Prefrontal cortex is known to exert its control over representation of visual signals in extrastriate areas such as V4. Frontal Eye Field (FEF) is suggested to be the proxy for the prefrontal control of visual signals. However, it is not known which aspects of sensory representation within extrastriate areas are under the influence of FEF activity. We employed a causal manipulation to examine how FEF activity contributes to spatial sensitivity of extrastriate neurons. Finding FEF and V4 areas with overlapping response field (RF) in two macaque monkeys, we recorded V4 responses before and after inactivation of the overlapping FEF. We assessed spatial sensitivity of V4 neurons in terms of their response gain, RF spread, coding capacity, and spatial discriminability. Unexpectedly, we found that in the absence of FEF activity, spontaneous and visually-evoked activity of V4 neurons both increase and their RFs enlarge. However, assessing the spatial sensitivity within V4, we found that these changes were associated with a reduction in the ability of V4 neurons to represent spatial information: After FEF inactivation, V4 neurons showed a reduced response gain and a decrease in their spatial discriminability and coding capacity. These results show the necessity of FEF activity for shaping spatial responses of extrastriate neurons and indicates the importance of FEF inputs in sharpening the sensitivity of V4 responses.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2023.10.25.564095 | DOI Listing |
Over the past two decades, rapid advancements in magnetic resonance technology have significantly enhanced the imaging resolution of functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), far surpassing its initial capabilities. Beyond mapping brain functional architecture at unprecedented scales, high-spatial-resolution acquisitions have also inspired and enabled several novel analytical strategies that can potentially improve the sensitivity and neuronal specificity of fMRI. With small voxels, one can sample from different levels of the vascular hierarchy within the cerebral cortex and resolve the temporal progression of hemodynamic changes from parenchymal to pial vessels.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe advent of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has greatly enhanced our ability to explore cellular heterogeneity with high resolution. Identifying subpopulations of cells and their associated molecular markers is crucial in understanding their distinct roles in tissues. To address the challenges in marker gene selection, we introduce CORTADO, a computational framework based on hill-climbing optimization for the efficient discovery of cell-type-specific markers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBrain functional connectivity patterns exhibit distinctive, individualized characteristics capable of distinguishing one individual from others, like fingerprint. Accurate and reliable depiction of individualized functional connectivity patterns during infancy is crucial for advancing our understanding of individual uniqueness and variability of the intrinsic functional architecture during dynamic early brain development, as well as its role in neurodevelopmental disorders. However, the highly dynamic and rapidly developing nature of the infant brain presents significant challenges in capturing robust and stable functional fingerprint, resulting in low accuracy in individual identification over ages during infancy using functional connectivity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnlabelled: Evaluating tissue microstructure and membrane integrity in the living human brain through diffusion-water exchange imaging is challenging due to requirements for a high signal-to-noise ratio and short diffusion times dictated by relatively fast exchange processes. The goal of this work was to demonstrate the feasibility of imaging of tissue micro-geometries and water exchange within the brain gray matter using the state-of-the-art Connectome 2.0 scanner equipped with an ultra-high-performance gradient system (maximum gradient strength=500 mT/m, maximum slew rate=600 T/m/s).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMed Phys
January 2025
Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Background: A stemless plastic scintillation detector (SPSD) is composed of an organic plastic scintillator coupled to an organic photodiode. Previous research has shown that SPSDs are ideally suited to challenging dosimetry measurements such as output factors and profiles in small fields. Lacking from the current literature is a systematic effort to optimize the performance of the photodiode component of the detector.
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