Broadband visual stimuli improve neuronal representation and sensory perception

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)

Abstract

Natural scenes consist of complex feature distributions that shape neural responses and perception. However, in contrast to single features like stimulus orientations, the impact of broadband feature distributions remains unclear. We, therefore, presented visual stimuli with parametrically-controlled bandwidths of orientations and spatial frequencies to awake mice while recording neural activity in their primary visual cortex (V1). Increasing orientation but not spatial frequency bandwidth strongly increased the number and response amplitude of V1 neurons. This effect was not explained by single-cell orientation tuning but rather a broadband-specific relief from center-surround suppression. Moreover, neurons in deeper V1 and the superior colliculus responded much stronger to broadband stimuli, especially when mixing orientations and spatial frequencies. Lastly, broadband stimuli increased the separability of neural responses and improved the performance of mice in a visual discrimination task. Our results show that surround modulation increases neural responses to complex natural feature distributions to enhance sensory perception.

Authors 6

1. Elisabeta Balla Aachen Systems Neurophysiology Institute for Zoology

   RWTH Aachen University · Forschungszentrum Jülich · Jülich Aachen Research Alliance

   Affiliation as printed

   JARA BRAIN Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-10), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany

   Research Training Group 2416 MultiSenses – MultiScales, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

   Systems Neurophysiology, Institute for Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

2. Gerion Nabbefeld Aachen Systems Neurophysiology Institute for Zoology

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Research Training Group 2416 MultiSenses – MultiScales, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

   Systems Neurophysiology, Institute for Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

3. Christopher Wiesbrock Aachen Systems Neurophysiology Institute for Zoology

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Research Training Group 2416 MultiSenses – MultiScales, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

   Systems Neurophysiology, Institute for Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

4. Jenice Linde Aachen Systems Neurophysiology Institute for Zoology

   RWTH Aachen University · Forschungszentrum Jülich

   Affiliation as printed

   Research Training Group 2416 MultiSenses – MultiScales, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

   Systems Neurophysiology, Institute for Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

   Bioelectronics, Institute of Biological Information Processing-3, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany

5. Simon Musall corresponding Aachen Systems Neurophysiology Institute for Zoology

   RWTH Aachen University · Forschungszentrum Jülich

   Affiliation as printed

   Bioelectronics, Institute of Biological Information Processing-3, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany

   Research Training Group 2416 MultiSenses – MultiScales, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

   Systems Neurophysiology, Institute for Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

6. Björn M. Kampa corresponding Aachen Systems Neurophysiology Institute for Zoology

   RWTH Aachen University · Forschungszentrum Jülich · Jülich Aachen Research Alliance

   Affiliation as printed

   JARA BRAIN Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-10), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany

   Research Training Group 2416 MultiSenses – MultiScales, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

   Systems Neurophysiology, Institute for Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany