Learning enhances behaviorally relevant representations in apical dendrites
Learning alters cortical representations and improves perception. Apical tuft dendrites in cortical layer 1, which are unique in their connectivity and biophysical properties, may be a key site of learning-induced plasticity. We used both two-photon and SCAPE microscopy to longitudinally track tuft-...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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eLife Sciences Publications Ltd
2024-12-01
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| Series: | eLife |
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| Online Access: | https://elifesciences.org/articles/98349 |
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| author | Sam E Benezra Kripa B Patel Citlali Perez Campos Elizabeth MC Hillman Randy M Bruno |
| author_facet | Sam E Benezra Kripa B Patel Citlali Perez Campos Elizabeth MC Hillman Randy M Bruno |
| author_sort | Sam E Benezra |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Learning alters cortical representations and improves perception. Apical tuft dendrites in cortical layer 1, which are unique in their connectivity and biophysical properties, may be a key site of learning-induced plasticity. We used both two-photon and SCAPE microscopy to longitudinally track tuft-wide calcium spikes in apical dendrites of layer 5 pyramidal neurons in barrel cortex as mice learned a tactile behavior. Mice were trained to discriminate two orthogonal directions of whisker stimulation. Reinforcement learning, but not repeated stimulus exposure, enhanced tuft selectivity for both directions equally, even though only one was associated with reward. Selective tufts emerged from initially unresponsive or low-selectivity populations. Animal movement and choice did not account for changes in stimulus selectivity. Enhanced selectivity persisted even after rewards were removed and animals ceased performing the task. We conclude that learning produces long-lasting realignment of apical dendrite tuft responses to behaviorally relevant dimensions of a task. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-05905ff63cb749ad88fd36b2272ce931 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2050-084X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | eLife Sciences Publications Ltd |
| record_format | Article |
| series | eLife |
| spelling | doaj-art-05905ff63cb749ad88fd36b2272ce9312025-01-17T17:03:30ZengeLife Sciences Publications LtdeLife2050-084X2024-12-011310.7554/eLife.98349Learning enhances behaviorally relevant representations in apical dendritesSam E Benezra0Kripa B Patel1Citlali Perez Campos2Elizabeth MC Hillman3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5511-1451Randy M Bruno4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5122-4632Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, United States; Kavli Institute for Brain Science, Columbia University, New York, United StatesKavli Institute for Brain Science, Columbia University, New York, United States; Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Radiology, Columbia University, New York, United StatesKavli Institute for Brain Science, Columbia University, New York, United States; Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Radiology, Columbia University, New York, United StatesDepartment of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, United States; Kavli Institute for Brain Science, Columbia University, New York, United States; Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Radiology, Columbia University, New York, United StatesDepartment of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, United States; Kavli Institute for Brain Science, Columbia University, New York, United States; Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, United States; Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United KingdomLearning alters cortical representations and improves perception. Apical tuft dendrites in cortical layer 1, which are unique in their connectivity and biophysical properties, may be a key site of learning-induced plasticity. We used both two-photon and SCAPE microscopy to longitudinally track tuft-wide calcium spikes in apical dendrites of layer 5 pyramidal neurons in barrel cortex as mice learned a tactile behavior. Mice were trained to discriminate two orthogonal directions of whisker stimulation. Reinforcement learning, but not repeated stimulus exposure, enhanced tuft selectivity for both directions equally, even though only one was associated with reward. Selective tufts emerged from initially unresponsive or low-selectivity populations. Animal movement and choice did not account for changes in stimulus selectivity. Enhanced selectivity persisted even after rewards were removed and animals ceased performing the task. We conclude that learning produces long-lasting realignment of apical dendrite tuft responses to behaviorally relevant dimensions of a task.https://elifesciences.org/articles/98349apical dendritelayer 1learningmemoryplasticityreward |
| spellingShingle | Sam E Benezra Kripa B Patel Citlali Perez Campos Elizabeth MC Hillman Randy M Bruno Learning enhances behaviorally relevant representations in apical dendrites eLife apical dendrite layer 1 learning memory plasticity reward |
| title | Learning enhances behaviorally relevant representations in apical dendrites |
| title_full | Learning enhances behaviorally relevant representations in apical dendrites |
| title_fullStr | Learning enhances behaviorally relevant representations in apical dendrites |
| title_full_unstemmed | Learning enhances behaviorally relevant representations in apical dendrites |
| title_short | Learning enhances behaviorally relevant representations in apical dendrites |
| title_sort | learning enhances behaviorally relevant representations in apical dendrites |
| topic | apical dendrite layer 1 learning memory plasticity reward |
| url | https://elifesciences.org/articles/98349 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT samebenezra learningenhancesbehaviorallyrelevantrepresentationsinapicaldendrites AT kripabpatel learningenhancesbehaviorallyrelevantrepresentationsinapicaldendrites AT citlaliperezcampos learningenhancesbehaviorallyrelevantrepresentationsinapicaldendrites AT elizabethmchillman learningenhancesbehaviorallyrelevantrepresentationsinapicaldendrites AT randymbruno learningenhancesbehaviorallyrelevantrepresentationsinapicaldendrites |