Spatial modulation of visual responses arises in cortex with active navigation

During navigation, the visual responses of neurons in mouse primary visual cortex (V1) are modulated by the animal’s spatial position. Here we show that this spatial modulation is similarly present across multiple higher visual areas but negligible in the main thalamic pathway into V1. Similar to hippocampus, spatial modulation in visual cortex strengthens with experience and with active behavior. Active navigation in a familiar environment, therefore, enhances the spatial modulation of visual signals starting in the cortex.在导航过程中，小鼠初级视觉皮层（V1）内神经元的视觉响应会受到动物自身空间位置的调控。本研究表明，这类空间调控现象在多个高级视觉皮层中同样存在，但在通往V1的主要丘脑通路中却可忽略不计。与海马体类似，视觉皮层内的空间调控效应会随着经验积累与主动行为的进行而增强。因此，在熟悉环境中开展主动导航，会增强始于皮层的视觉信号的空间调控效应。