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Neuron May 2022Light is a powerful modulator of non-visual functions. Although accumulating evidence suggests an antinociceptive effect of bright light treatment, the precise circuits...
Light is a powerful modulator of non-visual functions. Although accumulating evidence suggests an antinociceptive effect of bright light treatment, the precise circuits that mediate the effects of light on nocifensive behaviors remain unclear. Here, we show that bright light treatment suppresses mouse nocifensive behaviors through a visual circuit related to the lateral and ventral lateral parts of the periaqueductal gray area (l/vlPAG). Specifically, a subset of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) innervates GABAergic neurons in the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus and intergeniculate leaflet (vLGN/IGL), which in turn inhibit GABAergic neurons in the l/vlPAG. The activation of vLGN/IGL-projecting RGCs, activation of l/vlPAG-projecting vLGN/IGL neurons, or inhibition of postsynaptic l/vlPAG neurons is sufficient to suppress nocifensive behaviors. Importantly, we demonstrate that the antinociceptive effects of bright light treatment are dependent on the activation of the retina-vLGN/IGL-l/vlPAG pathway. Together, our results delineate an l/vlPAG-related visual circuit underlying the antinociceptive effects of bright light treatment.
Topics: Analgesics; Animals; Geniculate Bodies; Mice; Periaqueductal Gray; Retinal Ganglion Cells; Visual Pathways
PubMed: 35263618
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.02.009 -
Annual Review of Vision Science Sep 2020Area V4-the focus of this review-is a mid-level processing stage along the ventral visual pathway of the macaque monkey. V4 is extensively interconnected with other... (Review)
Review
Area V4-the focus of this review-is a mid-level processing stage along the ventral visual pathway of the macaque monkey. V4 is extensively interconnected with other visual cortical areas along the ventral and dorsal visual streams, with frontal cortical areas, and with several subcortical structures. Thus, it is well poised to play a broad and integrative role in visual perception and recognition-the functional domain of the ventral pathway. Neurophysiological studies in monkeys engaged in passive fixation and behavioral tasks suggest that V4 responses are dictated by tuning in a high-dimensional stimulus space defined by form, texture, color, depth, and other attributes of visual stimuli. This high-dimensional tuning may underlie the development of object-based representations in the visual cortex that are critical for tracking, recognizing, and interacting with objects. Neurophysiological and lesion studies also suggest that V4 responses are important for guiding perceptual decisions and higher-order behavior.
Topics: Animals; Form Perception; Humans; Macaca mulatta; Pattern Recognition, Visual; Visual Cortex; Visual Pathways; Visual Perception
PubMed: 32580663
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-vision-030320-041306 -
The Journal of Neuroscience : the... Oct 2016Although much is known about the regenerative capacity of retinal ganglion cells, very significant barriers remain in our ability to restore visual function following... (Review)
Review
Although much is known about the regenerative capacity of retinal ganglion cells, very significant barriers remain in our ability to restore visual function following traumatic injury or disease-induced degeneration. Here we summarize our current understanding of the factors regulating axon guidance and target engagement in regenerating axons, and review the state of the field of neural regeneration, focusing on the visual system and highlighting studies using other model systems that can inform analysis of visual system regeneration. This overview is motivated by a Society for Neuroscience Satellite meeting, "Reconnecting Neurons in the Visual System," held in October 2015 sponsored by the National Eye Institute as part of their "Audacious Goals Initiative" and co-organized by Carol Mason (Columbia University) and Michael Crair (Yale University). The collective wisdom of the conference participants pointed to important gaps in our knowledge and barriers to progress in promoting the restoration of visual system function. This article is thus a summary of our existing understanding of visual system regeneration and provides a blueprint for future progress in the field.
Topics: Animals; Axons; Brain; Humans; Ocular Physiological Phenomena; Optic Nerve; Retinal Ganglion Cells; Visual Pathways
PubMed: 27798125
DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1711-16.2016 -
Trends in Cognitive Sciences Feb 2021Existing models propose that primate visual cortex is divided into two functionally distinct pathways. The ventral pathway computes the identity of an object; the dorsal... (Review)
Review
Existing models propose that primate visual cortex is divided into two functionally distinct pathways. The ventral pathway computes the identity of an object; the dorsal pathway computes the location of an object, and the actions related to that object. Despite remaining influential, the two visual pathways model requires revision. Both human and non-human primate studies reveal the existence of a third visual pathway on the lateral brain surface. This third pathway projects from early visual cortex, via motion-selective areas, into the superior temporal sulcus (STS). Studies demonstrating that the STS computes the actions of moving faces and bodies (e.g., expressions, eye-gaze, audio-visual integration, intention, and mood) show that the third visual pathway is specialized for the dynamic aspects of social perception.
Topics: Brain Mapping; Face; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Photic Stimulation; Social Perception; Visual Cortex; Visual Pathways; Visual Perception
PubMed: 33334693
DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2020.11.006 -
Cell Reports Oct 2022Contagious itch behavior informs conspecifics of adverse environment and is crucial for the survival of social animals. Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) and its receptor...
Contagious itch behavior informs conspecifics of adverse environment and is crucial for the survival of social animals. Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) and its receptor (GRPR) in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus mediates contagious itch behavior in mice. Here, we show that intrinsically photosensitive retina ganglion cells (ipRGCs) convey visual itch information, independently of melanopsin, from the retina to GRP neurons via PACAP-PAC1R signaling. Moreover, GRPR neurons relay itch information to the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT). Surprisingly, neither the visual cortex nor superior colliculus is involved in contagious itch. In vivo calcium imaging and extracellular recordings reveal contagious itch-specific neural dynamics of GRPR neurons. Thus, we propose that the retina-ipRGC-SCN-PVT pathway constitutes a previously unknown visual pathway that probably evolved for motion vision that encodes salient environmental cues and enables animals to imitate behaviors of conspecifics as an anticipatory mechanism to cope with adverse conditions.
Topics: Animals; Calcium; Gastrin-Releasing Peptide; Mice; Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; Pruritus; Retina; Retinal Ganglion Cells; Suprachiasmatic Nucleus; Visual Pathways
PubMed: 36198265
DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111444 -
Zoological Research Jan 2023Strabismus and amblyopia are common ophthalmologic developmental diseases caused by abnormal visual experiences. However, the underlying pathogenesis and visual defects...
Strabismus and amblyopia are common ophthalmologic developmental diseases caused by abnormal visual experiences. However, the underlying pathogenesis and visual defects are still not fully understood. Most studies have used experimental interference to establish disease-associated animal models, while ignoring the natural pathophysiological mechanisms. This study was designed to investigate whether natural strabismus and amblyopia are associated with abnormal neurological defects. We screened one natural strabismic monkey ( ) and one natural amblyopic monkey from hundreds of monkeys, and retrospectively analyzed one human strabismus case. Neuroimaging, behavioral, neurophysiological, neurostructural, and genovariation features were systematically evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), behavioral tasks, flash visual evoked potentials (FVEP), electroretinogram (ERG), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and whole-genome sequencing (WGS), respectively. Results showed that the strabismic patient and natural strabismic and amblyopic monkeys exhibited similar abnormal asymmetries in brain structure, i.e., ipsilateral impaired right hemisphere. Visual behavior, visual function, retinal structure, and fundus of the monkeys were impaired. Aberrant asymmetry in binocular visual function and structure between the strabismic and amblyopic monkeys was closely related, with greater impairment of the left visual pathway. Several similar known mutant genes for strabismus and amblyopia were also identified. In conclusion, natural strabismus and amblyopia are accompanied by abnormal asymmetries of the visual system, especially visual neurophysiological and neurostructural defects. Our results suggest that future therapeutic and mechanistic studies should consider defects and asymmetries throughout the entire visual system.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Visual Pathways; Evoked Potentials, Visual; Retrospective Studies; Haplorhini
PubMed: 36484227
DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2022.254 -
International Journal of Molecular... Oct 2020Humans express an expansive and detailed response to wavelength differences within the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum. This is most clearly manifest, and most studied,... (Review)
Review
Humans express an expansive and detailed response to wavelength differences within the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum. This is most clearly manifest, and most studied, with respect to a relatively small range of electromagnetic radiation that includes the visible wavelengths with abutting ultraviolet and infrared, and mostly with respect to the visual system. Many aspects of our biology, however, respond to wavelength differences over a wide range of the EM spectrum. Further, humans are now exposed to a variety of modern lighting situations that has, effectively, increased our exposure to wavelengths that were once likely minimal (e.g., "blue" light from devices at night). This paper reviews some of those biological effects with a focus on visual function and to a lesser extent, other body systems.
Topics: Animals; Cell Proliferation; Humans; Low-Level Light Therapy; Visual Pathways
PubMed: 33126530
DOI: 10.3390/ijms21218020 -
Frontiers in Neural Circuits 2018Visual information is already processed in the retina before it is transmitted to higher visual centers in the brain. This includes the extraction of salient features... (Review)
Review
Visual information is already processed in the retina before it is transmitted to higher visual centers in the brain. This includes the extraction of salient features from visual scenes, such as motion directionality or contrast, through neurons belonging to distinct neural circuits. Some retinal neurons are tuned to the orientation of elongated visual stimuli. Such 'orientation-selective' neurons are present in the retinae of most, if not all, vertebrate species analyzed to date, with species-specific differences in frequency and degree of tuning. In some cases, orientation-selective neurons have very stereotyped functional and morphological properties suggesting that they represent distinct cell types. In this review, we describe the retinal cell types underlying orientation selectivity found in various vertebrate species, and highlight their commonalities and differences. In addition, we discuss recent studies that revealed the cellular, synaptic and circuit mechanisms at the basis of retinal orientation selectivity. Finally, we outline the significance of these findings in shaping our current understanding of how this fundamental neural computation is implemented in the visual systems of vertebrates.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Orientation; Retina; Visual Pathways
PubMed: 29467629
DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2018.00011 -
Nature Neuroscience Oct 2017Distinct processing of objects and space has been an organizing principle for studying higher-level vision and medial temporal lobe memory. Here, however, we discuss how... (Review)
Review
Distinct processing of objects and space has been an organizing principle for studying higher-level vision and medial temporal lobe memory. Here, however, we discuss how object and spatial information are in fact closely integrated in vision and memory. The ventral, object-processing visual pathway carries precise spatial information, transformed from retinotopic coordinates into relative dimensions. At the final stages of the ventral pathway, including the dorsal anterior temporal lobe (TEd), object-sensitive neurons are intermixed with neurons that process large-scale environmental space. TEd projects primarily to perirhinal cortex (PRC), which in turn projects to lateral entorhinal cortex (LEC). PRC and LEC also combine object and spatial information. For example, PRC and LEC neurons exhibit place fields that are evoked by landmark objects or the remembered locations of objects. Thus, spatial information, on both local and global scales, is deeply integrated into the ventral (temporal) object-processing pathway in vision and memory.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Memory; Pattern Recognition, Visual; Photic Stimulation; Space Perception; Vision, Ocular; Visual Pathways
PubMed: 29073645
DOI: 10.1038/nn.4657 -
Neuroscience Bulletin Oct 2021Visual object recognition in humans and nonhuman primates is achieved by the ventral visual pathway (ventral occipital-temporal cortex, VOTC), which shows a...
Visual object recognition in humans and nonhuman primates is achieved by the ventral visual pathway (ventral occipital-temporal cortex, VOTC), which shows a well-documented object domain structure. An on-going question is what type of information is processed in the higher-order VOTC that underlies such observations, with recent evidence suggesting effects of certain visual features. Combining computational vision models, fMRI experiment using a parametric-modulation approach, and natural image statistics of common objects, we depicted the neural distribution of a comprehensive set of visual features in the VOTC, identifying voxel sensitivities with specific feature sets across geometry/shape, Fourier power, and color. The visual feature combination pattern in the VOTC is significantly explained by their relationships to different types of response-action computation (fight-or-flight, navigation, and manipulation), as derived from behavioral ratings and natural image statistics. These results offer a comprehensive visual feature map in the VOTC and a plausible theoretical explanation as a mapping onto different types of downstream response-action systems.
Topics: Animals; Brain Mapping; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Occipital Lobe; Pattern Recognition, Visual; Photic Stimulation; Temporal Lobe; Visual Pathways; Visual Perception
PubMed: 34215969
DOI: 10.1007/s12264-021-00734-4