title: Learning Enhances Sensory and Multiple Non-sensory Representations in Primary Visual Cortex.
abstract: We determined how learning modifies neural representations in primary visual cortex (V1) during acquisition of a visually guided behavioral task. We imaged the activity of the same layer 2/3 neuronal populations as mice learned to discriminate two visual patterns while running through a virtual corridor, where one pattern was rewarded. Improvements in behavioral performance were closely associated with increasingly distinguishable population-level representations of task-relevant stimuli, as a result of stabilization of existing and recruitment of new neurons selective for these stimuli. These effects correlated with the appearance of multiple task-dependent signals during learning: those that increased neuronal selectivity across the population when expert animals engaged in the task, and those reflecting anticipation or behavioral choices specifically in neuronal subsets preferring the rewarded stimulus. Therefore, learning engages diverse mechanisms that modify sensory and non-sensory representations in V1 to adjust its processing to task requirements and the behavioral relevance of visual stimuli.
authors.affiliation: University College London, 21 University Street, London WC1E 6DE, UK.
authors.forename: Jasper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Poort
authors.affiliation: Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50/70, 4056 Basel, Switzerland; University College London, 21 University Street, London WC1E 6DE, UK.
authors.forename: Adil G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit, University College London, 17 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AR, UK.
authors.forename: Marius
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pachitariu
authors.affiliation: Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50/70, 4056 Basel, Switzerland; University College London, 21 University Street, London WC1E 6DE, UK.
authors.forename: Abdellatif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nemri
authors.affiliation: Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50/70, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Orsolic
authors.affiliation: University College London, 21 University Street, London WC1E 6DE, UK.
authors.forename: Julija
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krupic
authors.affiliation: University College London, 21 University Street, London WC1E 6DE, UK.
authors.forename: Marius
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bauza
authors.affiliation: Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit, University College London, 17 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AR, UK.
authors.forename: Maneesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sahani
authors.affiliation: Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Georg B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.affiliation: Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50/70, 4056 Basel, Switzerland; University College London, 21 University Street, London WC1E 6DE, UK.
authors.forename: Thomas D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Mrsic-Flogel
authors.affiliation: Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50/70, 4056 Basel, Switzerland; University College London, 21 University Street, London WC1E 6DE, UK. Electronic address: sonja.hofer@unibas.ch.
authors.forename: Sonja B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Hofer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D005260:Female; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D062308:Optogenetics; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D002118:Calcium