Abstract
Thalamic relay cells fire action potentials that transmit information from retina to cortex. The amount of information that spike trains encode is usually estimated from the precision of spike timing with respect to the stimulus. Sensory input, however, is only one factor that influences neural activity. For example, intrinsic dynamics, such as oscillations of networks of neurons, also modulate firing pattern. Here, we asked if retinal oscillations might help to convey information to neurons downstream. Specifically, we made whole-cell recordings from relay cells to reveal retinal inputs (EPSPs) and thalamic outputs (spikes) and then analyzed these events with information theory. Our results show that thalamic spike trains operate as two multiplexed channels. One channel, which occupies a low frequency band (<30 Hz), is encoded by average firing rate with respect to the stimulus and carries information about local changes in the visual field over time. The other operates in the gamma frequency band (40-80 Hz) and is encoded by spike timing relative to retinal oscillations. At times, the second channel conveyed even more information than the first. Because retinal oscillations involve extensive networks of ganglion cells, it is likely that the second channel transmits information about global features of the visual scene.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Article number | 4 |
| Journal | Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience |
| Volume | 3 |
| Issue number | APR |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Apr 10 2009 |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- LGN
- Natural stimuli
- Oscillations
- Retina
- Visual coding
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neuroscience (miscellaneous)
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Developmental Neuroscience
Cite this
Retinal oscillations carry visual information to cortex. / Koepsell, Kilian; Wang, Xin; Vaingankar, Vishal; Wei, Yichun; Wang, Qingbo; Rathbun, Daniel L.; Usrey, William Martin; Hirsch, Judith A.; Sommer, Friedrich T.
In: Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience, Vol. 3, No. APR, 4, 10.04.2009.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Retinal oscillations carry visual information to cortex
AU - Koepsell, Kilian
AU - Wang, Xin
AU - Vaingankar, Vishal
AU - Wei, Yichun
AU - Wang, Qingbo
AU - Rathbun, Daniel L.
AU - Usrey, William Martin
AU - Hirsch, Judith A.
AU - Sommer, Friedrich T.
PY - 2009/4/10
Y1 - 2009/4/10
N2 - Thalamic relay cells fire action potentials that transmit information from retina to cortex. The amount of information that spike trains encode is usually estimated from the precision of spike timing with respect to the stimulus. Sensory input, however, is only one factor that influences neural activity. For example, intrinsic dynamics, such as oscillations of networks of neurons, also modulate firing pattern. Here, we asked if retinal oscillations might help to convey information to neurons downstream. Specifically, we made whole-cell recordings from relay cells to reveal retinal inputs (EPSPs) and thalamic outputs (spikes) and then analyzed these events with information theory. Our results show that thalamic spike trains operate as two multiplexed channels. One channel, which occupies a low frequency band (<30 Hz), is encoded by average firing rate with respect to the stimulus and carries information about local changes in the visual field over time. The other operates in the gamma frequency band (40-80 Hz) and is encoded by spike timing relative to retinal oscillations. At times, the second channel conveyed even more information than the first. Because retinal oscillations involve extensive networks of ganglion cells, it is likely that the second channel transmits information about global features of the visual scene.
AB - Thalamic relay cells fire action potentials that transmit information from retina to cortex. The amount of information that spike trains encode is usually estimated from the precision of spike timing with respect to the stimulus. Sensory input, however, is only one factor that influences neural activity. For example, intrinsic dynamics, such as oscillations of networks of neurons, also modulate firing pattern. Here, we asked if retinal oscillations might help to convey information to neurons downstream. Specifically, we made whole-cell recordings from relay cells to reveal retinal inputs (EPSPs) and thalamic outputs (spikes) and then analyzed these events with information theory. Our results show that thalamic spike trains operate as two multiplexed channels. One channel, which occupies a low frequency band (<30 Hz), is encoded by average firing rate with respect to the stimulus and carries information about local changes in the visual field over time. The other operates in the gamma frequency band (40-80 Hz) and is encoded by spike timing relative to retinal oscillations. At times, the second channel conveyed even more information than the first. Because retinal oscillations involve extensive networks of ganglion cells, it is likely that the second channel transmits information about global features of the visual scene.
KW - LGN
KW - Natural stimuli
KW - Oscillations
KW - Retina
KW - Visual coding
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84890865275&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84890865275&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/neuro.06.004.2009
DO - 10.3389/neuro.06.004.2009
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84890865275
VL - 3
JO - Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience
JF - Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience
SN - 1662-5137
IS - APR
M1 - 4
ER -