Similar visual perception in GCaMP6 transgenic mice despite differences in learning and motivation

Abstract

14To study mechanisms of perception and cognition, neural measurements must be made during 15behavior. A goal of the Allen Brain Observatory is to map activity in distinct cortical cell classes 16during visual processing and behavior. Here we characterize learning and performance of five 17GCaMP6-expressing transgenic lines trained on a visual change detection task. We used 18automated training procedures to facilitate comparisons across mice. Training times varied, but 19 most transgenic mice learned the task. Motivation levels also varied across mice. To compare 20 mice in similar motivational states we subdivided sessions into over-, under-, and optimally 21 motivated periods. When motivated, the pattern of perceptual decisions were highly correlated 22 across transgenic lines, although overall d-prime was lower in one line labeling somatostatin 23 inhibitory cells. These results provide important context for using these mice to map neural 24 activity underlying perception and behavior. 25

Characterization of Learning, Motivation, and Visual Perception in Five Transgenic Mouse Lines Expressing GCaMP in Distinct Cell Populations

“…This manuscript has been released as a pre-print at https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.02. 18.954990v1 (Groblewski et al, 2020b).…”

IPSC-Derived Human Neurons with GCaMP6s Expression Allow In Vitro Study of Neurophysiological Responses to Neurochemicals

“…GECIs are chimeric proteins that are formed by fusing one or two fluorescent proteins with a calciumbinding protein. In contrast to chemical indicators, GECI have higher sensitivity and, in addition, the possibility of creating transgenes expressing a calcium indicator, which allows their use both in vitro and in vivo by detecting calcium signals [15,16].…”

“…Nevertheless, GCaMP6 indicators remain quite soughtafter calcium indicators in routine work whose tasks are not characterized by increased complexity [15].…”