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Presynaptic Inhibition Selectively Gates Auditory Transmission to the Brainstem Startle Circuit
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Presynaptic Inhibition Selectively Gates Auditory Transmission to the Brainstem Startle Circuit

Kathryn M. Tabor, Trevor S. Smith, Mary Brown, Sadie A. Bergeron, Kevin L. Briggman and Harold A. Burgess
Current biology, v 28(16), pp 2527-2535
20 Aug 2018
PMID: 30078569
url
http://www.cell.com/article/S096098221830811X/pdfView
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2018.06.020View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

B3 recombinase Gsx1 iGluSnFR large-scale calcium imaging Mauthner cell prepulse inhibition presynaptic inhibition sensory gating startle reflex zebrafish
Filtering mechanisms prevent a continuous stream of sensory information from swamping perception, leading to diminished focal attention and cognitive processing. Mechanisms for sensory gating are commonly studied using prepulse inhibition, a paradigm that measures the regulated transmission of auditory information to the startle circuit; however, the underlying neuronal pathways are unresolved. Using large-scale calcium imaging, optogenetics, and laser ablations, we reveal a cluster of 30 morphologically identified neurons in zebrafish that suppress the transmission of auditory signals during prepulse inhibition. These neurons project to a key sensorimotor interface in the startle circuit—the termination zone of auditory afferents on the dendrite of a startle command neuron. Direct measurement of auditory nerve neurotransmitter release revealed selective presynaptic inhibition of sensory transmission to the startle circuit, sparing signaling to other brain regions. Our results provide the first cellular resolution circuit for prepulse inhibition in a vertebrate, revealing a central role for presynaptic gating of sensory information to a brainstem motor circuit. •Gsx1 neuron activity in rhombomere 4 correlates with sensory gating of startle•30 identified glutamatergic Gsx1 neurons are required for prepulse inhibition•Gsx1 neurons project to the interface of the auditory nerve and Mauthner cell•Presynaptic inhibition suppresses auditory transmission during prepulse inhibition Sensory gating is essential to guard sustained processing of relevant signals by suppressing less-salient cues. Tabor et al. now report a cluster of neurons in the zebrafish hindbrain that regulates the transmission of sensory signals to motor circuits via presynaptic inhibition of auditory afferents.

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Domestic collaboration
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Web of Science research areas
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Biology
Cell Biology
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