Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences and Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
Sci Adv. 2023 Sep 29;9(39):eade6992. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.ade6992.
Vocalizations provide a means of communication with high fidelity and information rate for many species. Diencephalon and brainstem neural circuits have been shown to control mouse vocal production; however, the role of cortical circuits in this process is debatable. Using electrical and optogenetic stimulation, we identified a cortical region in the anterior cingulate cortex in which stimulation elicits ultrasonic vocalizations. Moreover, fiber photometry showed an increase in Ca dynamics preceding vocal initiation, whereas optogenetic suppression in this cortical area caused mice to emit fewer vocalizations. Last, electrophysiological recordings indicated a differential increase in neural activity in response to female social exposure dependent on vocal output. Together, these results indicate that the cortex is a key node in the neuronal circuits controlling vocal behavior in mice.
发声为许多物种提供了一种具有高保真度和信息率的交流方式。已经表明，间脑和脑干神经回路控制着小鼠的发声；然而，皮质回路在这个过程中的作用是有争议的。通过电刺激和光遗传学刺激，我们在扣带前皮质中鉴定出一个皮质区域，刺激该区域会引发超声波发声。此外，光纤光度测定显示发声前 Ca 动力学增加，而该皮质区域的光遗传学抑制导致小鼠发声减少。最后，电生理记录表明，对雌性社交暴露的反应中，神经活动的差异增加取决于发声输出。总之，这些结果表明，大脑皮层是控制小鼠发声行为的神经元回路的关键节点。
