All Publications

  • Visual processing in the fly, from photoreceptors to behavior. Genetics Currier, T. A., Pang, M. M., Clandinin, T. R. 2023

    Abstract

    Originally a genetic model organism, the experimental use of Drosophila melanogaster has grown to include quantitative behavioral analyses, sophisticated perturbations of neuronal function, and detailed sensory physiology. A highlight of these developments can be seen in the context of vision, where pioneering studies have uncovered fundamental and generalizable principles of sensory processing. Here we begin with an overview of vision-guided behaviors and common methods for probing visual circuits. We then outline the anatomy and physiology of brain regions involved in visual processing, beginning at the sensory periphery and ending with descending motor control. Areas of focus include contrast and motion detection in the optic lobe, circuits for visual feature selectivity, computations in support of spatial navigation, and contextual associative learning. Finally, we look to the future of fly visual neuroscience and discuss promising topics for further study.

    View details for DOI 10.1093/genetics/iyad064

    View details for PubMedID 37128740

  • Visual and motor signatures of locomotion dynamically shape a population code for feature detection in Drosophila. eLife Turner, M. H., Krieger, A., Pang, M. M., Clandinin, T. R. 2022; 11

    Abstract

    Natural vision is dynamic: as an animal moves, its visual input changes dramatically. How can the visual system reliably extract local features from an input dominated by self-generated signals? In Drosophila, diverse local visual features are represented by a group of projection neurons with distinct tuning properties. Here we describe a connectome-based volumetric imaging strategy to measure visually evoked neural activity across this population. We show that local visual features are jointly represented across the population, and that a shared gain factor improves trial-to-trial coding fidelity. A subset of these neurons, tuned to small objects, is modulated by two independent signals associated with self-movement, a motor-related signal and a visual motion signal associated with rotation of the animal. These two inputs adjust the sensitivity of these feature detectors across the locomotor cycle, selectively reducing their gain during saccades and restoring it during intersaccadic intervals. This work reveals a strategy for reliable feature detection during locomotion.

    View details for DOI 10.7554/eLife.82587

    View details for PubMedID 36300621

  • Sustained deep-tissue voltage recording using a fast indicator evolved for two-photon microscopy. Cell Liu, Z., Lu, X., Villette, V., Gou, Y., Colbert, K. L., Lai, S., Guan, S., Land, M. A., Lee, J., Assefa, T., Zollinger, D. R., Korympidou, M. M., Vlasits, A. L., Pang, M. M., Su, S., Cai, C., Froudarakis, E., Zhou, N., Patel, S. S., Smith, C. L., Ayon, A., Bizouard, P., Bradley, J., Franke, K., Clandinin, T. R., Giovannucci, A., Tolias, A. S., Reimer, J., Dieudonne, S., St-Pierre, F. 2022

    Abstract

    Genetically encoded voltage indicators are emerging tools for monitoring voltage dynamics with cell-type specificity. However, current indicators enable a narrow range of applications due to poor performance under two-photon microscopy, a method of choice for deep-tissue recording. To improve indicators, we developed a multiparameter high-throughput platform to optimize voltage indicators for two-photon microscopy. Using this system, we identified JEDI-2P, an indicator that is faster, brighter, and more sensitive and photostable than its predecessors. We demonstrate that JEDI-2P can report light-evoked responses in axonal termini of Drosophila interneurons and the dendrites and somata of amacrine cells of isolated mouse retina. JEDI-2P can also optically record the voltage dynamics of individual cortical neurons in awake behaving mice for more than 30min using both resonant-scanning and ULoVE random-access microscopy. Finally, ULoVE recording of JEDI-2P can robustly detect spikes at depths exceeding 400mum and report voltage correlations in pairs of neurons.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.cell.2022.07.013

    View details for PubMedID 35985322

  • Developmental Biology: Neurons That Divide Together Wire Together. Current biology : CB Pang, M. M., Clandinin, T. R. 2018; 28 (12): R715–R717

    Abstract

    Retinotopic maps represent a fundamental organizing principle of visual system wiring. A recent study illustrates how careful coordination of developmental strategies can simultaneously create a diverse array of cell types and establish a complex wiring diagram.

    View details for PubMedID 29920268