Expectation violations enhance neuronal encoding of sensory information in mouse primary visual cortex

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Computational Neuroscience
• Sensory Processing

Background:

• Cortical neuron responses are influenced by past events (adaptation) and future expectations (prediction).
• Understanding how expectation shapes sensory processing in the primary visual cortex (V1) is crucial for comprehending brain function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of expectation on orientation selectivity in the primary visual cortex (V1) using a visual stimulus paradigm.
• To characterize the impact of stimulus predictability on neuronal responses in V1.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a visual stimulus paradigm with varying levels of predictability in male mice.
• Recorded neuronal activity using two-photon calcium imaging (GCaMP6f).
• Employed a computational model to analyze neuronal response variability.

Main Results:

• Observed significant enhancement in the gain of orientation-selective responses to unexpected gratings for both single neurons and the neuronal population.
• This gain-enhancement effect was consistent in both awake and anesthetized mice.
• A computational model demonstrated that combining adaptation and expectation effects best explained trial-to-trial response variability.

Conclusions:

• Expectation significantly enhances orientation-selective responses to unexpected visual stimuli in the primary visual cortex (V1).
• The findings highlight the interplay between adaptation and expectation in shaping neuronal responses.
• The observed effects are robust across different states of arousal (awake and anesthetized).