Cited by 90Visual perception and processing mechanismsNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchNeural dynamics and brain function

Cellular Mechanisms Underlying Stimulus-Dependent Gain Modulation in Primary Visual Cortex Neurons In Vivo

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Cardin, Jessica A., Palmer, Larry A., Contreras, Diego·2008·Neuron

Abstract

Gain modulation is a widespread neuronal phenomenon that modifies response amplitude without changing selectivity. Computational and in vitro studies have proposed cellular mechanisms of gain modulation based on the postsynaptic effects of background synaptic activation, but these mechanisms have not been studied in vivo. Here, we used intracellular recordings from cat primary visual cortex to measure neuronal gain while changing background synaptic activity with visual stimulation. We found that increases in the membrane fluctuations associated with increases in synaptic input do not obligatorily result in gain modulation in vivo. However, visual stimuli that evoked sustained changes in resting membrane potential, input resistance, and membrane fluctuations robustly modulated neuronal gain. The magnitude of gain modulation depended critically on the spatiotemporal properties of the visual stimulus. Gain modulation in vivo may thus be determined on a moment-to-moment basis by sensory context and the consequent dynamics of synaptic activation.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.neuron.2008.05.002

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  • Vm fluctuations are regulated by environmental factors and stimulus conditions, as well as by several neuromodulatory influences.

    “Importantly, Vm fluctuations are regulated by environmental factors and stimulus conditions, as well as by several neuromodulatory influences61.”

    From Mechanisms underlying gain modulation in the cortex (2020) · cites this paper as [61]

  • Unlike synaptically driven Vm fluctuations, changes in membrane conductance and depolarization cause lateral, or additive, shifts in the I/O transfer function of a neuron without changes in neuronal gain.

    “Unlike synaptically driven Vm fluctuations, changes in membrane conductance and depolarization cause lateral, or additive, shifts in the I/O transfer function of a neuron without changes in neuronal gain57,58,60,61,83,84.”

    From Mechanisms underlying gain modulation in the cortex (2020) · cites this paper as [61]

  • Temporally coincident changes in conductance state and synaptic fluctuations exert a powerful effect on neuronal gain at the single-cell level.

    “Together, temporally coincident changes in conductance state and synaptic fluctuations exert a powerful effect on neuronal gain at the single-cell level57,58,60,61,83,84.”

    From Mechanisms underlying gain modulation in the cortex (2020) · cites this paper as [61]

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Authors
Cardin, J. A., Palmer, L. A., & Contreras, D.
Affiliations
University of Pennsylvania (US)
Corresponding author
Contreras, Diego
Venue
Neuron
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2008-07
Volume
59
Issue
1
Pages
150-160
ISSN
0896-6273 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2057222662
Cited by
90
References
56
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 4
FWCI
4.65
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Neuron (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Eye Institute (R01EY016430, R01EY013984, F32EY017501, K99EY018407)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
Keywords
gain modulation, primary visual cortex, neuronal gain, resting membrane potential, input resistance, membrane fluctuations, visual stimulation, cat visual cortex
MeSH terms
Action Potentials, Animals, Cats, Computer Simulation, Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation, Electric Stimulation, Models, Neurological, Synaptic Transmission, Neurons, Photic Stimulation, Synapses, Visual Cortex, Contrast Sensitivity, Patch-Clamp Techniques

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