Functional Connectivity of Primary Visual Cortex

初级视觉皮层的功能连接

• 批准号: 6764156
• 负责人: MICHAEL P STRYKER
• 金额: $ 36.88万
• 依托单位: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2001
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2001-08-01 至 2007-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/6764156
• 关键词: behavioral /social science research tag; cats; cerebral cortex; computational neuroscience; electrodes; electroencephalography; neurons; synapses; video recording system; visual cortex; visual perception

The long-term objective of our research is to understand the computations performed by cerebral cortical circuit. Toward this end, we focus on understanding the circuitry of cat primary visual cortex (VI) and the manner in which it produces the functional response properties of cat VI neurons. We focus on can VI because it is by far the best-studied piece of cerebral cortex, and because it is part of the process of visual perception which is the sensory modality that is best understood at the cortical level. In particular, we aim to understand the functional connectivity of cat V1, that is, which neurons are connected to one another by excitatory or inhibitory synapses, as a function of the visual response properties, cortical layers of origin, and excitatory or inhibitory nature of the neurons. This will be accomplished by simultaneously recording from multiple nearby neurons using the tetrode method of recording, which allows the simultaneous isolation of multiple neurons at single recording sites. We will use cross-correlation analysis to infer which of the simultaneously recorded neurons make monosynaptic connections to one another and the sign of the connection when it exists. Evidence of an inhibitory connection simultaneously provides evidence of the excitatory of inhibitory nature, respectively, of the presynaptic neuron. We will functionally characterize the recorded neurons using a combination of traditional grating stimuli and noise stimuli. We will determine the cortical layers in which recorded neurons are located through histological analysis after the conclusion of the experiment. By studying large numbers of pairs, and determining who is connected to whom, vs. cell layers functional response properties, and excitatory or inhibitory nature of the connection, we will build up a statistical picture of the functional connectivity of cat V1. This information, in interaction with modeling of the cortical circuit, provides the basis for understanding how the function of cat V1 is created from its circuit structure. Understanding of cortical function in turn provides the basis for understanding visual disorders such as amblyopia and strabismus and neurological disorders due to stroke, and more generally for understanding normal function and its disorders such as learning disabilities.

我们研究的长期目标是了解脑皮质回路执行的计算。 为此，我们专注于了解CAT主要视觉皮层（VI）的电路及其产生CAT VI神经元功能响应特性的方式。 我们专注于CAN VI，因为它是迄今为止研究最佳的大脑皮层，并且因为它是视觉感知过程的一部分，这是在皮质层面最好理解的感官方式。 特别是，我们旨在了解CAT V1的功能连接性，即神经元通过兴奋性或抑制突触相互连接，这是视觉响应特性，原始皮质层以及神经元的兴奋性或抑制性质的函数。 这将通过使用记录的四极方法同时从多个附近的神经元记录来实现这一点，该方法允许在单个记录位点同时隔离多个神经元。 我们将使用互相关分析来推断哪些同时记录的神经元将单突触连接相互连接以及连接存在的符号。 同时抑制性联系的证据分别提供了突触前神经元抑制性兴奋性的证据。我们将使用传统的光栅刺激和噪声刺激的组合来表征记录的神经元。 我们将确定实验结束后通过组织学分析所定位的皮质层。 通过研究大量对，并确定与谁连接的人，与细胞层的功能响应特性以及连接的兴奋性或抑制性质，我们将建立CAT V1功能连接性的统计图。 与皮质电路建模相互作用的此信息为理解CAT V1的功能是如何从其电路结构创建的基础。 对皮质功能的理解反过来为理解视觉障碍（例如中风而弱视和斜视和神经系统疾病）提供了基础，更普遍地是为了理解正常功能及其障碍，例如学习障碍。