Contextual and cross-modality modulation of auditory cortical processing through pulvinar mediated suppression
Year: 2020
Type: article
Abstract: Lateral posterior nucleus (LP) of thalamus, the rodent homologue of primate pulvinar, projects extensively to sensory cortices. However, its functional role in sensory cortical processing remains largely unclear. Here, bidirectional activity modulations of LP or its projection to the primary auditory cortex (A1) in awake mice reveal that LP improves auditory processing in A1 supragranular-layer neurons by sharpening their receptive fields and frequency tuning, as well as increasing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). This is achieved through a subtractive-suppression mechanism, mediated largely by LP-to-A1 axons preferentially innervating specific inhibitory neurons in layer 1 and superficial layers. LP is strongly activated by specific sensory signals relayed from the superior colliculus (SC), contributing to the maintenance and enhancement of A1 processing in the presence of auditory background noise and threatening visual looming stimuli respectively. Thus, a multisensory bottom-up SC-pulvinar-A1 pathway plays a role in contextual and cross-modality modulation of auditory cortical processing.
Source: eLife
DOI: 10.7554/elife.54157
Authors: Xiao-lin Chou, Qi Fang, Linqing Yan, Wen Zhong, Bo Peng, Haifu Li, Jinxing Wei, Huizhong W Tao, Li I Zhang
Institution: University of Southern California
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,500
Awards: Inhibitory circuitry mechanisms underlying visual cortical development and plasti, Synaptic circuitry mechanisms underlying functional development of visual cortex, Anatomical characterization of neuronal cell types of the mouse brain, Integrative approach to classifying neuronal cell types of the mouse hippocampus, Contribution of striatum to central auditory processing, Processing and transformation of visual signals in the superior colliculus
OpenAlex ID: W3010483778