Recruitment of distinct cortical and subcortical activations by layer and frequency specific optogenetic stimulation in primary visual cortex

Abstract

Different layers in mammalian cortex have specific projections and circuit dynamics. However, how optogenetic stimulation frequencies at different infragranular layers contribute to widespread and large-scale cortical and subcortical activities remains largely unexplored. In this study, optogenetic fMRI is used to investigate layer and frequency dependent activities by stimulating excitatory neurons in different infragranular layers of visual cortex. Our results showed that layer and frequency specific optogenetic stimulation recruits distinct widespread and large-scale cortical and subcortical activations. Spatiotemporally varying optogenetic stimulation in combination with fMRI presents unique opportunities in studying the underlying mechanisms of long-range neural circuits and brain functional networks.