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Running modulates primate and rodent visual cortex differently
John P Liska1, Declan P Rowley1,2, Trevor Thai Kim Nguyen1
1Departments of Neuroscience and Psychology, Center for Perceptual Systems, Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, United States.
Elife
|November 19, 2024
Summary
Running significantly impacts visual cortex activity in mice, but not primates. This study reveals species-specific differences in how locomotion affects visual processing, impacting the vision-action relationship.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Comparative Physiology
- Visual System Research
Background:
- The primary visual cortex (V1) in mice shows significant activity modulation during running, challenging its role as a passive processor.
- Previous research focused on dissecting the circuits and functions of running-correlated modulation in rodents.
- The impact of locomotion on visual processing in primates remains largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether visual processing in primates, specifically marmosets, is modulated by locomotion.
- To compare running-correlated V1 activity in marmosets with existing findings in mice.
- To understand the functional implications of species-specific V1 modulation during movement.
Main Methods:
- Recorded primary visual cortex (V1) activity in marmosets.
- Presented visual stimuli to marmosets while they were on a treadmill.
- Analyzed population-level V1 activity for trial-to-trial fluctuations and shared gain.
- Compared V1 modulation patterns between marmosets and mice during locomotion.
Main Results:
- Running-correlated modulations in marmoset V1 were minimal and generally suppressive, contrasting sharply with mice.
- Both species exhibited trial-to-trial fluctuations in shared V1 gain.
- In mice, gain modulations strongly correlated with running; in marmosets, they were smaller and often negatively correlated with running.
Conclusions:
- Population-wide V1 fluctuations may represent a conserved mammalian visual cortical mechanism.
- Significant quantitative differences exist in V1 modulation during locomotion between primates and rodents.
- These differences suggest distinct relationships between vision and action in primates versus rodents.
