Project description
Holographic interrogation of visual circuits mediating predictive coding
Predictive coding is an attractive framework that allows us to gain an understanding of sensory processing. The neural circuits underlying predictive coding in the context of sensory perception have been largely unexplored because of technological complications in the imaging and manipulation of the selected neurons within neural circuits. The EU-funded HoloPredict project aims to develop a mesoscale two-photon holographic technology enabling the manipulation of functionally selected neurons in targeted higher visual areas with simultaneous measurements of neural activity throughout the cortical visual hierarchy. This approach will test the hypotheses related to the predictive coding framework in the context of visual processing. The study will enable powerful technology to investigate the neural circuits underlying top-down predictive coding with unprecedented precision and scope.
Objective
Predictive coding is an attractive framework to understand sensory processing. However a direct experimental demonstration of this unique capacity of the brain to sensory representations has been lacking, essentially because of the difficulty to separate between external and self-generated representations using correlative or causal paradigms. Similarly, the neural circuits underlying predictive coding in the context of sensory perception have been largely unexplored, primarily because of technological bottlenecks to image and manipulate selected neurons within neural circuits extending multiple areas. In this proposal, I aim to develop a mesoscale two-photon holographic technology that will enable the manipulation of functionally selected neurons in targeted higher visual areas, while simultaneously measuring neural activity throughout the cortical visual hierarchy. This will allow to test primary hypotheses related to the predictive coding framework in the context of visual processing. Importantly, it will provide the possibility for the direct demonstration of predictive coding in the visual cortex by artificially generating an internal sensory representation from scratch in a behaving awake animal. Finally, I use will use this powerful technology to investigate the neural circuits underlying top-down predictive coding with a precision and scope unattainable so far.
Fields of science
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Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinator
1400-038 Lisboa
Portugal