小柯机器人

美国斯坦福大学Shaul Druckmann和霍华德休斯医学研究所Karel Svoboda合作取得最新进展。他们提出靶向光刺激揭示了支持短期记忆的回路模式。2021年1月25日出版的《自然-神经科学》杂志发表了这项成果。

为了探索产生记忆相关持续活动的神经回路模式，他们在执行记忆指导应答任务的小鼠中测量了功能表征的运动皮层神经元之间的耦合。小（<10）组神经元的定向双光子光刺激在耦合的神经元中产生稀疏钙反应超过约100μm。具有相似的任务相关选择性的神经元优先耦合。不同组神经元的光刺激调节了耦合神经元不同亚群中的活性。受刺激和耦合的神经元的反应持续了几秒钟，远远超过了光刺激的持续时间。即使受光刺激先于行为反应几秒钟，光刺激也会产生行为偏倚，这是基于受扰动的神经元群体的选择性所预测的。

他们的结果表明，与记忆有关的神经回路包含插层的、经常性连接的模块，可以独立维持选择性的持续活动。

研究人员表示，短期记忆与持续的神经活动相关，该持续的神经活动由神经元之间的正反馈维持。

附：英文原文

Title: Targeted photostimulation uncovers circuit motifs supporting short-term memory

Author: Kayvon Daie, Karel Svoboda, Shaul Druckmann

Issue&Volume: 2021-01-25

Abstract: Short-term memory is associated with persistent neural activity that is maintained by positive feedback between neurons. To explore the neural circuit motifs that produce memory-related persistent activity, we measured coupling between functionally characterized motor cortex neurons in mice performing a memory-guided response task. Targeted two-photon photostimulation of small (<10) groups of neurons produced sparse calcium responses in coupled neurons over approximately 100μm. Neurons with similar task-related selectivity were preferentially coupled. Photostimulation of different groups of neurons modulated activity in different subpopulations of coupled neurons. Responses of stimulated and coupled neurons persisted for seconds, far outlasting the duration of the photostimuli. Photostimuli produced behavioral biases that were predictable based on the selectivity of the perturbed neuronal population, even though photostimulation preceded the behavioral response by seconds. Our results suggest that memory-related neural circuits contain intercalated, recurrently connected modules, which can independently maintain selective persistent activity.

DOI: 10.1038/s41593-020-00776-3

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-020-00776-3

Nature Neuroscience：《自然—神经科学》，创刊于1998年。隶属于施普林格·自然出版集团，最新IF：28.771
官方网址：https://www.nature.com/neuro/
投稿链接：https://mts-nn.nature.com/cgi-bin/main.plex