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Monocular Visual Deprivation and Ocular Dominance Plasticity Measurement in the Mouse Primary Visual Cortex
Published on: February 8, 2020
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Organization of feedback projections to mouse primary visual cortex.
Mai M Morimoto1, Emi Uchishiba1, Aman B Saleem1
1UCL Institute of Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Experimental Psychology, University College London, London, WC1H 0AP, UK.
Iscience
|June 11, 2021
Summary
Researchers mapped feedback projections to the mouse primary visual cortex (V1). They discovered over 24 input areas, revealing organized feedback influencing visual processing and context-dependent modulation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Visual Processing
- Cortical Circuits
Background:
- Top-down modulation of visual processing is crucial but feedback projections to the primary visual cortex (V1) remain poorly understood.
- Understanding these feedback pathways is key to deciphering context-dependent visual perception.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the organization and sources of feedback projections targeting the mouse primary visual cortex (V1).
- To identify specific brain regions providing input to V1 and characterize their projection patterns.
Main Methods:
- Retrograde tracers were injected into mouse V1 to label projection neurons.
- A custom software pipeline was developed to map labeled cells to the Allen Reference Atlas.
- Projection topography and bias were quantified to assess organization.
Main Results:
- Over 24 distinct brain areas were identified as projecting to V1.
- The relative strength of these projections was quantified.
- Projections from higher visual and nonvisual areas exhibited significant topography and bias.
Conclusions:
- Feedback projections to V1 are widespread and organized, originating from numerous higher visual and nonvisual areas.
- The observed topography and bias suggest spatially specific modulation of visual information.
- This organized feedback is likely critical for context-dependent visual processing relevant to animal navigation.
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