Visual input modulates audiomotor function via hypothalamic dopaminergic neurons through a cooperative mechanism

Neuron. 2012 Aug 23;75(4):688-99. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2012.05.035.

Abstract

Visual cues often modulate auditory signal processing, leading to improved sound detection. However, the synaptic and circuit mechanism underlying this cross-modal modulation remains poorly understood. Using larval zebrafish, we first established a cross-modal behavioral paradigm in which a preceding flash enhances sound-evoked escape behavior, which is known to be executed through auditory afferents (VIII(th) nerves) and command-like neurons (Mauthner cells). In vivo recording revealed that the visual enhancement of auditory escape is achieved by increasing sound-evoked Mauthner cell responses. This increase in Mauthner cell responses is accounted for by the increase in the signal-to-noise ratio of sound-evoked VIII(th) nerve spiking and efficacy of VIII(th) nerve-Mauthner cell synapses. Furthermore, the visual enhancement of Mauthner cell response and escape behavior requires light-responsive dopaminergic neurons in the caudal hypothalamus and D1 dopamine receptor activation. Our findings illustrate a cooperative neural mechanism for visual modulation of audiomotor processing that involves dopaminergic neuromodulation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione / pharmacology
  • Acoustic Stimulation / adverse effects
  • Action Potentials / drug effects
  • Action Potentials / physiology
  • Animals
  • Apomorphine / pharmacology
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Benzazepines / pharmacology
  • Biotin / analogs & derivatives
  • Biotin / metabolism
  • Cell Communication / drug effects
  • Cell Communication / physiology*
  • Dopamine Agonists / pharmacology
  • Dopamine Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Dopaminergic Neurons / drug effects
  • Dopaminergic Neurons / physiology*
  • Escape Reaction / drug effects
  • Escape Reaction / physiology*
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / pharmacology
  • Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / drug effects
  • Flufenamic Acid / pharmacology
  • Functional Laterality
  • Glycyrrhetinic Acid / pharmacology
  • Hypothalamus / cytology*
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Larva
  • Light
  • Locomotion / physiology*
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Morpholinos / pharmacology
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Photic Stimulation / methods
  • Psychoacoustics
  • Receptors, Dopamine D1 / physiology
  • Signal-To-Noise Ratio
  • Time Factors
  • Valine / analogs & derivatives
  • Valine / pharmacology
  • Visual Pathways / drug effects
  • Visual Pathways / physiology*
  • Zebrafish

Substances

  • Benzazepines
  • Dopamine Agonists
  • Dopamine Antagonists
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists
  • Morpholinos
  • Receptors, Dopamine D1
  • SCH 23390
  • neurobiotin
  • Flufenamic Acid
  • 6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione
  • Biotin
  • 2-amino-5-phosphopentanoic acid
  • Valine
  • Apomorphine
  • Glycyrrhetinic Acid