MAPPING THE BRAIN-WIDE NETWORKS UNDERLYING SUSTAINED ATTENTION IN MICE

At any given time, we only process a fraction of the incoming sensory information. This selective attention allows us to effectively interact with behaviorally relevant features of our environment. Despite over a century of research in humans and non-human primates, a comprehensive map of the neural circuits underlying attention remains elusive. Recent studies show that mice engage in attentional processes comparable to those of primates. This provides a tractable model with which to probe the neuronal mechanisms of visual attention. Here, we investigated attentional modulation across the entire brain using volumetric functional ultrasound imaging (fUSI). We recorded whole-brain activity in head-fixed mice performing a visual go/no-go spatial attention task designed to stabilize attentive and inattentive states - sustained attention. This approach revealed cortical and subcortical regions involved in maintaining attention. Notably, the midbrain reticular nucleus (MRN), a structure that has been suggested to be key for consciousness, arousal, and attention in humans, showed significant modulation based on attentional state. To define the MRN’s contribution to sustained visual attention, I am mapping its input–output connectivity and applying cell-type-specific manipulations. This work aims to reveal the fundamental mechanisms of attentional maintenance, a core cognitive function that is often impaired in disorders such as ADHD, schizophrenia, and PTSD.