Broadband visual stimuli improve neuronal representation and sensory perception

Nature Communications, vol. 16, pp. 2957

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 7

1. Elisabeta Balla Aachen Systems Neurophysiology Department of Neurobiology

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · Jülich Aachen Research Alliance · RWTH Aachen University

   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, Department of Neurobiology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

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

2. Gerion Nabbefeld Aachen Systems Neurophysiology Department of Neurobiology

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

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

   Systems Neurophysiology, Department of Neurobiology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

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

3. Christopher Wiesbrock Aachen Systems Neurophysiology Department of Neurobiology

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

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

   Systems Neurophysiology, Department of Neurobiology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

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

4. Jenice Linde Aachen Systems Neurophysiology Department of Neurobiology

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

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

   Systems Neurophysiology, Department of Neurobiology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

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

5. Severin Graff Aachen Systems Neurophysiology Department of Neurobiology

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Biological Information Processing, Department for Bioelectronics, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany

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

   Systems Neurophysiology, Department of Neurobiology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

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

6. Simon Musall corresponding Aachen Systems Neurophysiology Department of Neurobiology

   University of Bonn · Forschungszentrum Jülich · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Experimental Epileptology and Cognition Research, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany. musall@bio2.rwth-aachen.de

   Institute of Biological Information Processing, Department for Bioelectronics, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany. musall@bio2.rwth-aachen.de

   Research Training Group 2416 MultiSenses - MultiScales, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany. musall@bio2.rwth-aachen.de

   Systems Neurophysiology, Department of Neurobiology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany. musall@bio2.rwth-aachen.de

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

   Systems Neurophysiology, Department of Neurobiology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

7. Björn M. Kampa corresponding Aachen Systems Neurophysiology Department of Neurobiology

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · Jülich Aachen Research Alliance · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   JARA BRAIN Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-10), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany. kampa@brain.rwth-aachen.de

   Research Training Group 2416 MultiSenses - MultiScales, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany. kampa@brain.rwth-aachen.de

   Systems Neurophysiology, Department of Neurobiology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany. kampa@brain.rwth-aachen.de

   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, Department of Neurobiology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany