Emergence of binocular functional properties in a monocular neural circuit.
Sensory circuits frequently integrate converging inputs while maintaining precise functional relationships between them. For example, in mammals with stereopsis, neurons at the first stages of binocular visual processing show a close alignment of receptive-field properties for each eye. Still, basic questions about the global wiring mechanisms that enable this functional alignment remain unanswered, including whether the addition of a second retinal input to an otherwise monocular neural circuit is sufficient for the emergence of these binocular properties. We addressed this question by inducing a de novo binocular retinal projection to the larval zebrafish optic tectum and examining recipient neuronal populations using in vivo two-photon calcium imaging. Notably, neurons in rewired tecta were predominantly binocular and showed matching direction selectivity for each eye. We found that a model based on local inhibitory circuitry that computes direction selectivity using the topographic structure of both retinal inputs can account for the emergence of this binocular feature.
Ramdya
Pavan
P
Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, 220 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Engert
Florian
F
D000596:Amino Acids; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007814:Larva; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor / Q000172:deficiency; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D012683:Sensory Deprivation; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D015348:Vision, Binocular / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D015027:Zebrafish; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000172:deficiency
D000596:Amino Acids; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C098463:dolaisoleucine; C497237:mitfa protein, zebrafish; D002118:Calcium