Cholinergic and serotonergic modulation of visual information processing in monkey V1

Publication date: Available online 9 September 2016 Source:Journal of Physiology-Paris Author(s): Satoshi Shimegi, Akihiro Kimura, Akinori Sato, Chisa Aoyama, Ryo Mizuyama, Keisuke Tsunoda, Fuyuki Ueda, Sera Araki, Hiromichi Sato The brain dynamically changes its input-output relationship depending on the behavioral state and context in order to optimize information processing. At the molecular level, cholinergic/monoaminergic transmitters have been extensively studied as key players for the state/context-dependent modulation of brain function. In this paper, we review how cortical visual information processing in the primary visual cortex (V1) of macaque monkey, which has a highly differentiated laminar structure, is optimized by serotonergic and cholinergic systems by examining anatomical and in vivo electrophysiological aspects to highlight their similarities and distinctions. We show that these two systems have a similar layer bias for axonal fiber innervation and receptor distribution. The common target sites are the geniculorecipient layers and geniculocortical fibers, where the appropriate gain control is established through a geniculocortical signal transformation. Both systems exert activity-dependent response gain control across layers, but in a manner consistent with the receptor subtype. The serotonergic receptors 5-HT1B and 5HT2A modulate the contrast-response curve in a manner consistent with bi-directional response gain control, where the sign (facil...

Source: Journal of Physiology Paris - September 9, 2016 Category: Physiology Source Type: research