2021
Visual thalamocortical mechanisms of waking state-dependent activity and alpha oscillations
Nestvogel D, McCormick D. Visual thalamocortical mechanisms of waking state-dependent activity and alpha oscillations. Neuron 2021, 110: 120-138.e4. PMID: 34687663, PMCID: PMC8815448, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.10.005.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsState-dependent activityAlpha-like rhythmVisual thalamusAwake animalsMovement-related activationHz oscillationsPrimary visual cortexLow-threshold CaThalamic neuronsMovement-related signalsIntracellular recordingsThalamocortical cellsThalamocortical mechanismsCell-intrinsic propertiesVisual cortexThalamocortical interactionsBehavioral statesThalamusNeural mechanismsAlpha oscillationsNeuronsDistinct patternsV1Movement signalsRhythmVagus nerve stimulation induces widespread cortical and behavioral activation
Collins L, Boddington L, Steffan P, McCormick D. Vagus nerve stimulation induces widespread cortical and behavioral activation. Current Biology 2021, 31: 2088-2098.e3. PMID: 33740425, DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.02.049.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVagus nerve stimulationCalcium imagingNeuromodulatory systemsVagus nerve transectionAuditory cortical regionsWidefield calcium imagingArousal stateDose-dependent activationNerve transectionVNS effectsNerve stimulationExcitatory activityCortical axonsModulatory pathwaysExcitatory neuronsLight anesthesiaNeurological conditionsTherapeutic mechanismMouse modelStimulation inducesArousal state changesCortical activityCortical stateMotor activityCortical regions
2020
Pupil-linked phasic arousal predicts a reduction of choice bias across species and decision domains
de Gee J, Tsetsos K, Schwabe L, Urai A, McCormick D, McGinley M, Donner T. Pupil-linked phasic arousal predicts a reduction of choice bias across species and decision domains. ELife 2020, 9: e54014. PMID: 32543372, PMCID: PMC7297536, DOI: 10.7554/elife.54014.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPhasic arousalArousal systemMemory-based decisionsSound detection taskDecision-relevant evidenceBrain arousal systemsChoice biasesChoice biasLiberal biasesDecision domainArousalBehavioral effectsBias suppressionBiasesAmbiguous evidenceRapid dilationSuch decisionsMemoryPupilsTaskDecisionsHumansEvidenceGeneral principlesBias
2019
Movement and Performance Explain Widespread Cortical Activity in a Visual Detection Task
Salkoff D, Zagha E, McCarthy E, McCormick D. Movement and Performance Explain Widespread Cortical Activity in a Visual Detection Task. Cerebral Cortex 2019, 30: 421-437. PMID: 31711133, PMCID: PMC7029483, DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhz206.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVisual detection taskSecondary motor cortexTask performanceTask-related movementsCortical activityMotor cortexDetection taskTask-independent processesOptimal task performanceWidespread cortical activityTask-related changesHead-fixed miceResponse choicesDorsal cortexOrofacial movementsNeural activityTrial variationLick responsesArousal stateTrial variabilityTarget trialsLick rateCortexCortical signalsTrialsDistinct Waking States for Strong Evoked Responses in Primary Visual Cortex and Optimal Visual Detection Performance
Neske G, Nestvogel D, Steffan P, McCormick D. Distinct Waking States for Strong Evoked Responses in Primary Visual Cortex and Optimal Visual Detection Performance. Journal Of Neuroscience 2019, 39: 10044-10059. PMID: 31672787, PMCID: PMC6978938, DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1226-18.2019.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPrimary visual cortexVisual cortexSensory processingVisual detection performanceCortical neuronal responsesCortical sensory processingWhole-cell recordingsMouse visual systemSensory cortical activityNeuronal membrane potentialArousal levelNeuronal responsivenessFunction of arousalMice increasesNeuronal responsesCortical activityV1 responsesVisual detection taskCortexSensory stimuliSensory responsesLocomotion periodsVisual stimuliBehavioral performanceMembrane potential
2015
Cortical Membrane Potential Signature of Optimal States for Sensory Signal Detection
McGinley MJ, David SV, McCormick DA. Cortical Membrane Potential Signature of Optimal States for Sensory Signal Detection. Neuron 2015, 87: 179-192. PMID: 26074005, PMCID: PMC4631312, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2015.05.038.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCortical neuronsAuditory cortical neuronsSound-evoked responsesSensory-evoked responsesBackground synaptic activityMembrane potentialTonic periodsSignal detection behaviorSynaptic activityStable hyperpolarizationMembrane potential activitySlow oscillationsHippocampal recordingsNeural correlatesNeuronsTask performanceArousalPotential activityDetection behaviorPhysiological signaturesNoise detection taskArousal measuresMiceActivity
1997
SLEEP AND AROUSAL: Thalamocortical Mechanisms
McCormick D, Bal T. SLEEP AND AROUSAL: Thalamocortical Mechanisms. Annual Review Of Neuroscience 1997, 20: 185-215. PMID: 9056712, DOI: 10.1146/annurev.neuro.20.1.185.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsThalamic reticular neuronsReticular neuronsCerebral cortex resultsCortical pyramidal cellsIntrinsic membrane propertiesBasal forebrainEnhanced excitabilityBrain stemMovement sleepAbsence seizuresTonic activityPyramidal cellsThalamocortical activitySleep rhythmsAnatomical interconnectionsCortex resultsThalamocortical mechanismsDifferent neurotransmittersParoxysmal eventsSpindle wavesRhythmic activitySpecific alterationsSleepSensory processingSlow waves
1993
Thalamocortical Oscillations in the Sleeping and Aroused Brain
Steriade M, McCormick D, Sejnowski T. Thalamocortical Oscillations in the Sleeping and Aroused Brain. Science 1993, 262: 679-685. PMID: 8235588, DOI: 10.1126/science.8235588.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
1992
Neurotransmitter Actions in the Thalamus and Cerebral Cortex
McCormick D. Neurotransmitter Actions in the Thalamus and Cerebral Cortex. Journal Of Clinical Neurophysiology 1992, 9: 212-223. PMID: 1350591, DOI: 10.1097/00004691-199204010-00004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGamma-aminobutyric acidCerebral cortexThalamocortical activityInhibitory amino acidsSleep-wake cyclePostsynaptic actionsCortical neuronsNeurotransmitter actionEpileptic seizuresSynaptic informationTransmitter actionThalamusNorepinephrineAcetylcholineCortexNeurotransmittersSeizuresExcitabilityNeocortexHistamineExcitatoryState of activityNeuronsActivity
1991
Modulation of neuronal firing mode in cat and guinea pig LGNd by histamine: possible cellular mechanisms of histaminergic control of arousal
McCormick D, Williamson A. Modulation of neuronal firing mode in cat and guinea pig LGNd by histamine: possible cellular mechanisms of histaminergic control of arousal. Journal Of Neuroscience 1991, 11: 3188-3199. PMID: 1658246, PMCID: PMC6575455, DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.11-10-03188.1991.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSlow depolarizing responseApplication of histamineSingle spike activityDepolarizing responseSlow depolarizationIntracellular recordingsPotassium currentGuinea pigsLateral geniculate relay neuronsCat LGNdHyperpolarization-activated cation current IhEnhancement of IhGeniculate relay neuronsH2 antagonist cimetidineThalamic neuronal activityRhythmic burst dischargesH1-receptor antagonistAction of histamineH1 antagonist pyrilamineVoltage-clamp recordingsPossible cellular mechanismsApparent membrane conductanceHistaminergic controlHistaminergic projectionsMembrane conductance