Arousal Dependent Modulation Of Thalamo-Cortical Functional Interaction

Abstract

Summary paragraphCognition and behavior emerge from the dynamic interaction of widely distributed, but functionally specialized brain networks. However, it remains unclear how network-level interactions dynamically reorganize to support ever-shifting cognitive and behavioral demands. Here, we investigate how the interaction between posterior parietal cortex (PPC) and lateral posterior (LP) / Pulvinar is shaped by ongoing fluctuations in pupil-linked arousal, which is a non-invasive measure related to neuromodulatory tone in the brain. We found that fluctuations in pupil-linked arousal tracked the dynamic interaction between PPC and LP/Pulvinar characterized by changes in the direction and carrier frequency of oscillatory interaction. Active visual exploration by saccadic eye movements elicited similar transitions in thalamo-cortical interaction. These findings suggest a common network substrate of both spontaneous activity and active vision. Thus, neuromodulators may play a role in dynamically sculpting the patterns of thalamo-cortical functional interaction that underlie visual processing.