; 9:e116357. [PMID: 25551373 PMCID: PMC4281132 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0116357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2014] [Accepted: 11/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We designed a behavioural paradigm for vibro-tactile detection to characterise the sampling time and performance in the rat whisker sensory system. Rats initiated a trial by nose-poking into an aperture where their whiskers came into contact with two meshes. A continuous nose-poke for a random duration triggered stimulus presentation. Stimuli were a sequence of discrete Gaussian deflections of the mesh that increased in amplitude over time – across 5 conditions, time to maximum amplitude varied from 0.5 to 8 seconds. Rats indicated the detected stimulus by choosing between two reward spouts. Two rats completed more than 500 trials per condition. Rats' stimulus sampling duration increased and performance dropped with increasing task difficulty. For all conditions the median reaction time was longer for correct trials than incorrect trials. Higher rates of increment in stimulus amplitude resulted in faster rise in performance as a function of stimulus sampling duration. Rats' behaviour indicated a dynamic stimulus sampling whereby nose-poke was maintained until a stimulus was correctly identified or the rat experienced a false alarm. The perception was then manifested in behaviour after a motor delay. We thus modelled the results with 3 parameters: signal detection, false alarm, and motor delay. The model captured the main features of the data and produced parameter estimates that were biologically plausible and highly similar across the two rats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James S. McDonald
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Mehdi Adibi
- Eccles Institute of Neuroscience, John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, Australian National University Node, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | | | - Ehsan Arabzadeh
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Eccles Institute of Neuroscience, John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, Australian National University Node, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Musall S, von der Behrens W, Mayrhofer JM, Weber B, Helmchen F, Haiss F. Tactile frequency discrimination is enhanced by circumventing neocortical adaptation. Nat Neurosci 2014; 17:1567-73. [PMID: 25242306 DOI: 10.1038/nn.3821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2014] [Accepted: 08/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Neocortical responses typically adapt to repeated sensory stimulation, improving sensitivity to stimulus changes, but possibly also imposing limitations on perception. For example, it is unclear whether information about stimulus frequency is perturbed by adaptation or encoded by precise response timing. We addressed this question in rat barrel cortex by comparing performance in behavioral tasks with either whisker stimulation, which causes frequency-dependent adaptation, or optical activation of cortically expressed channelrhodopsin-2, which elicits non-adapting neural responses. Circumventing adaption by optical activation substantially improved cross-hemispheric discrimination of stimulus frequency. This improvement persisted when temporal precision of optically evoked spikes was reduced. We were able to replicate whisker-driven behavior only by applying adaptation rules mimicking sensory-evoked responses to optical stimuli. Conversely, in a change-detection task, animals performed better with whisker than optical stimulation. Our results directly demonstrate that sensory adaptation critically governs the perception of stimulus patterns, decreasing fidelity under steady-state conditions in favor of change detection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simon Musall
- 1] Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. [2] Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. [3] Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Wolfger von der Behrens
- 1] Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. [2] Institute of Neuroinformatics, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Johannes M Mayrhofer
- 1] Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. [2] Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Bruno Weber
- 1] Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. [2] Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Fritjof Helmchen
- 1] Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. [2] Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Florent Haiss
- 1] Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. [2] Institute of Neuropathology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany. [3] Department of Ophthalmology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Jaramillo S, Zador AM. Mice and rats achieve similar levels of performance in an adaptive decision-making task. Front Syst Neurosci 2014; 8:173. [PMID: 25278849 PMCID: PMC4167002 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2014.00173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2014] [Accepted: 09/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Two opposing constraints exist when choosing a model organism for studying the neural basis of adaptive decision-making: (1) experimental access and (2) behavioral complexity. Available molecular and genetic approaches for studying neural circuits in the mouse fulfill the first requirement. In contrast, it is still under debate if mice can perform cognitive tasks of sufficient complexity. Here we compare learning and performance of mice and rats, the preferred behavioral rodent model, during an acoustic flexible categorization two-alternative choice task. The task required animals to switch between two categorization definitions several times within a behavioral session. We found that both species achieved similarly high performance levels. On average, rats learned the task faster than mice, although some mice were as fast as the average rat. No major differences in subjective categorization boundaries or the speed of adaptation between the two species were found. Our results demonstrate that mice are an appropriate model for the study of the neural mechanisms underlying adaptive decision-making, and suggest they might be suitable for other cognitive tasks as well.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Jaramillo
- Cold Spring Harbor LaboratoryCold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
- Institute of Neuroscience and Department of Biology, University of OregonEugene, OR, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
Dimitriadis G, Fransen AMM, Maris E. Sensory and cognitive neurophysiology in rats, Part 1: Controlled tactile stimulation and micro-ECoG recordings in freely moving animals. J Neurosci Methods 2014; 232:63-73. [PMID: 24820913 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2014.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2014] [Accepted: 05/02/2014] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We have developed a setup for rats that allows for controlled sensory input to an animal engaged in a task while recording both electrophysiological signals and behavioral output. NEW METHOD We record electrophysiological signals using a novel high-density micro-electrocorticography (micro-ECoG) grid that covers almost the whole somatosensory system. We dealt with the well-known difficulty that the rat uses its whisker system in an active (motor-controlled) way to explore its environment by designing a head-mounted device that stimulates the rat's snout in a way unaffected by whisker movements. RESULTS We replicate the spatial specificity of early evoked responses in somatosensory and auditory cortex. In a companion paper (Cognitive Neurophysiology in Rats, Part 2: Validation and Demonstration) we validate our setup and show for the first time that the ECoG can be used to record evoked responses in a signal that reflects neural output (spiking activity). COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS Compared with high-density wire recordings, micro-ECoG offers a much more stable signal without readjustments, and a much better scalability. Compared with head-fixed preparations, our head-mounted stimulator allows to stay closer to the rat's natural way of collecting sensory information. CONCLUSIONS For perceptual and cognitive research, our setup provides a unique combination of possibilities that cannot be achieved in other setups for rodents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- George Dimitriadis
- Radboud University Nijmegen, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, The Netherlands
| | - Anne M M Fransen
- Radboud University Nijmegen, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, The Netherlands
| | - Eric Maris
- Radboud University Nijmegen, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Roh M, Jang IS, Lee MG. Push-in Head Restraining Apparatus for Intracranial Self Stimulation Tasks in Rats. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSIOLOGICAL SOCIETY AND THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF PHARMACOLOGY 2014; 18:103-8. [PMID: 24757371 PMCID: PMC3994296 DOI: 10.4196/kjpp.2014.18.2.103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2013] [Revised: 01/20/2014] [Accepted: 02/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Head restraining is an experimental technique that firmly secures the animal's head to a fixation apparatus for the precise control and sensing of behaviors. However, procedural and surgical difficulties and limitations have been obstructing the use of the technique in neurophysiological and behavioral experiments. Here, we propose a novel design of the head-restraining apparatus which is easy to develop and convenient for practical use. Head restraining procedure can be completed by sliding the head mounter, which is molded by dental cement during implantation surgery, into the port, which serves as matching guide rails for the mounter, of the fixation bar. So neither skull-attached plates nor screws for fixation are needed. We performed intracranial self stimulation experiment in rats using the newly designed device. Rats were habituated to acclimatize the head-restraint environment and trained to discriminate two spatially distinguished cues using a customized push-pull lever as an operandum. Direct electrical stimulation into the medial forebrain bundle served as reward. We confirmed that head restraining was stable throughout experiments and rats were able to learn to manipulate the lever after successful habituation. Our experimental framework might help precise control or sensing of behavior under head fixed rats using direct electrical brain stimulation as a reward.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mootaek Roh
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine and Brain Science and Engineering Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 702-911, Korea
| | - Il-Sung Jang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Dentistry and Brain Science and Engineering Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 700-412, Korea
| | - Maan-Gee Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine and Brain Science and Engineering Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 702-911, Korea
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Abstract
Tinnitus is one of the major audiological diseases, affecting a significant portion of the ageing society. Despite its huge personal and presumed economic impact there are only limited therapeutic options available. The reason for this deficiency lies in the very nature of the disease as it is deeply connected to elementary plasticity of auditory processing in the central nervous system. Understanding these mechanisms is essential for developing a therapy that reverses the plastic changes underlying the pathogenesis of tinnitus. This requires experiments that address individual neurons and small networks, something usually not feasible in human patients. However, in animals such invasive experiments on the level of single neurons with high spatial and temporal resolution are possible. Therefore, animal models are a very critical element in the combined efforts for engineering new therapies. This review provides an overview over the most important features of animal models of tinnitus: which laboratory species are suitable, how to induce tinnitus, and how to characterize the perceived tinnitus by behavioral means. In particular, these aspects of tinnitus animal models are discussed in the light of transferability to the human patients.
Collapse
|
38
|
Maravall M, Diamond ME. Algorithms of whisker-mediated touch perception. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2014; 25:176-86. [PMID: 24549178 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2014.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2014] [Accepted: 01/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Comparison of the functional organization of sensory modalities can reveal the specialized mechanisms unique to each modality as well as processing algorithms that are common across modalities. Here we examine the rodent whisker system. The whisker's mechanical properties shape the forces transmitted to specialized receptors. The sensory and motor systems are intimately interconnected, giving rise to two forms of sensation: generative and receptive. The sensory pathway is a test bed for fundamental concepts in computation and coding: hierarchical feature detection, sparseness, adaptive representations, and population coding. The central processing of signals can be considered a sequence of filters. At the level of cortex, neurons represent object features by a coordinated population code which encompasses cells with heterogeneous properties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Maravall
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante UMH-CSIC, Campus de San Juan, Apartado 18, 03550 Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain
| | - Mathew E Diamond
- Tactile Perception and Learning Lab, International School for Advanced Studies-SISSA, Via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Chen JL, Andermann ML, Keck T, Xu NL, Ziv Y. Imaging neuronal populations in behaving rodents: paradigms for studying neural circuits underlying behavior in the mammalian cortex. J Neurosci 2013; 33:17631-40. [PMID: 24198355 PMCID: PMC3818544 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3255-13.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2013] [Revised: 09/12/2013] [Accepted: 09/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the neural correlates of behavior in the mammalian cortex requires measurements of activity in awake, behaving animals. Rodents have emerged as a powerful model for dissecting the cortical circuits underlying behavior attributable to the convergence of several methods. Genetically encoded calcium indicators combined with viral-mediated or transgenic tools enable chronic monitoring of calcium signals in neuronal populations and subcellular structures of identified cell types. Stable one- and two-photon imaging of neuronal activity in awake, behaving animals is now possible using new behavioral paradigms in head-fixed animals, or using novel miniature head-mounted microscopes in freely moving animals. This mini-symposium will highlight recent applications of these methods for studying sensorimotor integration, decision making, learning, and memory in cortical and subcortical brain areas. We will outline future prospects and challenges for identifying the neural underpinnings of task-dependent behavior using cellular imaging in rodents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jerry L. Chen
- Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland CH-8057
| | - Mark L. Andermann
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215
| | - Tara Keck
- MRC Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
| | - Ning-Long Xu
- Janelia Farm Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, Virginia 20147, and
| | - Yaniv Ziv
- Clark Center for Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Chen JL, Pfäffli OA, Voigt FF, Margolis DJ, Helmchen F. Online correction of licking-induced brain motion during two-photon imaging with a tunable lens. J Physiol 2013; 591:4689-98. [PMID: 23940380 DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2013.259804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Two-photon calcium imaging in awake, head-fixed animals enables the measurement of neuronal activity during behaviour. Often, licking for the retrieval of water reward is used as a measurable report of the animal's decision during reward-driven behaviour. However, licking behaviour can induce severe motion artifacts that interfere with two-photon imaging of cellular activity. Here, we describe a simple method for the online correction of licking-induced focus shifts for two-photon calcium imaging of neocortical neurons in the head-fixed mouse. We found that licking causes a stereotyped drop of neocortical tissue, shifting neurons up to 20 μm out of focus. Based on the measurement of licking with a piezo film sensor, we developed a feedback model, which provides a corrective signal for fast optical focus adjustments with an electrically tunable lens. Using online correction with this feedback model, we demonstrate a reduction of licking-related focus changes below 3 μm, minimizing motion artifact contamination of cellular calcium signals. Focus correction with a tunable lens is a simple and effective method to improve the ability to monitor neuronal activity during reward-based behaviour.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jerry L Chen
- J. L. Chen: University of Zurich, Brain Research Institute, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 55H64, Zurich, CH-8057, Switzerland.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|