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Cited by 24Neural dynamics and brain functionVisual perception and processing mechanismsNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

Ramp-to-threshold dynamics in a hindbrain population controls the timing of spontaneous saccades

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Ramirez, Alexandro D., Aksay, Emre R. F.·2021·Nature Communications
DOI 10.1038/s41467-021-24336-wPMC PMC8260785

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Abstract

Organisms have the capacity to make decisions based solely on internal drives. However, it is unclear how neural circuits form decisions in the absence of sensory stimuli. Here we provide a comprehensive map of the activity patterns underlying the generation of saccades made in the absence of visual stimuli. We perform calcium imaging in the larval zebrafish to discover a range of responses surrounding spontaneous saccades, from cells that display tonic discharge only during fixations to neurons whose activity rises in advance of saccades by multiple seconds. When we lesion cells in these populations we find that ablation of neurons with pre-saccadic rise delays saccade initiation. We analyze spontaneous saccade initiation using a ramp-to-threshold model and are able to predict the times of upcoming saccades using pre-saccadic activity. These findings suggest that ramping of neuronal activity to a bound is a critical component of self-initiated saccadic movements.

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  • This extension is consistent with a previous observation that VPNI function was only partially abolished by sizable inactivation of R7/R8 and with previous reports of eye position signals in R4-R6 neurons that are not from ABD neurons.

    “This extension is consistent with a previous observation that VPNI function was only partially abolished by sizable inactivation of R7/R8 (ref. 55) and with previous reports of eye position signals in R4–R6 neurons that are not from ABD neurons50,57.”

    From Predicting modular functions and neural coding of behavior from a synaptic wiring diagram (2024) · cites this paper as [50]

  • Fluorescence microscopy data were previously acquired from 20 animals.

    “Fluorescence microscopy data were previously acquired from 20 animals50.”

    From Predicting modular functions and neural coding of behavior from a synaptic wiring diagram (2024) · cites this paper as [50]

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Ramirez, A. D., & Aksay, E. R. F.
Affiliations
Weill Cornell Medicine (US)
Corresponding author
Ramirez, Alexandro D.
ORCID
Venue
Nature Communications
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2021-07-06
Volume
12
Issue
1
Pages
4145-4145
ISSN
2041-1723 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1038/s41467-021-24336-w
PMC
PMC8260785
OpenAlex
W3182629267
Cited by
24
References
9
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3
FWCI
2.23
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Nature Communications (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Simons Foundation
  • National Institutes of Health (NS104926)
  • Weill Cornell Medical College (R01 NS104926)
  • National Eye Institute (R01EY021581, K99EY027017, R01EY027036, R00EY027017)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01NS104926)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
Keywords
spontaneous saccades, saccade initiation, internal decision-making, zebrafish larvae, hindbrain, neuronal ablation, fixation
MeSH terms
Eye-Tracking Technology, Animals, Evoked Potentials, Visual, Eye Movements, Larva, Neurons, Population Control, Reaction Time, Rhombencephalon, Saccades, Zebrafish

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