Functions of the pulvinar and pulvino-cortical interactions in visual attention

描述（由申请人提供）：当人们观看日常场景时，他们的视觉系统会遇到比完全处理更多的信息。大脑使用注意力机制来选择重要的视觉对象，并过滤掉那些可能分散注意力的对象。越来越多的证据表明，丘脑的枕核在视觉和注意力方面起着关键作用，但其具体功能尚不清楚。枕几乎与整个视觉系统相互连接，是根据注意力需求调节视觉皮层处理的理想位置。这项建议旨在测试枕参与调节视觉和注意力过程中的皮层处理。实现这一目标的第一步将是使用同步，多站点电生理记录来表征灵长类动物枕和视觉皮层神经元之间的相互作用。通过记录枕、视觉皮层V4区和下颞叶皮层（IT）内的数十个部位，可以比较每个脑区中注意力调节的时间过程，并测量区域内和区域间神经元之间的功能相互作用。注意效应的发生时间以及神经元相互作用的大小和方向性将为枕的功能及其与视皮层的联系提供有价值的信息。为了测试枕在注意力控制中的因果作用，然后将使用新颖的光遗传学工具在视觉注意期间暂时沉默枕神经元。在枕沉默期间皮质活动的任何缺陷或差异的性质将突出枕对正常视觉过程的贡献。拟议的实验结果不仅有助于理解人类的注意力障碍，而且有助于开发先进的神经刺激方法，用于视力受损者的视觉假体。 公共卫生相关性：理解视觉和注意力过程中神经元之间的相互作用将对注意力障碍和视觉障碍的本质提供重要的见解。此外，用于精确操纵神经活动的新型光遗传学工具的开发和使用将有助于先进视觉假体的设计和创造。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): When people view everyday scenes, their visual systems encounter far more information than can be fully processed. The brain uses attentional mechanisms to select important visual objects and filter out those that might be distracting. Mounting evidence suggests that the pulvinar nucleus of the thalamus plays a critical role in vision and attention, but its specific function is not understood. The pulvinar is interconnected with virtually the entire visual system, and is ideally situated to regulate visual cortical processing according to attentional demands. This proposal seeks to test the involvement of the pulvinar in regulating cortical processing during vision and attention. The first step toward this goal will be to characterize the interactions between neurons in the primate pulvinar and visual cortex using simultaneous, multi-site electrophysiological recording. By recording from dozens of sites within the pulvinar, visual cortical area V4, and inferior temporal cortex (IT), it will b possible to compare the timecourse of attentional modulation in each brain area, and measure functional interactions between neurons within and across areas. The timing of attentional effects, as well as the magnitude and directionality of neuronal interactions, will provide valuabl information about the function of the pulvinar and its connections with visual cortex. To test the causal role of the pulvinar in attentional control, novel optogenetics tools will then be used to transiently silence pulvinar neurons during visual attention. The nature of any deficits or differences in cortical activity during pulvinar silencing will highlight the contributions of the pulvinar to normal visual processes. The results of the proposed experiments will not only help the understanding of human attentional disorders, but also aid the development of advanced neural stimulation methods for use in visual prostheses for people with impaired vision. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Understanding the interactions between neurons during vision and attention will give important insight into the nature of attentional disorders and visual impairment. Furthermore, the development and use of new optogenetic tools for precisely manipulating neural activity will contribute to the design and creation of advanced visual prostheses.