Biology subjects

Nielsen, K. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Nielsen, K. J..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Early development of direction selectivity in higher visual cortex

A fundamental aspect of visual motion processing is the computation of motion direction. In ferrets, as in primates, selectivity for motion direction is found both in early cortical stages like the primary visual cortex (V1) and in higher visual areas like the middle temporal (MT) area in primates and the postero-medial lateral suprasylvian (PMLS) area in ferrets. Little is known about how this critical tuning function develops in higher visual cortex. Here, by studying the development of the ferrets motion pathway, we first reveal the surprising finding that direction selectivity develops earlier in PMLS than in V1, contrary to the areas hierarchical positions. Our data, collected in animals of either sex, furthermore show that while direction selectivity is sensitive to visual experience in both areas, the sensitivity profile differs between them: Presentation of drifting gratings, containing the full complement of spatial and temporal cues generated by visual motion, can promote direction selectivity development in V1 and PMLS. In contrast, flashing stationary stimuli, which lack the spatial displacement of moving stimuli and only contain temporal changes, induce direction selectivity only in PMLS, not V1. Collectively our findings reveal significant deviations in PMLS development from that in V1, which will be important to account for in models of motion pathway development and of the developmental disorders that affect this pathway. The complex pattern of relative PMLS and V1 development also highlights the need to address interactions between areas in developmental research. Significance StatementWhile the development of early stages of visual cortex up to primary visual cortex (V1) has received much attention throughout the years, significantly less is known about that of higher visual cortex both on its own as well as in relationship to V1. Here, we focus on a core motion function, direction selectivity, to systematically characterize the coordinated development of multiple stages of the visual motion pathway in ferrets. Crucially, our data show that this coordinated development is surprising complex, and that the developmental status of the higher areas cannot be predicted based on that in lower areas. These findings may also provide clues why motion vision is particularly vulnerable to developmental disorders.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2022

The Cousa objective: a long working distance air objective for multiphoton imaging in vivo

Multiphoton microscopy can resolve fluorescent structures and dynamics deep in scattering tissue, but applying this technique in vivo can be limited by short working distance water-immersion objectives. Here we present an ultra long working distance (20 mm) air objective called the Cousa objective. It is optimized for performance across multiphoton imaging wavelengths, offers a > 4 mm2 field-of-view with submicron lateral resolution, and is compatible with commonly used multiphoton imaging systems. We share the full optical prescription, and report performance including in vivo 2-photon and 3-photon imaging in a range of species and preparations.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2022

Object representation in a gravitational reference frame

When your head tilts laterally, as in sports, reaching, and resting, your eyes counterrotate less than 20%, and thus eye images rotate, over a total range of about 180{degrees}. Yet, the world appears stable and vision remains normal. We discovered a neural strategy for rotational stability in anterior inferotemporal cortex (IT), the final stage of object vision in primates. We measured object orientation tuning of IT neurons in macaque monkeys tilted +25 and -25{degrees} laterally, producing [~]40{degrees} difference in retinal image orientation. Among IT neurons with consistent object orientation tuning, 63% remained stable with respect to gravity across tilts. Gravitational tuning depended on vestibular/somatosensory but also visual cues, consistent with previous evidence that IT processes scene cues for gravitys orientation. In addition to stability across image rotations, an internal gravitational reference frame is important for physical understanding of a world where object position, posture, structure, shape, movement, and behavior interact critically with gravity.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2021

Severe introduced predator impacts despite attempted functional eradication

Established non-native species can have significant impacts on native biodiversity without any possibility of complete eradication. In such cases, one management approach is functional eradication, the reduction of introduced species density below levels that cause unacceptable effects on the native community. Functional eradication may be particularly effective for species with limited dispersal ability, which may limit rates of reinvasion from distant populations. Here, we evaluate the potential for functional eradication of introduced predatory oyster drills (Urosalpinx cinerea) using a community science approach in San Francisco Bay. We combined observational surveys, targeted removals, and a caging experiment to evaluate the effectiveness of this approach in mitigating the mortality of prey Olympia oysters (Ostrea lurida), a conservation and restoration priority species. Despite the efforts of over 300 volunteers that removed over 30,000 oyster drills, we report limited success and discuss several possible mechanisms for this result with broad relevance to management for this and other introduced species. We also found a strong negative relationship between oyster drills and oysters, showing virtually no coexistence across eight sites. At two removal sites, there was no effect of oyster drill removal on oyster survival, which was only observed by caging treatment (0 and 1.6% survival in open and partial cage treatments, as compared to 89.1% in predator exclusion treatments). We conclude that functional eradication of this species requires significantly greater effort and may not be a viable management strategy. Oyster restoration efforts should not be undertaken where Urosalpinx is established or is likely to invade.

ecology↗