Dynamics of cortical contrast adaptation predict perception of signals in noise.

Our Research / Publications

janelia7_blocks-janelia7_biblio_header | block

Nature Communications. 2023 Aug 09;14(1):4817. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-40477-6

View Article on

Dynamics of cortical contrast adaptation predict perception of signals in noise. Hermundstad Lab

Angeloni CF, Młynarski W, Piasini E, Williams AM, Wood KC, Garami L, Hermundstad AM, Geffen MN

janelia7_blocks-janelia7_biblio_abstract | block

Abstract

Neurons throughout the sensory pathway adapt their responses depending on the statistical structure of the sensory environment. Contrast gain control is a form of adaptation in the auditory cortex, but it is unclear whether the dynamics of gain control reflect efficient adaptation, and whether they shape behavioral perception. Here, we trained mice to detect a target presented in background noise shortly after a change in the contrast of the background. The observed changes in cortical gain and behavioral detection followed the dynamics of a normative model of efficient contrast gain control; specifically, target detection and sensitivity improved slowly in low contrast, but degraded rapidly in high contrast. Auditory cortex was required for this task, and cortical responses were not only similarly affected by contrast but predicted variability in behavioral performance. Combined, our results demonstrate that dynamic gain adaptation supports efficient coding in auditory cortex and predicts the perception of sounds in noise.

Main Menu (Mobile)- Block

Main Menu - Block

Dynamics of cortical contrast adaptation predict perception of signals in noise.

Abstract

PMID: 37558677 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Janelia Authors