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Gain modulation by nicotine in macaque v1.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Disney, AA; Aoki, C; Hawken, MJ
Published in: Neuron
November 21, 2007

Acetylcholine is a ubiquitous cortical neuromodulator implicated in cognition. In order to understand the potential for acetylcholine to play a role in visual attention, we studied nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) localization and function in area V1 of the macaque. We found nAChRs presynaptically at thalamic synapses onto excitatory, but not inhibitory, neurons in the primary thalamorecipient layer 4c. Furthermore, consistent with the release enhancement suggested by this localization, we discovered that nicotine increases responsiveness and lowers contrast threshold in layer 4c neurons. We also found that nAChRs are expressed by GABAergic interneurons in V1 but rarely by pyramidal neurons, and that nicotine suppresses visual responses outside layer 4c. All sensory systems incorporate gain control mechanisms, or processes which dynamically alter input/output relationships. We demonstrate that at the site of thalamic input to visual cortex, the effect of this nAChR-mediated gain is an enhancement of the detection of visual stimuli.

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Published In

Neuron

DOI

ISSN

0896-6273

Publication Date

November 21, 2007

Volume

56

Issue

4

Start / End Page

701 / 713

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • Visual Perception
  • Visual Pathways
  • Visual Cortex
  • Synaptic Transmission
  • Synapses
  • Receptors, Nicotinic
  • Pyramidal Cells
  • Nicotinic Agonists
  • Nicotine
 

Citation

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Disney, A. A., Aoki, C., & Hawken, M. J. (2007). Gain modulation by nicotine in macaque v1. Neuron, 56(4), 701–713. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2007.09.034
Disney, Anita A., Chiye Aoki, and Michael J. Hawken. “Gain modulation by nicotine in macaque v1.Neuron 56, no. 4 (November 21, 2007): 701–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2007.09.034.
Disney AA, Aoki C, Hawken MJ. Gain modulation by nicotine in macaque v1. Neuron. 2007 Nov 21;56(4):701–13.
Disney, Anita A., et al. “Gain modulation by nicotine in macaque v1.Neuron, vol. 56, no. 4, Nov. 2007, pp. 701–13. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2007.09.034.
Disney AA, Aoki C, Hawken MJ. Gain modulation by nicotine in macaque v1. Neuron. 2007 Nov 21;56(4):701–713.
Journal cover image

Published In

Neuron

DOI

ISSN

0896-6273

Publication Date

November 21, 2007

Volume

56

Issue

4

Start / End Page

701 / 713

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • Visual Perception
  • Visual Pathways
  • Visual Cortex
  • Synaptic Transmission
  • Synapses
  • Receptors, Nicotinic
  • Pyramidal Cells
  • Nicotinic Agonists
  • Nicotine