Brain‐wide mapping of inputs to the mouse lateral posterior (LP/Pulvinar) thalamus–anterior cingulate cortex network

Abstract

The rodent homolog of the primate pulvinar, the lateral posterior (LP) thalamus, is extensively interconnected with multiple cortical areas. While these cortical interactions can span the entire LP, subdivisions of the LP are characterized by differential connections with specific cortical regions. In particular, the medial LP has reciprocal connections with frontoparietal cortical areas, including the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). The ACC plays an integral role in top-down sensory processing and attentional regulation, likely exerting some of these functions via the LP. However, little is known about how ACC and LP interact, and about the information potentially integrated in this reciprocal network. Here, we address this gap by employing a projectionspecific monosynaptic rabies tracing strategy to delineate brain-wide inputs to bottomup LP→ACC and top-down ACC→LP neurons. We find that LP→ACC neurons receive inputs from widespread cortical regions, including primary and higher order sensory and motor cortical areas. LP→ACC neurons also receive extensive subcortical inputs, particularly from the intermediate and deep layers of the superior colliculus (SC).Sensory inputs to ACC→LP neurons largely arise from visual cortical areas. In addition, ACC→LP neurons integrate cross-hemispheric prefrontal cortex inputs as well as inputs from higher order medial cortex. Our brain-wide anatomical mapping of inputs to the reciprocal LP-ACC pathways provides a roadmap for understanding how LP and ACC communicate different sources of information to mediate attentional control and visuomotor functions.

Multi‐atlas thalamic nuclei segmentation on standard T1‐weighed MRI with application to normal aging

“…Neurons of the medial pulvinar were found to be responsive while animals were engaged in goal‐directed movements involving eyes, limbs, and selective attention (for review, Phillips et al, 2021 ). The Posterior thalamic region in the current study included the lateral geniculate nucleus along with the pulvinar, both of which receive input from the primary visual cortex (review, Leow et al, 2022 ). This visual stream emanates from the superior colliculi, which are instrumental in eye and head orienting and reaching movements (e.g., Huda et al, 2020 ; Leow et al, 2022 ).…”

“…The Posterior thalamic region in the current study included the lateral geniculate nucleus along with the pulvinar, both of which receive input from the primary visual cortex (review, Leow et al, 2022 ). This visual stream emanates from the superior colliculi, which are instrumental in eye and head orienting and reaching movements (e.g., Huda et al, 2020 ; Leow et al, 2022 ). These behavioral components are used in eye‐hand movements needed to perform the pegboard task, which entails sequences of planning, reaching, and grabbing.…”

Visual, delay and oculomotor timing and tuning in macaque dorsal pulvinar during instructed and free choice memory saccades

“…Furthermore, given that many dPul units show gain-field like properties or other types of postural modulations by the position of the eyes in the orbit (Schneider et al 2019), it remains important to assess if pulvinar is causally involved in spatial reference frame transformations and eye-hand coordination. Rodent studies also suggests that the medial part of the lateral posterior nucleus, the homolog of the primate pulvinar, is connected to amygdala, striatum and frontoparietal cortex and integrates sensorimotor multimodal information, providing an evolutionary perspective on the role of the pulvinar in coordination of perception and body movements (Zhou et al 2017; Leow et al 2022).…”

Detection of early proteomic alterations in 5xFAD Alzheimer's disease neonatal mouse model via MALDI‐MSI

“…[38][39][40][41] However, mice do not have this particular structure, they only have a region considered to be the homolog of the primate pulvinar nuclei. 42 Since the mouse brain does not have all the intricacies of the human brain, the full spectrum of interactions cannot be understood.…”

“…In another example, the pulvinar nuclei of the thalamus, which is the main site of degeneration, is an important structure for the clinical expression of dementia and AD 38–41 . However, mice do not have this particular structure, they only have a region considered to be the homolog of the primate pulvinar nuclei 42 . Since the mouse brain does not have all the intricacies of the human brain, the full spectrum of interactions cannot be understood.…”