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Structural and functional connectivity between the lateral posterior–pulvinar complex and primary visual cortex in the ferret
Author(s) -
Yu Chunxiu,
Sellers Kristin K.,
RadtkeSchuller Susanne,
Lu Jinghao,
Xing Lei,
Ghukasyan Vladimir,
Li Yuhui,
Shih YenYu I.,
Murrow Richard,
Fröhlich Flavio
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1111/ejn.13116
Subject(s) - neuroscience , visual cortex , local field potential , sensory system , lateral geniculate nucleus , physics , psychology
The role of higher‐order thalamic structures in sensory processing remains poorly understood. Here, we used the ferret ( Mustela putorius furo ) as a novel model species for the study of the lateral posterior ( LP )–pulvinar complex and its structural and functional connectivity with area 17 [primary visual cortex (V1)]. We found reciprocal anatomical connections between the lateral part of the LP nucleus of the LP –pulvinar complex ( LP l) and V1. In order to investigate the role of this feedback loop between LP l and V1 in shaping network activity, we determined the functional interactions between LP l and the supragranular, granular and infragranular layers of V1 by recording multiunit activity and local field potentials. Coherence was strongest between LP l and the supragranular V1, with the most distinct peaks in the delta and alpha frequency bands. Inter‐area interaction measured by spike‐phase coupling identified the delta frequency band being dominated by the infragranular V1 and multiple frequency bands that were most pronounced in the supragranular V1. This inter‐area coupling was differentially modulated by full‐field synthetic and naturalistic visual stimulation. We also found that visual responses in LP l were distinct from those in V1 in terms of their reliability. Together, our data support a model of multiple communication channels between LP l and the layers of V1 that are enabled by oscillations in different frequency bands. This demonstration of anatomical and functional connectivity between LP l and V1 in ferrets provides a roadmap for studying the interaction dynamics during behaviour, and a template for identifying the activity dynamics of other thalamo‐cortical feedback loops.