A Visual Circuit Related to the Nucleus Reuniens for the Spatial-Memory-Promoting Effects of Light Treatment

  • Xiaodan Huang
  • , Pengcheng Huang
  • , Lu Huang
  • , Zhengfang Hu
  • , Xianwei Liu
  • , Jiawei Shen
  • , Yue Xi
  • , Yan Yang
  • , Yunwei Fu
  • , Qian Tao
  • , Song Lin
  • , Anding Xu
  • , Fuqiang Xu
  • , Tian Xue
  • , Kwok Fai So
  • , Haohong Li
  • , Chaoran Ren

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

81 Scopus citations

Abstract

Light exerts profound effects on cognitive functions across species, including humans. However, the neuronal mechanisms underlying the effects of light on cognitive functions are poorly understood. In this study, we show that long-term exposure to bright-light treatment promotes spatial memory through a di-synaptic visual circuit related to the nucleus reuniens (Re). Specifically, a subset of SMI-32-expressing ON-type retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) innervate CaMKIIα neurons in the thalamic ventral lateral geniculate nucleus and intergeniculate leaflet (vLGN/IGL), which in turn activate CaMKIIα neurons in the Re. Specific activation of vLGN/IGL-projecting RGCs, activation of Re-projecting vLGN/IGL neurons, or activation of postsynaptic Re neurons is sufficient to promote spatial memory. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the spatial-memory-promoting effects of light treatment are dependent on the activation of vLGN/IGL-projecting RGCs, Re-projecting vLGN/IGL neurons, and Re neurons. Our results reveal a dedicated subcortical visual circuit that mediates the spatial-memory-promoting effects of light treatment.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)347-362.e7
JournalNeuron
Volume109
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 20 Jan 2021
Externally publishedYes

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