Convergence of location, direction, and theta in the rat anteroventral thalamic nucleus

Lomi, E., Jeffery, K. J. and Mitchell, A. S. (2023) Convergence of location, direction, and theta in the rat anteroventral thalamic nucleus. iScience, (doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106993) (In Press)

Abstract

The thalamus and cortex are anatomically interconnected, with the thalamus providing integral information for cortical functions. The anteroventral thalamic nucleus (AV) is reciprocally connected to retrosplenial cortex (RSC). Two distinct AV subfields, dorsomedial (AVDM) and ventrolateral (AVVL), project differentially to granular vs. dysgranular RSC, respectively. To probe if functional responses of AV neurons differ, we recorded single neurons and local field potentials from AVDM and AVVL in rats during foraging. We observed place cells (neurons modulated by spatial location) in both AVDM and AVVL. Additionally, we characterized neurons modulated by theta oscillations, heading direction, and a conjunction of these. Place cells and conjunctive Theta-by-Head direction cells were more prevalent in AVVL; more non-conjunctive theta and directional neurons were prevalent in AVDM. These findings add further evidence that there are two thalamocortical circuits connecting AV and RSC, and reveal that the signalling involves place information in addition to direction and theta.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work and A.S.M. were supported by grants from Wellcome Trust (WT 110157/Z/15/Z). K.J. was supported by grants from Wellcome Trust (103896AIA) and the Royal Society (IEC\R2\181140). E.L. was supported by a Medical Sciences Graduate School Studentship, University of Oxford: Clarendon Fund – Department of Experimental Psychology –Somerville College Mary Somerville Graduate Studentship (SFF1718_CB2_MSD_1074636).
• Status: In Press
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Jeffery, Professor Kate
• Authors: Lomi, E., Jeffery, K. J., and Mitchell, A. S.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
• Journal Name: iScience
• Publisher: Elsevier (Cell Press)
• ISSN: 2589-0042
• ISSN (Online): 2589-0042
• Published Online: 29 May 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Authors
• First Published: First published in iScience 2023
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License