The Doors of Visual Perception in Mice.
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Date
2023-07-06
Authors
Chauvin, Kristen
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
A fundamental function of the brain is to generate subjective perceptual experiences, otherwise known as conscious awareness. However, in visual neuroscience, it is unclear why stimuli impacting the retina are only sometimes consciously perceived, other times going unseen (such as when viewing a very faint light at a distance, or during distracted driving). Further, it is uncertain which regions in the brain visual information must be routed to in order to enter conscious awareness. However, previous studies have suggested that variation in behavioral state factors such as attention, arousal, and motor activity can impact neural response dynamics and performance on visual tasks - suggesting a role for behavior state in determining the perceptual fate (conscious or unconscious) of visual stimuli. While most studies regarding neural mechanisms of consciousness are performed in human and non-human primates, the mouse is emerging as a model organism for the study of conscious awareness. This dissertation constitutes an exploration of the use of mice to study the neural correlates of visual perception. The literature review and experiments contained within are guided by three motivating questions: (1) Can the use of mice drive forward theories of consciousness developed in primates? (2) Does behavior state impact the neural response to near-threshold visual stimuli in mice? (3) Where does conscious awareness enter along the visual processing hierarchy? Chapter 2 introduces the mouse as a model organism to study consciousness, chapter 3 describes results from an investigation into the role of locomotion and arousal on neural response thresholds, and chapter 4 summarizes results from a study on the role of the visual thalamus in directing selective visual attention. Amongst other findings, I demonstrate that mice are an ideal model organism for the study of consciousness, that behavior state impacts neural thresholds, and that activity in early visual regions is likely sufficient for conscious perception in mice.