Rapid and cumulative adult plasticity in the mouse visual cortex

Experience-dependent neural plasticity enables the brain to adapt to diverse and dynamic environments by reshaping circuits. In the adult visual system, this plasticity can be elicited by repeated sensory stimuli; however, its temporal dynamics and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we inve...

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Main Authors: Hiroyuki Miyamoto, Emi Mazaki, Yuichi Makino, Qi Fang, Tomohito Hamada, Youichi Handa, Takao K. Hensch
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-02-01
Series:Frontiers in Neural Circuits
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncir.2025.1537305/full
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author Hiroyuki Miyamoto
Emi Mazaki
Yuichi Makino
Qi Fang
Tomohito Hamada
Youichi Handa
Takao K. Hensch
Takao K. Hensch
Takao K. Hensch
author_facet Hiroyuki Miyamoto
Emi Mazaki
Yuichi Makino
Qi Fang
Tomohito Hamada
Youichi Handa
Takao K. Hensch
Takao K. Hensch
Takao K. Hensch
author_sort Hiroyuki Miyamoto
collection DOAJ
description Experience-dependent neural plasticity enables the brain to adapt to diverse and dynamic environments by reshaping circuits. In the adult visual system, this plasticity can be elicited by repeated sensory stimuli; however, its temporal dynamics and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we investigated the regulation of visual response potentiation induced by repeated light flashes in the primary visual cortex of awake adult mice. Our findings revealed two distinct temporal phases of potentiation: a rapid phase occurring within seconds and a cumulative phase developing over hours to days. Notably, the identification of this rapid phase phenomenon adds to and refines the prevailing view that visual plasticity in the adult cortex is predominantly slow. Additionally, exposure to visual stimuli enhanced spontaneous slow-wave activity in the visual cortex during non-REM sleep. This plasticity was significantly impaired in Grin2a (NR2A) knockout mice, a model of schizophrenia, which mirrors visual plasticity deficits observed in human patients. The dual temporal characteristics of flash-evoked visual plasticity likely reflect multifaceted aspects of adult brain functionality, encompassing processes related to memory, learning, and neurological disorders. This model of visual plasticity in defined neural circuits provides a simplified yet robust and extensible framework for exploring the neural mechanisms underlying adaptive and maladaptive behavioral changes.
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spelling doaj-art-4f4ec656ee0945e580bede54dfcf5a832025-08-20T02:45:56ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neural Circuits1662-51102025-02-011910.3389/fncir.2025.15373051537305Rapid and cumulative adult plasticity in the mouse visual cortexHiroyuki Miyamoto0Emi Mazaki1Yuichi Makino2Qi Fang3Tomohito Hamada4Youichi Handa5Takao K. Hensch6Takao K. Hensch7Takao K. Hensch8International Research Center for Neurointelligence (IRCN), The University of Tokyo Institutes for Advanced Study, Tokyo, JapanInternational Research Center for Neurointelligence (IRCN), The University of Tokyo Institutes for Advanced Study, Tokyo, JapanInternational Research Center for Neurointelligence (IRCN), The University of Tokyo Institutes for Advanced Study, Tokyo, JapanTechnology and Innovation Center, Daikin Industries, Ltd., Osaka, JapanTechnology and Innovation Center, Daikin Industries, Ltd., Osaka, JapanTechnology and Innovation Center, Daikin Industries, Ltd., Osaka, JapanInternational Research Center for Neurointelligence (IRCN), The University of Tokyo Institutes for Advanced Study, Tokyo, JapanDepartment of Molecular Cellular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United StatesFM Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United StatesExperience-dependent neural plasticity enables the brain to adapt to diverse and dynamic environments by reshaping circuits. In the adult visual system, this plasticity can be elicited by repeated sensory stimuli; however, its temporal dynamics and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we investigated the regulation of visual response potentiation induced by repeated light flashes in the primary visual cortex of awake adult mice. Our findings revealed two distinct temporal phases of potentiation: a rapid phase occurring within seconds and a cumulative phase developing over hours to days. Notably, the identification of this rapid phase phenomenon adds to and refines the prevailing view that visual plasticity in the adult cortex is predominantly slow. Additionally, exposure to visual stimuli enhanced spontaneous slow-wave activity in the visual cortex during non-REM sleep. This plasticity was significantly impaired in Grin2a (NR2A) knockout mice, a model of schizophrenia, which mirrors visual plasticity deficits observed in human patients. The dual temporal characteristics of flash-evoked visual plasticity likely reflect multifaceted aspects of adult brain functionality, encompassing processes related to memory, learning, and neurological disorders. This model of visual plasticity in defined neural circuits provides a simplified yet robust and extensible framework for exploring the neural mechanisms underlying adaptive and maladaptive behavioral changes.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncir.2025.1537305/fullexperience-dependent adult plasticitymouse visual cortexflash-evoked potentialsNMDA receptorsNREM sleepstimulus-selective response plasticity (SRP)
spellingShingle Hiroyuki Miyamoto
Emi Mazaki
Yuichi Makino
Qi Fang
Tomohito Hamada
Youichi Handa
Takao K. Hensch
Takao K. Hensch
Takao K. Hensch
Rapid and cumulative adult plasticity in the mouse visual cortex
Frontiers in Neural Circuits
experience-dependent adult plasticity
mouse visual cortex
flash-evoked potentials
NMDA receptors
NREM sleep
stimulus-selective response plasticity (SRP)
title Rapid and cumulative adult plasticity in the mouse visual cortex
title_full Rapid and cumulative adult plasticity in the mouse visual cortex
title_fullStr Rapid and cumulative adult plasticity in the mouse visual cortex
title_full_unstemmed Rapid and cumulative adult plasticity in the mouse visual cortex
title_short Rapid and cumulative adult plasticity in the mouse visual cortex
title_sort rapid and cumulative adult plasticity in the mouse visual cortex
topic experience-dependent adult plasticity
mouse visual cortex
flash-evoked potentials
NMDA receptors
NREM sleep
stimulus-selective response plasticity (SRP)
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncir.2025.1537305/full
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