A5026238349- Neural dynamics and brain function
- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Visual perception and processing mechanisms
- Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Photoreceptor and optogenetics research
- Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques
- Optical Imaging and Spectroscopy Techniques
- Advanced Memory and Neural Computing
- Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling
- Face Recognition and Perception
- Color Science and Applications
- EEG and Brain-Computer Interfaces
- Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Bioinformatics and Genomic Networks
- Plant and animal studies
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
2009-2025
University of Zurich
2017-2020
Bar-Ilan University
2012-2016
Association areas in neocortex encode novel stimulus-outcome relationships, but the principles of their engagement during task learning remain elusive. Using chronic wide-field calcium imaging, we reveal two phases spatiotemporal refinement layer 2/3 cortical activity mice whisker-based texture discrimination dark. Even before reach threshold, association cortex-including rostro-lateral (RL), posteromedial (PM), and retrosplenial dorsal (RD) areas-is generally suppressed early trials...
Neurophotonics was launched in 2014 coinciding with the launch of BRAIN Initiative focused on development technologies for advancement neuroscience. For last seven years, Neurophotonics' agenda has been well aligned this focus neurotechnologies featuring new optical methods and tools applicable to brain studies. While 2.0 is pivoting towards applications these novel quest understand brain, article we review an extensive diverse toolkit explore function that have emerged from related...
Adaptive behavior is critically dependent on associative learning, where environmental cues are linked with subsequent positive or negative outcomes. In mammals, primary neocortical sensory areas serve as pivotal nodes in this process, processing stimuli and distributing information to cortical subcortical networks. Layer 5 (L5) of the cortex comprises two types pyramidal projection neurons - intratelencephalic (IT) extratelencephalic (ET) each distinct downstream targets. Despite crucial...
It is long thought that higher-order sensory processing divided into two specialized cortical streams encode in parallel either the identity of an object or its location (i.e., 'what' and 'where' streams). Here, using mouse whisker system, we challenge this concept by demonstrating existence alternating brain-wide (beyond cortex) subnetworks are not primarily driven external parameters, but rather internal strategies. We combine simultaneous neuronal recordings mice trained to identify...
The primary visual cortex (V1) is extensively studied with a large repertoire of stimuli, yet little known about its encoding natural images. Using voltage-sensitive dye imaging in behaving monkeys, we measured neural population response evoked V1 by images presented during face/scramble discrimination task. showed two distinct phases activity: an early phase that was spread over most the imaged area, and late spatially confined. To study detailed relation between stimulus response, used...
Learning to associate sensory stimuli with a chosen action involves dynamic interplay between cortical and thalamic circuits. While the cortex has been widely studied in this respect, how thalamus encodes learning-related information is still largely unknown. We activity medial geniculate body (MGB; Auditory thalamus), targeting mainly dorsal regions. Using fiber photometry, we continuously imaged population calcium dynamics as mice learned go/no-go auditory discrimination task. The MGB was...
We learn from our experience but the underlying neuronal mechanisms incorporating past information to facilitate learning is relatively unknown. Specifically, which cortical areas encode history-related and how this modulated across learning? To study relationship between history learning, we continuously imaged cortex-wide calcium dynamics as mice use their whiskers discriminate two different textures. mainly focused on comparing same trial type with history, that is, a preceding trial....
Cognitive functions are mediated through coordinated and dynamic neuronal responses that involve many different areas across the brain. Therefore, it is of high interest to simultaneously record activity from as brain possible while subject performs a cognitive behavioral task. One emerging tools achieve mesoscopic field view wide-field imaging cortex-wide dynamics in mice. Wide-field cost-effective, user-friendly, enables obtaining signals mice performing complex demanding tasks....
The visual system simultaneously segregates between several objects presented in a scene. neural code for encoding different or figures is not well understood. To study this question, we trained two monkeys to discriminate whether elongated bars are either separate, thus generating figures, connected, single figure. Using voltage-sensitive dyes, imaged at high spatial and temporal resolution V1 population responses evoked by the bars, while keeping their local attributes similar among...
Recent arguments in the literature prompted us to compare methods for assessing sexual dimorphism body proportions of lacertid lizards, using Acanthodactylus boskianus. Although expressing body-part measurements as proportional head length was most effective method, we recommend trunk baseline a general method lizards. We also argue that, when aiming assess if context is ecological, all available adults should be included. However, morphology and taxonomy, small sub-samples largest...
Background Collinear patterns of local visual stimuli are used to study contextual effects in the system. Previous studies have shown that proximal collinear flankers, unlike orthogonal, can enhance detection a low contrast central element. However, direct neural interactions between cortical populations processing individual flanker elements and element largely unknown. Methodology/Principal Findings Using voltage-sensitive dye imaging (VSDI) we imaged population responses V1 V2 areas...
In a typical visual scene we continuously perceive “figure” that is segregated from the surrounding “background” despite ongoing microsaccades and small saccades are performed when attempting fixation (fixational [FSs]). Previously reported neuronal correlates of figure-ground (FG) segregation in primary cortex (V1) showed enhanced activity along with suppressed noisy “background.” However, it unknown how this FG modulation V1 affected by FSs. To investigate question, trained two monkeys to...
During contour integration, neuronal populations in the primary visual cortex (V1) enhance their responses to while suppressing noisy background. However, spatial extent and profile of these are not fully understood. To investigate this question, 2 monkeys were trained on a detection task we measured population V1 using voltage-sensitive dyes. stimulus presentation animals made few fixational saccades, used changing gaze position image analyze from large part stimulus, encoding multiple...
Abstract Learning to associate sensory stimuli with a chosen action has been classically attributed the cortex. Whether thalamus, considered mainly as an upstream area relative cortex, encodes learning-related information is still largely unknown. We studied activity in dorsal and medial regions of geniculate body (MGB), part non-lemniscal auditory pathway. Using fiber photometry, we continuously imaged population calcium dynamics mice learned go/no-go discrimination task. The MGB was tuned...
During learning of a sensory discrimination task, the cortical and subcortical regions display complex spatiotemporal dynamics. learning, both amygdala cortex link stimulus information to its appropriate association, for example, reward. In addition, structures are also related nonsensory parameters such as body movements licking during reward period. However, emergence cortico-amygdala relationships is largely unknown. To study this, we combined wide-field imaging with fiber photometry...
In neocortex, each sensory modality engages distinct primary and secondary areas that route information further to association areas. Where signal flow may converge for maintaining in short-term memory how behavior influence routing remain open questions. Using wide-field calcium imaging, we compared cortex-wide neuronal activity layer 2/3 mice trained auditory whisker-based tactile discrimination tasks with delayed response. both tasks, were either active or passive during stimulus...
Abstract Association areas in neocortex encode novel stimulus-outcome relationships but the principles of their engagement during task learning remain elusive. Using chronic wide-field calcium imaging we reveal two phases spatiotemporal refinement layer 2/3 cortical activity mice whisker-based texture discrimination. Even before reach threshold, association cortex—including rostro-lateral (RL), posteromedial (PM), and retrosplenial dorsal (RD) areas—is generally suppressed early trials...