Topic: VIP neurons

Stimulus novelty modifies perception and promotes exploration and learning. What are the neural circuit mechanisms that underlie the effects of novelty? To address this question, we trained mice on a visual change detection task, while we performed two-photon calcium imaging of neural activity from excitatory and inhibitory (VIP and SST) neuron classes across multiple layers of the visual cortex (areas V1 and LM; 82 mice, 551 sessions, 34,619 neurons). The behavioral task required detecting image changes that occurred amid repeated image presentations. Additionally, flashed images were periodi

In mammals, circadian rhythms are controlled by the central clock, suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) in the hypothalamus. The external light signal could entrain SCN through intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs), a type of neuron in the retinal of mammalian eyes, by releasing glutamate. The innervation of ipRGCs to SCN has been revealed by using genetic tracing techniques and contributes to the synchronization of the circadian rhythm. SCN is a heterogenous structure that contains different neurons, while AVP and VIP neurons are critical for the networking of circadian rhythm.

Contextual fear learning is a mental process, during which an originally neutral context becomes associated with a threat. Previous data have shown that one of the main controlling units of the defensive system, the central amygdala (CeA) is an active participant of contextual fear learning. Recently we showed that vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-expressing neurons in the periaqueductal gray and dorsal raphe that innervate the CeA play a role in contextual fear acquisition, but not in the recall. As the primary source of contextual information is the hippocampus, we aimed to uncover th