Biomedical subjects

Stéphane Molotchnikoff

Publications and source records attributed to Stéphane Molotchnikoff.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Neuron participation in a synchrony-encoding assembly.

BACKGROUND: Synchronization of action potentials between neurons is considered to be an encoding process that allows the grouping of various and multiple features of an image leading to a coherent perception. How this coding neuronal assembly is configured is debated. We have previously shown that the magnitude of synchronization between excited neurons is stimulus-dependent. In the present investigation we compare the levels of synchronization between synchronizing individual neurons and the synchronizing pool of cells to which they belong. RESULTS: Even though neurons belonged to their respective pools, some cells synchronized for all presented stimuli while others were rather selective and only a few stimulating conditions produced a significant synchronization. In addition the experiments show that one synchronizing pair rarely replicates the level of synchrony between corresponding groups of units. But when synchronizing clusters of neurons increase in number, the correlation (measured as a coefficient of determination) between unit synchronization and the synchronization between the entire pools of cells to which individual neurons belong improves. CONCLUSION: These results prompt the hypothesis that random or spontaneous synchronization becomes progressively less important, whereas coincident spikes related to encoding properties of targets gain significance because a particular configuration of an image biases the excitatory inputs in favor of connections driven by the applied features of the stimulus.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed2004

Disparity sensitivity in the superior colliculus of the cat.

The present study aims at evaluating the spatial disparity response profiles of binocular cells in the superficial layers of the superior colliculus of the cat using drifting light bars and phase-shifted spatial frequency gratings. Results show that a total of 64% of the cells were sensitive to phase disparities and had large tuning profiles. Similarly, a large proportion (75%) of those tested with position offsets showed one of the four classic disparity profiles, those of the tuned cells being rather coarse. When tested with both position and phase disparities, 54% of the cells showed sensitivity profiles to the two types of stimuli. The overall results suggest that the superior colliculus is involved in the analysis of coarse stereopsis and/or the planning and initiation of saccades during vergence eye movements and/or the control of fine adjustments to maintain fixation as the stimulus moves in depth.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed2003

Analysis of frequency components of cortical potentials evoked by progressive misalignment of Kanizsa squares.

Cortical gamma oscillations (20-100 Hz) are thought to play an important role in encoding visual perception. If so they should emerge at about threshold. In the present investigation we examined the latter proposal. Visual responses were recorded in occipital, temporal and parietal areas (stimulus duration 512 ms). Oscillation strength and frequency were derived from FFT analysis and wavelet transforms. The specific goals of the present study are: 1: To examine the parallel between gamma oscillations and the psychometric threshold of perception of Kanizsa square (KS). The latter is gradually altered by a progressive misalignment of lower inducers (pacmen). Results show that the perception of the KS is altered by lateral displacements of the lower inducers as small as 0.1 to 0.2 degrees. In parallel, high frequency components of cortical responses gain in strength with misalignments. 2: Gamma oscillations emerge at or about the psychometric threshold. In addition, our data analysis demonstrates that gamma oscillations appear in short bursts (approx. 50 ms) in the time window between 200 and 500 ms after stimulus onset. Furthermore, controls indicated that these oscillations are of the induced-gamma type. Thus, our experiments suggest that gamma oscillations are associated with image structures and may be induced by local properties of the target.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Influence of NO downregulation on oscillatory evoked responses in developing rat superior colliculus.

Nitric oxide (NO) is involved in neuronal transmission by modulating neurotransmitter release in adults and in stabilizing synaptic connections in developing brains. We investigated the influence of downregulation of NO synthesis on oscillatory components of ON and OFF evoked field potentials in the rat superior colliculus. NO synthesis was decreased by inhibiting nitric oxide synthase (NOS) with an acute microinjection of N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). The study focuses on rhythmic activity by analyzing fast Fourier transform (FFT). Collicular responses were recorded in anesthetized rats, at postnatal days (PND) 13-19 and adults. This time window was chosen because it is centered on eye opening. NO downregulation resulted in a dual effect depending on age and response-type. NO synthesis inhibition decreased the magnitude of oscillations in ON responses in the youngest animals (PND13-14), whereas oscillations of frequencies higher than 20 Hz in OFF responses were increased in all age groups of developing rats. In adults NO downregulation increased oscillations in ON responses and decreased oscillations in OFF responses. L-Arginine was used to increase NOS activity and its injection produced effects opposite to those seen with L-NAME. Slow oscillatory components (7-12 Hz) were unaffected in all experiments. Our data together with results reported in the literature suggest that rhythmic patterns of activity are NO-dependent.

Animals↗