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Scanned optogenetic control of mammalian somatosensory input to map input-specific behavioral outputs

Somatosensory stimuli guide and shape behavior, from immediate protective reflexes to longer-term learning and higher-order processes related to pain and touch. However, somatosensory inputs are challenging to control in awake mammals due to the diversity and nature of contact stimuli. Application o...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Schorscher-Petcu, Ara, Takács, Flóra, Browne, Liam E
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8428846/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34323214
http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.62026
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author Schorscher-Petcu, Ara
Takács, Flóra
Browne, Liam E
author_facet Schorscher-Petcu, Ara
Takács, Flóra
Browne, Liam E
author_sort Schorscher-Petcu, Ara
collection PubMed
description Somatosensory stimuli guide and shape behavior, from immediate protective reflexes to longer-term learning and higher-order processes related to pain and touch. However, somatosensory inputs are challenging to control in awake mammals due to the diversity and nature of contact stimuli. Application of cutaneous stimuli is currently limited to relatively imprecise methods as well as subjective behavioral measures. The strategy we present here overcomes these difficulties, achieving ‘remote touch’ with spatiotemporally precise and dynamic optogenetic stimulation by projecting light to a small defined area of skin. We mapped behavioral responses in freely behaving mice with specific nociceptor and low-threshold mechanoreceptor inputs. In nociceptors, sparse recruitment of single-action potentials shapes rapid protective pain-related behaviors, including coordinated head orientation and body repositioning that depend on the initial body pose. In contrast, activation of low-threshold mechanoreceptors elicited slow-onset behaviors and more subtle whole-body behaviors. The strategy can be used to define specific behavioral repertoires, examine the timing and nature of reflexes, and dissect sensory, motor, cognitive, and motivational processes guiding behavior.
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spelling pubmed-84288462021-09-13 Scanned optogenetic control of mammalian somatosensory input to map input-specific behavioral outputs Schorscher-Petcu, Ara Takács, Flóra Browne, Liam E eLife Neuroscience Somatosensory stimuli guide and shape behavior, from immediate protective reflexes to longer-term learning and higher-order processes related to pain and touch. However, somatosensory inputs are challenging to control in awake mammals due to the diversity and nature of contact stimuli. Application of cutaneous stimuli is currently limited to relatively imprecise methods as well as subjective behavioral measures. The strategy we present here overcomes these difficulties, achieving ‘remote touch’ with spatiotemporally precise and dynamic optogenetic stimulation by projecting light to a small defined area of skin. We mapped behavioral responses in freely behaving mice with specific nociceptor and low-threshold mechanoreceptor inputs. In nociceptors, sparse recruitment of single-action potentials shapes rapid protective pain-related behaviors, including coordinated head orientation and body repositioning that depend on the initial body pose. In contrast, activation of low-threshold mechanoreceptors elicited slow-onset behaviors and more subtle whole-body behaviors. The strategy can be used to define specific behavioral repertoires, examine the timing and nature of reflexes, and dissect sensory, motor, cognitive, and motivational processes guiding behavior. eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd 2021-07-29 /pmc/articles/PMC8428846/ /pubmed/34323214 http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.62026 Text en © 2021, Schorscher-Petcu et al https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) , which permits unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.
spellingShingle Neuroscience
Schorscher-Petcu, Ara
Takács, Flóra
Browne, Liam E
Scanned optogenetic control of mammalian somatosensory input to map input-specific behavioral outputs
title Scanned optogenetic control of mammalian somatosensory input to map input-specific behavioral outputs
title_full Scanned optogenetic control of mammalian somatosensory input to map input-specific behavioral outputs
title_fullStr Scanned optogenetic control of mammalian somatosensory input to map input-specific behavioral outputs
title_full_unstemmed Scanned optogenetic control of mammalian somatosensory input to map input-specific behavioral outputs
title_short Scanned optogenetic control of mammalian somatosensory input to map input-specific behavioral outputs
title_sort scanned optogenetic control of mammalian somatosensory input to map input-specific behavioral outputs
topic Neuroscience
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8428846/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34323214
http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.62026
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