Development of a novel optogenetic stimulation paradigm for spatially targeted manipulations of cortical circuits in mice: Case studies of its application in the context of cortical heterotopia and cross-modal transfer learning

Diplôme Master Development of a novel optogenetic stimulation paradigm for spatially targeted manipulations of cortical circuits in mice: Case studies of its application in the context of cortical heterotopia and cross-modal transfer learning eng 2024-03-15 author Foucher Charlie Grihmalkin Marie 817524 Département de neurosciences fondamentales (NEUFO) director El-Boustani Sami 920695 Département de neurosciences fondamentales (NEUFO) collaborator Guyoton Maëlle 0009-0003-7443-9841 930590 Département de neurosciences fondamentales (NEUFO) collaborator Matteucci Giulio 931870 Département de neurosciences fondamentales (NEUFO) 82 Optogenetics enable real-time interrogation and dissection of brain circuits with unprecedented spatiotemporal accuracy. However, current optogenetic stimulation techniques still face challenges in achieving temporal and spatial resolutions relevant for flexible behaviours and mesoscale circuit targeting. Developing light stimulation approaches with flexible spatiotemporal patterns for optogenetic experiments is therefore necessary to study neocortical circuits. To address this challenge, we developed a novel optogenetic stimulation paradigm using digital light processing (DLP) technology with digital micromirror devices (DMDs). Considering the functional organisation of the neocortex, we have devised stimulation patterns that replicate the spatiotemporal neuronal responses corresponding to the specific boundaries of the targeted cortical regions. We selectively manipulated cortical activity during perceptual tasks with subarea precision and implemented this approach in two case studies. In a first set of experiments, we investigated the functional equivalence of heterotopic circuits resulting from disrupted cortical development in a mouse model displaying subcortical heterotopia. Our experiments investigated whether heterotopic circuits associated with the barrel cortex could compensate for somatosensory processing when cortical activity was inhibited during task performance. In a second set of experiments, we studied the contribution of the Rostro-Lateral area (RL), a region within the posterior parietal cortex, to cross-modal transfer learning between whisker touch and vision. We designed experiments to spatially target subregions of RL for activation and confirmed that optogenetic activation of RL can substitute for visual stimuli during transfer learning. Overall, our stimulation approach allows for precise spatial and temporal control in optogenetic experiments to unravel the complexity of neural circuits and their contributions to behaviour and perception Dewey 616.8 Maîtrise universitaire interdisciplinaire en neurosciences 53 Département de neurosciences fondamentales 21A 16 Centre interfacultaire de neurosciences 0D9 false 1286 Experimental and Computational Neurosciences 1006 72ea623b-ba6d-43b9-8331-94d7d835143b Master thesis Private Master_Thesis_CGF_2024_FINAL.pdf 18333859 application/pdf 481b8b5d4bd2a422befdd93e4d83dc1a54f90e53c3812e321bd19c334b941431 closedAccess Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine fondamentale / Département de neurosciences fondamentales Centres et instituts / Centre interfacultaire de neurosciences

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Development of a novel optogenetic stimulation paradigm for spatially targeted manipulations of cortical circuits in mice: Case studies of its application in the context of cortical heterotopia and cross-modal transfer learning				2024	84	0

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Matteucci, Giulio