Functional Organization of Visual Area MT

视觉区域 MT 的功能组织

• 批准号: 7032940
• 负责人: RICHARD T BORN
• 金额: $ 41.38万
• 依托单位: HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 1996
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1996-05-01 至 2010-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/7032940
• 关键词: Primates; behavior test; eye movements; ganglion cell; magnetic resonance imaging; microelectrodes; neural information processing; neuronal transport; perception; rabies virus; radiotracer; synapses; visual cortex; visual pathways; visual stimulus

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The cerebral cortex consists of numerous, relatively discrete, areas that are specialized for various functions. In the visual system, the connections between these areas are orderly and hierarchical, with relatively more abstract representations of the visual world emerging at higher levels of the hierarchy. In addition, different visual attributes, such as motion and color, are, to a first approximation, processed in separate, parallel "streams." However, the visual system is also characterized by rich sets of interconnections between different processing streams, so that any given area will receive inputs from many other areas. What is the role of the various different inputs in generating the particular response properties of a given set of neurons? We propose to use the middle temporal visual area (MT or V5) as a model system with which to address this question. Because a number of higher-level visual motion computations have been identified in MT neurons, and because the different routes of information flow are reasonably well known, we can begin to dissect the role played by the various inputs in generating more complex receptive field properties. This proposal will focus on the anatomical and functional relationships between cortical and subcortical pathways to MT. A combination of novel anatomical techniques (multi-synaptic, retrograde viral tracers), functional techniques (single unit recording, reversible inactivation, 2-deoxyglucose) and behavior (eye movements) will be used to elucidate the role of the so-called "indirect pathways" in shaping the response properties of MT neurons. The result of these experiments will be a better understanding of the cortical circuitry that gives rise to the receptive field properties of MT neurons and of the role that they play in perception and visually guided behavior. Ultimately, these studies will inform our understanding of the biological basis of mental life, which is critical for the treatment and cure of mental disorders.

描述（由申请人提供）：大脑皮层由许多相对离散的区域组成，这些区域专门负责各种功能。在视觉系统中，这些区域之间的连接是有序且分层的，在层次结构的较高级别上出现相对更抽象的视觉世界表示。此外，不同的视觉属性，例如运动和颜色，在第一近似中是在单独的、并行的“流”中处理的。然而，视觉系统的另一个特点是不同处理流之间有丰富的互连集，因此任何给定区域都将接收来自许多其他区域的输入。各种不同的输入在生成给定神经元组的特定响应属性方面的作用是什么？我们建议使用中颞视觉区域（MT 或 V5）作为模型系统来解决这个问题。因为在 MT 神经元中已经识别出许多高级视觉运动计算，并且因为信息流的不同路径是众所周知的，所以我们可以开始剖析各种输入在生成更复杂的感受野属性中所扮演的角色。该提案将重点关注 MT 的皮质和皮质下通路之间的解剖学和功能关系。新颖的解剖技术（多突触、逆行病毒示踪剂）、功能技术（单单位记录、可逆失活、2-脱氧葡萄糖）和行为（眼球运动）的结合将用于阐明所谓的“间接”的作用。途径”塑造 MT 神经元的反应特性。这些实验的结果将是更好地理解产生 MT 神经元感受野特性的皮质回路，以及它们在感知和视觉引导行为中所发挥的作用。最终，这些研究将帮助我们了解精神生活的生物学基础，这对于精神障碍的治疗和治愈至关重要。