title: Temporal decorrelation by SK channels enables efficient neural coding and perception of natural stimuli.
abstract: It is commonly assumed that neural systems efficiently process natural sensory input. However, the mechanisms by which such efficient processing is achieved, and the consequences for perception and behaviour remain poorly understood. Here we show that small conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK) channels enable efficient neural processing and perception of natural stimuli. Specifically, these channels allow for the high-pass filtering of sensory input, thereby removing temporal correlations or, equivalently, whitening frequency response power. Varying the degree of adaptation through pharmacological manipulation of SK channels reduced efficiency of coding of natural stimuli, which in turn gave rise to predictable changes in behavioural responses that were no longer matched to natural stimulus statistics. Our results thus demonstrate a novel mechanism by which the nervous system can implement efficient processing and perception of natural sensory input that is likely to be shared across systems and species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, McGill University, 3655 Sir William Osler, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3G 1Y6.
authors.forename: Chengjie G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, McGill University, 3655 Sir William Osler, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3G 1Y6.
authors.forename: Zhubo D
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, McGill University, 3655 Sir William Osler, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3G 1Y6.
authors.forename: Maurice J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Chacron
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000473:Alkanes / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D002120:Calcium Channel Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D004555:Electric Fish / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D005399:Fishes; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D053403:Lateral Line System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D046709:Pattern Recognition, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011806:Quinolinium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D051640:Small-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: C110349:6,10-diaza-3(1,3),8(1,4)dibenzena-1,5(1,4)diquinolinacyclodecaphane; D000473:Alkanes; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D002120:Calcium Channel Agonists; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D011806:Quinolinium Compounds; D051640:Small-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels; D018698:Glutamic Acid; C102635:1-ethyl-2-benzimidazolinone