Purkinje Cell Spatial Correlation Dynamics Are Key to Cerebellar Cortical Contributions to Behavior

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cerebellar Physiology
• Computational Neuroscience

Background:

• The cerebellum's conserved circuitry, with parasagittal and transverse architectures, is crucial for computations and behavior.
• Understanding Purkinje cell dynamics during behavior is essential but challenging.
• Previous methods limited large-scale resolution of Purkinje cell activity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate population-level Purkinje cell dynamics during behavior using novel imaging techniques.
• To resolve both dendritic and somatic Purkinje cell activity at wide fields.
• To link cerebellar circuit architecture to neural activity patterns during behavior.

Main Methods:

• Developed awake, chronic, wide-field calcium imaging of the cerebellar cortex in mice.
• Utilized sparse GCaMP6s expression for dendritic and somatic activity resolution.
• Applied blind source separation (spatial independent component analysis) to analyze neural dynamics.

Main Results:

• Identified independent components (ICs) organized parasagittally (dendrites) or spatially distributed (somata).
• Observed broad, bilateral activation of both dendritic and somatic ICs during behavior.
• Found distinct spatial correlation patterns along parasagittal and transverse axes, aligning with cerebellar geometry.
• Somatic correlation dynamics were modulated by prediction errors and behavioral outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Purkinje cell dendritic and somatic activity exhibit distinct, behaviorally relevant spatial correlation dynamics.
• These findings establish a novel link between cerebellar structure and function.
• Correlation dynamics of Purkinje cell activity are a key feature underlying cerebellar computations during behavior.