A Cellular Resolution Map of Barrel Cortex Activity during Tactile Behavior.
Comprehensive measurement of neural activity remains challenging due to the large numbers of neurons in each brain area. We used volumetric two-photon imaging in mice expressing GCaMP6s and nuclear red fluorescent proteins to sample activity in 75% of superficial barrel cortex neurons across the relevant cortical columns, approximately 12,000 neurons per animal, during performance of a single whisker object localization task. Task-related activity peaked during object palpation. An encoding model related activity to behavioral variables. In the column corresponding to the spared whisker, 300 layer (L) 2/3 pyramidal neurons (17%) each encoded touch and whisker movements. Touch representation declined by half in surrounding columns; whisker movement representation was unchanged. Following the emergence of stereotyped task-related movement, sensory representations showed no measurable plasticity. Touch direction was topographically organized, with distinct organization for passive and active touch. Our work reveals sparse and spatially intermingled representations of multiple tactile features. VIDEO ABSTRACT.
Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA.
Simon P
SP
Peron
Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA.
Jeremy
J
Freeman
Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA.
Vijay
V
Iyer
Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA.
Caiying
C
Guo
Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA. Electronic address: svobodak@janelia.hhmi.org.
Karel
K
Svoboda
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000235:genetics; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D062308:Optogenetics; D009949:Orientation; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology*; D014738:Vibrissae / Q000294:innervation*; D000097573:Red Fluorescent Protein
D002118:Calcium; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; D000097573:Red Fluorescent Protein; C110853:Gt(ROSA)26Sor non-coding RNA, mouse; C401141:glutamate decarboxylase 2