bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Aug. 26, 2023
Do
cortical
neurons
that
send
axonal
projections
to
the
same
target
area
form
specialized
population
codes
for
transmitting
information?
We
used
calcium
imaging
in
mouse
posterior
parietal
cortex
(PPC),
retrograde
labeling,
and
statistical
multivariate
models
address
this
question
during
a
delayed
match-to-sample
task.
found
PPC
broadcasts
sensory,
choice,
locomotion
signals
widely,
but
sensory
information
is
enriched
output
anterior
cingulate
cortex.
Neurons
projecting
have
elevated
pairwise
activity
correlations.
These
correlations
are
structured
as
information-limiting
information-enhancing
interaction
networks
collectively
enhance
levels.
This
network
structure
unique
sub-populations
strikingly
absent
surrounding
neural
populations
with
unidentified
projections.
Furthermore,
only
present
when
mice
make
correct,
not
incorrect,
behavioral
choices.
Therefore,
comprising
an
pathway
uniquely
transmission
guide
accurate
behavior.
Nature Neuroscience,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
27(7), P. 1349 - 1363
Published: July 1, 2024
Abstract
Flexible
computation
is
a
hallmark
of
intelligent
behavior.
However,
little
known
about
how
neural
networks
contextually
reconfigure
for
different
computations.
In
the
present
work,
we
identified
an
algorithmic
substrate
modular
through
study
multitasking
artificial
recurrent
networks.
Dynamical
systems
analyses
revealed
learned
computational
strategies
mirroring
subtask
structure
training
task
set.
motifs,
which
are
recurring
patterns
activity
that
implement
specific
computations
dynamics,
such
as
attractors,
decision
boundaries
and
rotations,
were
reused
across
tasks.
For
example,
tasks
requiring
memory
continuous
circular
variable
repurposed
same
ring
attractor.
We
showed
dynamical
motifs
implemented
by
clusters
units
when
unit
activation
function
was
restricted
to
be
positive.
Cluster
lesions
caused
performance
deficits.
Motifs
reconfigured
fast
transfer
learning
after
initial
phase
learning.
This
work
establishes
fundamental
compositional
computation,
intermediate
between
neuron
network.
As
whole-brain
studies
simultaneously
record
from
multiple
specialized
systems,
motif
framework
will
guide
questions
specialization
generalization.
Cell,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
187(20), P. 5679 - 5697.e23
Published: Aug. 22, 2024
Animals
adapt
to
environmental
conditions
by
modifying
the
function
of
their
internal
organs,
including
brain.
To
be
adaptive,
alterations
in
behavior
must
coordinated
with
functional
state
organs
throughout
body.
Here,
we
find
that
thyroid
hormone-a
regulator
metabolism
many
peripheral
organs-directly
activates
cell-type-specific
transcriptional
programs
frontal
cortex
adult
male
mice.
These
are
enriched
for
axon-guidance
genes
glutamatergic
projection
neurons,
synaptic
regulatory
both
astrocytes
and
pro-myelination
factors
oligodendrocytes,
suggesting
widespread
plasticity
cortical
circuits.
Indeed,
whole-cell
electrophysiology
revealed
hormone
alters
excitatory
inhibitory
transmission,
an
effect
requires
hormone-induced
gene
presynaptic
neurons.
Furthermore,
action
regulates
innate
exploratory
behaviors
causally
promotes
decision-making.
Thus,
acts
directly
on
cerebral
males
coordinate
whole-body
metabolic
state.
Neuron,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
110(15), P. 2484 - 2502.e16
Published: June 8, 2022
Animals
adaptively
integrate
sensation,
planning,
and
action
to
navigate
toward
goal
locations
in
ever-changing
environments,
but
the
functional
organization
of
cortex
supporting
these
processes
remains
unclear.
We
characterized
encoding
approximately
90,000
neurons
across
mouse
posterior
during
a
virtual
navigation
task
with
rule
switching.
The
behavioral
variables
was
highly
distributed
cortical
areas
differed
magnitude,
resulting
three
spatial
gradients
for
visual
cue,
position
plus
dynamics
choice
formation,
locomotion,
peaks
respectively
visual,
retrosplenial,
parietal
cortices.
Surprisingly,
conjunctive
single
similar
throughout
cortex,
creating
high-dimensional
representations
all
instead
revealing
computations
specialized
each
area.
propose
that,
guiding
decisions,
operates
parallel
rather
than
hierarchically,
collectively
generates
state
representation
behavior
environment,
area
handling
distinct
information
modalities.
Neural
activity
in
the
mammalian
cortex
has
been
studied
extensively
during
decision
tasks,
and
recent
work
aims
to
identify
under
what
conditions
is
actually
necessary
for
these
tasks.
We
discovered
that
mice
with
distinct
cognitive
experiences,
beyond
sensory
motor
learning,
use
different
cortical
areas
neural
patterns
solve
same
navigation
task,
revealing
past
learning
as
a
critical
determinant
of
whether
goal-directed
navigation.
used
optogenetics
calcium
imaging
study
necessity
multiple
training
histories.
Posterior
parietal
retrosplenial
were
mostly
dispensable
accurate
performance
simple
task.
In
contrast,
essential
task
when
previously
trained
on
complex
tasks
delay
periods
or
association
switches.
Multiarea
showed
that,
complex-task
experience,
single-neuron
had
higher
selectivity
neuron–neuron
correlations
weaker,
leading
codes
information.
Therefore,
experience
key
factor
determining
have
causal
role
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
378(1886)
Published: Aug. 7, 2023
The
definition
of
the
visual
cortex
is
primarily
based
on
evidence
that
lesions
this
area
impair
perception.
However,
does
not
exclude
may
process
more
information
than
retinal
origin
alone,
or
other
brain
structures
contribute
to
vision.
Indeed,
research
across
past
decades
has
shown
non-visual
information,
such
as
neural
activity
related
reward
expectation
and
value,
locomotion,
working
memory
sensory
modalities,
can
modulate
primary
cortical
responses
inputs.
Nevertheless,
function
poorly
understood.
Here
we
review
recent
evidence,
coming
from
studies
in
rodents,
arguing
motor
effects
play
a
role
processing
itself,
for
instance
disentangling
direct
auditory
sound-evoked
orofacial
movement.
These
findings
are
placed
broader
framework
casting
vision
terms
predictive
under
control
frontal,
reward-
motor-related
systems.
In
contrast
prevalent
notion
exclusively
constructed
by
system,
propose
percepts
generated
larger
network-the
extended
system-spanning
cortices,
supramodal
areas
frontal
This
article
part
theme
issue
'Decision
processes
multisensory
perception'.
Science Advances,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
10(33)
Published: Aug. 14, 2024
Perceptual
learning
leads
to
improvement
in
behavioral
performance,
yet
how
the
brain
supports
challenging
perceptual
demands
is
unknown.
We
used
two
photon
imaging
mouse
primary
auditory
cortex
during
behavior
a
Go-NoGo
task
designed
test
difficulty.
Using
general
linear
model
analysis,
we
found
subset
of
neurons
that
increased
their
responses
high
demands.
Single
both
Go
and
NoGo
sounds
when
mice
were
engaged
more
difficult
discrimination.
This
responsiveness
contributes
enhanced
cortical
network
discriminability
for
learned
sounds.
Under
passive
listening
conditions,
same
responded
weaker
similar
sound
pairs
task,
training
protocol
by
itself
induced
specific
suppression
Our
findings
identify
neuronal
activity
modulated
demands,
which
fundamental
feature
associated
with
improvement.
Journal of Neuroscience,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
42(26), P. 5229 - 5245
Published: May 31, 2022
The
posterior
parietal
cortex
(PPC)
plays
a
key
role
in
integrating
sensory
inputs
from
different
modalities
to
support
adaptive
behavior.
Neuronal
activity
PPC
reflects
perceptual
decision-making
across
behavioral
tasks,
but
the
mechanistic
involvement
of
is
unclear.
In
an
audiovisual
change
detection
task,
we
tested
hypothesis
that
required
arbitrate
between
noisy
two
and
help
decide
which
modality
occurred.
trained
male
mice,
found
extensive
single-neuron
population-level
encoding
task-relevant
visual
auditory
stimuli,
trial
history,
as
well
upcoming
responses.
However,
despite
these
rich
neural
correlates,
would
theoretically
be
sufficient
solve
optogenetic
inactivation
did
not
affect
or
performance.
Thus,
correlates
faithfully
tracking
variables
predicting
responses,
was
relevant
for
detection.
This
functional
dissociation
questions
sensory-
task-related
associative
circuits
during
Furthermore,
our
results
highlight
necessity
dissociate
when
exploring
basis
perception
SIGNIFICANCE
STATEMENT
active
many
daily
capturing
its
function
has
remained
challenging.
Specifically,
it
proposed
integration
hub
multisensory
inputs.
Here,
that,
rather
than
classical
cue
integration,
mouse
involved
segregation
discrimination
modalities.
Surprisingly,
although
tracked
current
past
stimuli
reflected
ongoing
process,
task
show
apparent
redundancy
PPC.
These
narrow
down
circuits,
direct
search
those
dynamics
causally
drive
decision-making.