Similar neural and perceptual masking effects of low-power optogenetic stimulation in primate V1

• DOI: 10.1101/2021.02.16.431182
• Publication Date: 2021-02-18T01:30:27Z
• Authors: Spencer Chen; Giacomo Benvenuti; Yuzhi Chen; Satwant Kumar; Charu Ramakrishnan; Karl Deisseroth; Wilson S. Geisler; Eyal Seidemann
• Keywords: Stimulus (psychology); Photic Stimulation; Visual masking

Abstract Can direct stimulation of primate V1 substitute for a visual stimulus and mimic its perceptual effect? To address this question, we developed an optical-genetic toolkit to “read” neural population responses using widefield calcium imaging, while simultaneously optogenetics “write” into behaving macaques. We focused on the phenomenon masking, where detection dim target is significantly reduced by co-localized medium-brightness pedestal. Using our toolkit, tested whether optogenetic can recapitulate masking effect find that, similar pedestal, low-power optostimulation reduce sensitivity, that sublinear interaction between evoked could account effect, these behavioral effects are spatially selective. Our results open door further exploration substitutions sensory cortex.