Functional Specialization of Seven Mouse Visual Cortical Areas

Abstract

SUMMARY To establish the mouse as a genetically-tractable model for high-order visual processing, we characterized fine-scale retinotopic organization of visual cortex, and determined functional specialization of layer 2/3 neuronal populations in seven retinotopically-identified areas. Each area contains a distinct visuotopic representation and encodes a unique combination of spatiotemporal features. Areas LM, AL, RL, and AM prefer up to three times faster temporal frequencies and significantly lower spatial frequencies than V1, while V1 and PM prefer high spatial and low temporal frequencies. LI prefers both high spatial and temporal frequencies. All extrastriate areas except LI increase orientation selectivity compared to V1, and three areas are significantly more direction selective (AL, RL, AM). Specific combinations of spatiotemporal representations further distinguish areas. These results reveal that mouse higher visual areas are functionally distinct, and separate groups of areas may be specialized for motion-related versus pattern-related computations perhaps forming pathways analogous to dorsal and ventral streams in other species.

Segregated fronto‐cortical and midbrain connections in the mouse and their relation to approach and avoidance orienting behaviors

“…Due to the increased focus in the literature on functionally defined areas it is important to relate anatomically defined label to these functional terms (Garrett, Nauhaus, Marshel, & Callaway, 2014; Marshel, Garrett, Nauhaus, & Callaway, 2011; Wang & Burkhalter, 2007). …”

“…Anatomically defined secondary visual cortex would correspond to a number of functionally defined visual regions, specifically the anteromedial area (AM), rostrolateral area (RL), and posteromedial area (PM) (Wang & Burkhalter, 2007). AM has a high temporal frequency preference which may aid an animal in detecting fast moving stimuli such as predators (Marshel et al, 2011). PM has a comparatively high spatial frequency preference which may aid in object identification in the visual environment.…”

“…PM has a comparatively high spatial frequency preference which may aid in object identification in the visual environment. Furthermore, the more medial parts of AM and PM have been shown to respond to stimuli in the peripheral visual field (Garrett et al, 2014; Marshel et al, 2011). Similarly, the visual projections of Cg terminate in V2MM and V2ML, which may match the functionally defined areas AM and PM.…”

“…The functional region RL has been previously assigned to be part of the parietal cortex of the mouse and has been implicated in visual and whisker multisensory integration (Olcese, Iurilli, & Medini, 2013). RL has a preference for high temporal frequency stimuli and represents the lower central visual field (Garrett et al, 2014; Marshel et al, 2011). In conjunction with our data, this suggests that M2 connections to RL may enhance processing of visual information in the lower visual field to aid orienting/approach behaviors.…”

The Network for Intracortical Communication in Mouse Visual Cortex

“…But the lesioning techniques used in these studies did not afford the spatial resolution for linking the behavioral deficit unequivocally to specific areas, a problem that will likely be overcome by optogenetic approaches (Lien and Scanziani 2013). Recently, significant progress was made by two-photon imaging of calcium transients in upper layer neurons of multiple areas in mouse visual cortex (Andermann et al 2011;Marshel et al 2011;Roth et al 2012). These recordings showed that tuning to high spatial frequency was more common in LI than in AL, RL and AM, which are more selective for high temporal frequency and the direction of motion.…”