Haptic
perception
synthesizes
touch
with
proprioception,
the
sense
of
body
position.
Humans
and
mice
alike
experience
rich
active
face.
Because
most
facial
muscles
lack
proprioceptor
endings,
sensory
basis
proprioception
remains
unsolved.
Facial
may
instead
rely
on
mechanoreceptors
that
encode
both
self-motion.
In
rodents,
whisker
provide
a
signal
informs
brain
about
Whisking
involves
coordinated
orofacial
movements,
so
innervating
regions
other
than
whiskers
could
also
information
whisking.
To
define
all
sources
whisking
available
to
brain,
we
recorded
spikes
from
diverse
parts
Whisker
motion
was
encoded
best
by
mechanoreceptors,
but
those
pad
hairy
skin
supraorbital
vibrissae.
Redundant
self-motion
responses
stable
proprioceptive
despite
mechanical
perturbations
during
touch.
Objective
and
automatic
measurement
of
pain
in
mice
remains
a
barrier
for
discovery
neuroscience.
Here,
we
capture
paw
kinematics
during
behavior
with
high-speed
videography
automated
tracking
machine
deep
learning
approaches.
Our
statistical
software
platform,
PAWS
(Pain
Assessment
at
Withdrawal
Speeds),
uses
univariate
projection
position
over
time
to
automatically
quantify
seven
behavioral
features
that
are
combined
into
single,
score.
Automated
reveals
behaviorally
divergent
mouse
strain
displays
hypersensitivity
mechanical
stimuli.
To
demonstrate
the
efficacy
detecting
spinally
versus
centrally
mediated
responses,
chemogenetically
activated
nociceptive
neurons
amygdala,
which
further
separated
pain-related
resulting
Taken
together,
this
quantification
approach
will
increase
objectivity
collecting
rigorous
data,
it
is
compatible
other
neural
circuit
dissection
tools
determining
state.
Neurons
coordinate
their
activity
to
produce
an
astonishing
variety
of
motor
behaviors.
Our
present
understanding
control
has
grown
rapidly
thanks
new
methods
for
recording
and
analyzing
populations
many
individual
neurons
over
time.
In
contrast,
current
the
nervous
system's
actual
output
-
activation
muscle
fibers
by
typically
cannot
detect
electrical
events
produced
during
natural
behaviors
scale
poorly
across
species
groups.
Here
we
a
novel
class
electrode
devices
('Myomatrix
arrays')
that
record
at
unprecedented
resolution
muscles
High-density,
flexible
arrays
allow
stable
recordings
from
activated
single
neuron,
called
'motor
unit,'
in
species,
including
mice,
rats,
primates,
songbirds,
frogs,
insects.
This
technology
therefore
allows
be
monitored
detail
complex
morphologies.
We
anticipate
this
will
rapid
advances
neural
behavior
identifying
pathologies
system.
Progress in Neurobiology,
Journal Year:
2021,
Volume and Issue:
201, P. 102008 - 102008
Published: Feb. 15, 2021
Our
understanding
of
the
neural
basis
somatosensation
is
based
largely
on
studies
whisker
system
mice
and
rats
hands
macaque
monkeys.
Results
across
these
animal
models
are
often
interpreted
as
providing
direct
insight
into
human
somatosensation.
Work
systems
has
proceeded
in
parallel,
capitalizing
strengths
each
model,
but
rarely
been
considered
a
whole.
This
lack
integration
promotes
piecemeal
Here,
we
examine
functions
morphologies
whiskers
rats,
monkeys,
somatosensory
neuraxes
three
species.
We
then
discuss
how
information
encoded
their
respective
nervous
systems,
highlighting
similarities
differences.
reflect
limitations
consider
key
gaps
our
Neuroscience,
Journal Year:
2017,
Volume and Issue:
368, P. 95 - 108
Published: Aug. 24, 2017
A
fundamental
question
in
the
investigation
of
any
sensory
system
is
what
physical
signals
drive
its
neurons
during
natural
behavior.
Surprisingly,
whisker
system,
it
only
recently
that
answers
to
this
have
emerged.
Here,
we
review
key
developments,
focussing
mainly
on
first
stage
ascending
pathway
–
primary
afferents
(PWAs).
We
consider
a
biomechanical
framework,
which
describes
mechanical
forces
acting
whiskers
active
sensation.
then
discuss
technical
progress
has
allowed
such
variables
be
estimated
awake,
behaving
animals.
past
electrophysiological
evidence
concerning
how
PWAs
function
and
reinterpret
within
framework.
Finally,
recent
studies
animals
compare
results
related
cortex.
argue
understanding
'what
tell
brain'
sheds
valuable
light
computational
functions
downstream
neural
circuits,
particular,
barrel
Scientific Reports,
Journal Year:
2020,
Volume and Issue:
10(1)
Published: Oct. 14, 2020
Abstract
The
ongoing
research
on
and
development
of
increasingly
intelligent
artificial
systems
propels
the
need
for
bio
inspired
pressure
sensitive
spiking
circuits.
Here
we
present
an
adapting
tactile
sensor,
based
a
neuronal
model
piezoelectric
field-effect
transistor
(PiezoFET).
sensor
device
consists
metal-oxide
semiconductor
comprising
aluminium-scandium-nitride
(Al
x
Sc
1−x
N)
layer
inside
gate
stack.
so
augmented
is
to
mechanical
stress.
In
combination
with
analogue
circuit,
this
unit
capable
encoding
quantity
into
series
spikes
adaptation
output
frequency.
This
allows
broad
application
in
context
robotic
neuromorphic
systems,
since
it
enables
said
receive
information
from
surrounding
environment
provide
encoded
spike
trains
hardware.
We
numerical
experimental
results
sensor.
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
13(1)
Published: Sept. 19, 2022
Abstract
Sensory
input
arrives
from
thalamus
in
cortical
layer
(L)
4,
which
outputs
predominantly
to
superficial
layers.
L4
L2
thus
constitutes
one
of
the
earliest
feedforward
networks.
Despite
extensive
study,
transformation
performed
by
this
network
remains
poorly
understood.
We
use
two-photon
calcium
imaging
record
neural
activity
L2-4
primary
vibrissal
somatosensory
cortex
(vS1)
as
mice
perform
an
object
localization
task
with
two
whiskers.
Touch
responses
sparsen
and
become
more
reliable
L2,
nearly
half
touch
response
confined
~1
%
excitatory
neurons.
These
highly
responsive
neurons
have
broad
receptive
fields
can
accurately
decode
stimulus
features.
They
participate
disproportionately
ensembles,
small
subnetworks
elevated
pairwise
correlations.
Thus,
transitions
distributed
probabilistic
coding
sparse
robust
ensemble-based
coding,
resulting
efficient
accurate
representations.
Cell Reports,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
43(5), P. 114197 - 114197
Published: May 1, 2024
Interneurons
(INs),
specifically
those
in
disinhibitory
circuits
like
somatostatin
(SST)
and
vasoactive
intestinal
peptide
(VIP)-INs,
are
strongly
modulated
by
the
behavioral
context.
Yet,
mechanisms
which
these
INs
recruited
during
active
states
whether
their
activity
is
consistent
across
sensory
cortices
remain
unclear.
We
now
report
that
mice,
locomotor
recruits
SST-INs
primary
somatosensory
(S1)
but
not
visual
(V1)
cortex.
This
diverse
engagement
of
cannot
be
explained
differences
VIP-IN
function
absent
presence
input,
suggesting
involvement
feedforward
pathways.
Accordingly,
inactivating
thalamus,
decreasing
activity,
significantly
reduces
modulation
locomotion.
Model
simulations
suggest
can
varying
ratios
VIP-
thalamus-driven
activity.
By
integrating
with
neuromodulation,
anticipated
to
crucial
for
adapting
processing
states.