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Neural Circuits that Process Visual Information

Award Number: R01EY009593
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/01/1993
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2028

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Neural Circuits that Process Visual Information - PROJECT SUMMARY: Thalamic circuits are dominated by two sources of inhibition that have a profound influence on the type and quantity of information that relay cells transmit from eye to brain: These are local interneurons within the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus (dLGN), and the visual sector of the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN)— a thin sheet of GABAergic cells that lies nearby. Local interneurons receive retinal input and synapse with relay cells and each other to supply powerful feedforward inhibition. By contrast, relay cells make only sparse connections within the main layers of dLGN. Rather, they contact neurons in TRN, whose dense axonal arbors provide feedback inhibition in return. In addition to receiving ascending information, these three types of cells (local interneurons, relay cells, reticular cells) in the dLGN/TRN complex are embedded in a larger network that involves top-down input from cortex; this arrangement is repeated across primary thalamic nuclei in mammals. Thus, learning how thalamic circuits operate is key to understanding sensory integration and, moreover, serves studies of disorders such as amblyopia or the development of visual prosthetics by providing a blueprint for how healthy brains function. Here we focus on TRN in mouse, a species that has become central to studies of vision because of the many experimental advantages it offers, but whose visual system differs somewhat from those of traditional experimental subjects like carnivore and primate. The design of the project is inspired by a framework voiced by Francis Crick, who theorized that TRN might act as a searchlight that increases thalamic activity in specific regions of interest, or as a thermostat that regulates levels of global activity. We evaluate predictions of each hypothesis to explore visual processing per se, by combining comparative, optogenetic, physiological, anatomical, and computational approaches. The project comprises three interrelated aims, as follows. The searchlight hypothesis suggests that receptive fields in TRN are feature specific and localized and we have shown that this is the case in carnivore; Aim 1 uses physiological and computational approaches to analyze the spatiotemporal features encoded in mouse visual TRN across visual space. These results are then incorporated into a model framework that ties the output of inhibitory cells, including TRN and local interneurons (we have studied these previously) to patterns of inhibition recorded from the relay cell’s receptive field. Aim 2 explores the link between receptive field structures in dLGN and TRN mechanistically by exploring how input from dLGN influences visual response properties in TRN and vice versa; opsins that suppress synaptic transmission and statistical tools that reveal connectivity between neurons are used to approach this topic. Finally, Aim 3 takes the general perspective of the thermostat hypothesis and asks how responses of TRN to global stimulus properties might regulate, at one extreme, inhibitory tone in dLGN, and, at the other, the fine temporal structure of the relay cell’s response. Taken together, our results will provide critical insight into thalamic contributions to visual processing that are conserved across species.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2025	2024	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER ST FL 3	LOS ANGELES	CA	90033	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	001	29	4/3/2025	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$253,547
2025	2023	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER ST FL 3	LOS ANGELES	CA	90033	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	000	28	4/3/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$253,547
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $415,000 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER ST FL 3	LOS ANGELES	CA	90089	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	001	29	7/18/2024	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$415,000
2024	2023	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER ST FL 3	LOS ANGELES	CA	90089	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	000	28	7/11/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $415,000

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $412,500 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER ST	LOS ANGELES	CA	90089	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	000	28	7/18/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$412,500
														Subtotal = $412,500

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $400,125 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER ST FL 3	LOS ANGELES	CA	90007	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	000	27	6/29/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$400,125
														Subtotal = $400,125

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $400,125 )
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER ST FL 3	LOS ANGELES	CA	90007	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	000	26	6/30/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$400,125
														Subtotal = $400,125

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $412,500 )
2020	2020	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER ST FL 3	LOS ANGELES	CA	90007	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	001	25	6/12/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$412,500
2020	2016	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER ST FL 3	LOS ANGELES	CA	90007	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	000	23	11/19/2019	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$0
														Subtotal = $412,500

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $412,500 )
2019	2019	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER ST FL 3	LOS ANGELES	CA	90007	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	000	24	8/20/2019	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$412,500
														Subtotal = $412,500

Issue Date FY: 2018 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2018	2016	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER ST FL 3	LOS ANGELES	CA	90007	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	000	23	8/24/2018	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2017 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2017	2016	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER STREET THIRD FLOOR	LOS ANGELES	CA	90089	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	003	23	1/22/2017	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$822,346
2017	2015	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER STREET THIRD FLOOR	LOS ANGELES	CA	90089	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	002	22	1/22/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$287,965
2017	2014	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER STREET THIRD FLOOR	LOS ANGELES	CA	90089	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	001	21	1/22/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$403,126
2017	2013	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER STREET THIRD FLOOR	LOS ANGELES	CA	90089	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	000	20	1/22/2017	COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$131,255
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2016 ( Subtotal = $371,250 )
2016	2016	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3500 SOUTH FIGUEROA STREET 102	LOS ANGELES	CA	90089	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	000	23	9/1/2016	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$371,250
														Subtotal = $371,250

Issue Date FY: 2015 ( Subtotal = $287,965 )
2015	2015	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3500 SOUTH FIGUEROA STREET 102	LOS ANGELES	CA	90089	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	000	22	9/7/2015	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$287,965
														Subtotal = $287,965

Issue Date FY: 2014 ( Subtotal = $403,126 )
2014	2014	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3500 SOUTH FIGUEROA STREET 102	LOS ANGELES	CA	90089	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	000	21	8/25/2014	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$403,126
														Subtotal = $403,126

Issue Date FY: 2013 ( Subtotal = $410,104 )
2013	2013	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3500 SOUTH FIGUEROA STREET 102	LOS ANGELES	CA	90089	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	001	20	7/25/2013	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$410,104
2013	2011	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3500 SOUTH FIGUEROA STREET 102	LOS ANGELES	CA	90089	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	000	19	7/22/2013	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $410,104

Issue Date FY: 2011 ( Subtotal = $384,912 )
2011	2011	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3500 SOUTH FIGUEROA STREET 102	LOS ANGELES	CA	90089	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	000	19	8/25/2011	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$384,912
														Subtotal = $384,912

Issue Date FY: 2010 ( Subtotal = $400,950 )
2010	2010	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3500 SOUTH FIGUEROA STREET 102	LOS ANGELES	CA	90089	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	000	18	9/10/2010	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$400,950
														Subtotal = $400,950

Issue Date FY: 2009 ( Subtotal = $406,875 )
2009	2009	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3500 SOUTH FIGUEROA STREET 102	LOS ANGELES	CA	90089	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	001	17	9/11/2009	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$406,875
2009	2008	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3500 SOUTH FIGUEROA STREET 102	LOS ANGELES	CA	90089	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	000	16	9/11/2009	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $406,875

Issue Date FY: 2008 ( Subtotal = $349,003 )
2008	2008	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3500 SOUTH FIGUEROA STREET 102	LOS ANGELES	CA	90089	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	000	16	6/4/2008	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$349,003
														Subtotal = $349,003

Issue Date FY: 2007 ( Subtotal = $356,126 )
2007	2007	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3500 SOUTH FIGUEROA STREET 102	LOS ANGELES	CA	90089	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	000	15	6/7/2007	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$356,126
														Subtotal = $356,126

Issue Date FY: 2006 ( Subtotal = $358,131 )
2006	2006	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3500 SOUTH FIGUEROA STREET 102	LOS ANGELES	CA	90089	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	000	14	6/19/2006	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$358,131
														Subtotal = $358,131

Issue Date FY: 2005 ( Subtotal = $365,625 )
2005	2005	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3500 SOUTH FIGUEROA STREET 102	LOS ANGELES	CA	90089	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	000	13	6/10/2005	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$365,625
														Subtotal = $365,625

Issue Date FY: 2004 ( Subtotal = $365,625 )
2004	2004	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	1014 CHILDS WAY	LOS ANGELES	CA	90089	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	000	12	7/15/2004	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$365,625
														Subtotal = $365,625

Grand Total All Awards = $8,762,247

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Neural Circuits that Process Visual Information

Award Number: R01EY009593

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/01/1993

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2028

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