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"Distinct inhibitory neurons differently shape neuronal codes for sound intensity in the auditory cortex"
Melanie Tobin1, Janaki Sheth1, Katherine C Wood1
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States.
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|February 13, 2023
Summary
Distinct inhibitory neurons in the auditory cortex, somatostatin-expressing (SST) and vasoactive intestinal peptide-expressing (VIP), differentially shape neural population codes for sound intensity, influencing localist versus distributed representations.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Auditory Cortex Research
- Neuronal Coding
Background:
- Cortical circuits utilize diverse inhibitory neuron types to modulate information processing.
- Somatostatin-expressing (SST) and vasoactive intestinal peptide-expressing (VIP) neurons are key inhibitory subtypes in the cortex.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distinct effects of SST and VIP inhibitory neurons on auditory cortical population responses to varying sound intensities.
- To understand how these distinct inhibitory neurons dynamically control cortical population codes.
Main Methods:
- Optogenetic stimulation of SST or VIP neurons in awake, head-fixed mice.
- Simultaneous measurement of calcium responses in large neuronal populations within the auditory cortex.
- Analysis of population and single-cell responses to noise bursts of different intensities.
Main Results:
- SST neuron activation led to more discrete representations of sound intensity, relying on cell identity.
- VIP neuron activation resulted in overlapping neuronal populations responding to different sound intensities, encoded by response strength.
- Differential modulation of neuronal response curves by SST and VIP activation, shifting towards localist and distributed codes, respectively.
Conclusions:
- Distinct inhibitory neuron populations (SST and VIP) dynamically control auditory cortical population codes.
- These distinct codes (localist vs. distributed) may be recruited based on behavioral demands for categorical or invariant representations.
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