Event Details:
Functionally specific circuits in sensory and motor behaviors
Fan Wang, PhD
Professor of Neurobiology and Cell Biology
Duke University Medical Center
Host: Nirao Shah
Abstract
We developed a methodology called CANE for capturing activated neuronal ensembles. We applied the CANE technology to study motor cortical circuits involved in learning a skilled reaching and grasping task, midbrain circuits for controlling ultrasonic vocalization, as well as circuits for processing affective pain. In each case, neuronal ensembles specifically involved in the specific behaviors were identified in regions otherwise containing heterogenous populations of neurons serving diverse functions. We use a combination of in vivo imaging in freely behaving mice, electrophysiology and optogenetic manipulations during behaviors to reveal the causal functions of identified neuronal ensembles.
Related papers
[1] Sakurai, K., Zhao, S., Takatoh, J., Rodriguez, E., Lu, J., Leavitt, A., Han, B., Fu, M., and Wang, F. Capturing and manipulating activated neuronal ensembles with CANE delineates a hypothalamic social fear circuit. (2016). Neuron. 92(4):739-753. DOI:10.1016/j.neuron.2016.10.015
https://sni-db.stanford.edu/Paper 2/2Rodriguez_NN.pdf Rodriquez, E., Sakurai, K., Xu, J., Chen, Y., Toda, K., Zhao, S., Han, B., Ryu, D., Yin, H., Liedtke, W. and Wang, F. A craniofacial-specific monosynaptic circuit enables heightened affective pain. (2017). Nature Neuroscience, 20: 1734-1743. DOI:10.1038/s41593-017-0012-1