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Spatially precise visual gain control mediated by a cholinergic circuit in the midbrain attention network

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  • Ali Asadollahi

    (Stanford University School of Medicine
    Visuo-Motor Laboratory, Rayan Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
    Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad)

  • Eric I. Knudsen

    (Stanford University School of Medicine)

Abstract

A primary function of the midbrain stimulus selection network is to compute the highest-priority location for attention and gaze. Here we report the contribution of a specific cholinergic circuit to this computation. We functionally disconnected the tegmental cholinergic nucleus isthmi pars parvocellularis (Ipc) from the optic tectum (OT) in barn owls by reversibly blocking excitatory transmission in the Ipc. Focal blockade in the Ipc decreases the gain and spatial discrimination of OT units specifically for the locations represented by the visual receptive fields (VRFs) of the disconnected Ipc units, and causes OT VRFs to shift away from that location. The results demonstrate mechanisms by which this cholinergic circuit controls bottom-up stimulus competition and by which top-down signals can bias this competition, and they establish causal linkages between a particular circuit, gain control and dynamic shifts of VRFs. This circuit may perform the same function in all vertebrate species.

Suggested Citation

  • Ali Asadollahi & Eric I. Knudsen, 2016. "Spatially precise visual gain control mediated by a cholinergic circuit in the midbrain attention network," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms13472
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13472
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    Cited by:

    1. Nagaraj R. Mahajan & Shreesh P. Mysore, 2022. "Donut-like organization of inhibition underlies categorical neural responses in the midbrain," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-17, December.

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