The neural and computational architecture of feedback dynamics in mouse cortex during stimulus report

Abstract

Conscious reportability of visual input is associated with a bimodal neural response in primary visual cortex (V1): an early-latency response coupled to stimulus features and a late-latency response coupled to stimulus report or detection. This late wave of activity, central to major theories of consciousness, is thought to be driven by prefrontal cortex (PFC), responsible for "igniting" it. Here we analyzed two electrophysiological studies in mice performing different stimulus detection tasks, and characterize neural activity profiles in three key cortical regions: V1, posterior parietal cortex (PPC) and PFC. We then developed a minimal network model, constrained by known connectivity between these regions, reproducing the spatio-temporal propagation of visual- and report-related activity. Remarkably, while PFC was indeed necessary to generate report-related activity in V1, this occurred only through the mediation of PPC. PPC, and not PFC, had the final veto in enabling the report-related late wave of V1 activity.

NMDA receptor antagonist memantine selectively affects recurrent processing during perceptual inference

“…Recurrent neural mechanisms encompass feedback connections between higher- and lower-order cortical areas as well as lateral connections within sensory areas. Studies in mice and monkeys have revealed a causal role of feedback from higher cortical areas to sensory areas for tactile perception (Manita et al, 2015; Sachidhanandam et al, 2013; Takahashi et al, 2016), detection of odors (Allen et al, 2017), and visual stimulus attributes (Ciceri et al, 2023; Lamme et al, 1998; van Vugt et al, 2018; Zatka-Haas et al, 2021). In macaques, general anesthetics targeted at reducing the overall level of consciousness of the animal reduce global cortical recurrent interactions (Mashour & Hudetz, 2018) and block feedback connections to V1, while sparing feedforward processing (Lamme et al, 1998).…”