Jessica Cardin, PhD
Associate Professor Tenure; Deputy Chair, Neuroscience
Research & Publications
Biography
News
Research Summary
I am interested in how neurons in the brain communicate with each other, and how that communication leads to perception and behavior. We study how the brain represents and interprets what the eyes see, and how changes in the pattern of brain activity can change what is perceived.
Specialized Terms: Neuroscience; Cortex; Inhibitory interneuron; Oscillation; Electrophysiology; Vision; Schizophrenia; Epilepsy; Intracellular; Network
Extensive Research Description
The cortex is made up of
interconnected networks containing many different classes of neurons, whose
roles in both normal brain activity and disease are poorly understood. Each neuron contributes to activity in
the surrounding local network and receives a constant barrage of network
synaptic input in return. The
Cardin lab investigates this dynamic and bidirectional relationship between
neuron and network at multiple levels, including cellular and synaptic mechanisms,
network interactions, and behavior.
We use a variety of techniques in rodent visual cortex, including
intracellular and extracellular recordings in vivo, chronic recordings in awake behaving animals, and
optogenetic manipulations of neural activity. A main goal of work in the laboratory is to identify and
understand synaptic interactions between excitatory and inhibitory neurons
during sensory processing. One ongoing focus is the cellular mechanisms
of visual gain control and how gain modulation regulates visual perception. A second focus is to understand the
flow of signals between cortical layers and how that process is affected by
recruitment of local inhibitory interneurons. We are also interested in how interactions between different
classes of neurons change in disease states such as epilepsy and schizophrenia.
One of the most fundamental elements of brain function is a reciprocal interaction between excitatory and inhibitory neurons. A major focus in the lab is to understand how these populations of neurons regulate each other and contribute to information processing. To explore this issue, we use intracellular and extracellular recordings, along with molecular genetics techniques. Using cell type-specific expression of optogenetic tools, such as light-activated channels (Channelrhodopsin and Halorhodopsin), we can control the firing of specific populations of excitatory and inhibitory neurons and test their impact on their synaptic targets. One project in the lab is focused on using these combined techniques to map out circuit dynamics in visual cortex in vivo.
A second project is using combined optogenetics and chronic tetrode recordings in awake behaving animals. We are recording patterns of visually evoked activity during awake visual behavior and testing the impact of changing inhibitory or excitatory activity on visual perception.
A third focus is to explore the cellular mechanisms of gain control in the brain. Gain is the amplification of inputs into outputs, and can be thought of as a 'volume control' for neurons. Gain modulation allows neurons to scale their output to any range of incoming inputs. This process is well documented across the brain, but very little is known about the underlying cellular mechanisms. We are exploring the role of synchrony between neurons as a mechanism for gain control in vivo.
In addition to exploring neural dynamics in the healthy brain, we are also interested in the mechanisms of neural dysregulation during disease. Using animal models, we are studying the roles that different populations of inhibitory interneurons may play in schizophrenia. We are also studying the initiation of epilepsy and how it may be controlled with new techniques for regulating neural activity.
A second project is using combined optogenetics and chronic tetrode recordings in awake behaving animals. We are recording patterns of visually evoked activity during awake visual behavior and testing the impact of changing inhibitory or excitatory activity on visual perception.
A third focus is to explore the cellular mechanisms of gain control in the brain. Gain is the amplification of inputs into outputs, and can be thought of as a 'volume control' for neurons. Gain modulation allows neurons to scale their output to any range of incoming inputs. This process is well documented across the brain, but very little is known about the underlying cellular mechanisms. We are exploring the role of synchrony between neurons as a mechanism for gain control in vivo.
In addition to exploring neural dynamics in the healthy brain, we are also interested in the mechanisms of neural dysregulation during disease. Using animal models, we are studying the roles that different populations of inhibitory interneurons may play in schizophrenia. We are also studying the initiation of epilepsy and how it may be controlled with new techniques for regulating neural activity.
Coauthors
Research Interests
Autistic Disorder; Cerebral Cortex; Electrophysiology; Epilepsy; Interneurons; Neurobiology; Neurosciences; Schizophrenia
Selected Publications
- Neural Integro-Differential EquationsZappala E, O. Fonseca A, Moberly A, Higley M, Abdallah C, Cardin J, Van Dijk D. Neural Integro-Differential Equations. Proceedings Of The AAAI Conference On Artificial Intelligence 2023, 37: 11104-11112. DOI: 10.1609/aaai.v37i9.26315.
- Developmental loss of ErbB4 in PV interneurons disrupts state-dependent cortical circuit dynamicsBatista-Brito R, Majumdar A, Nuño A, Ward C, Barnes C, Nikouei K, Vinck M, Cardin J. Developmental loss of ErbB4 in PV interneurons disrupts state-dependent cortical circuit dynamics. Molecular Psychiatry 2023, 1-11. PMID: 37069344, DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02066-3.
- Putting the brakes on synchrony: VIP interneurons tune visually evoked rhythmic activityPerrenoud Q, Cardin J. Putting the brakes on synchrony: VIP interneurons tune visually evoked rhythmic activity. Neuron 2023, 111: 297-299. PMID: 36731427, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.01.004.
- Spatiotemporally heterogeneous coordination of cholinergic and neocortical activityLohani S, Moberly A, Benisty H, Landa B, Jing M, Li Y, Higley M, Cardin J. Spatiotemporally heterogeneous coordination of cholinergic and neocortical activity. Nature Neuroscience 2022, 25: 1706-1713. PMID: 36443609, DOI: 10.1038/s41593-022-01202-6.
- Dual-polarity voltage imaging of the concurrent dynamics of multiple neuron typesKannan M, Vasan G, Haziza S, Huang C, Chrapkiewicz R, Luo J, Cardin J, Schnitzer M, Pieribone V. Dual-polarity voltage imaging of the concurrent dynamics of multiple neuron types. Science 2022, 378 DOI: 10.1126/science.abm8797.
- Dual-polarity voltage imaging of the concurrent dynamics of multiple neuron typesKannan M, Vasan G, Haziza S, Huang C, Chrapkiewicz R, Luo J, Cardin J, Schnitzer M, Pieribone V. Dual-polarity voltage imaging of the concurrent dynamics of multiple neuron types. Science 2022, 378: eabm8797. PMID: 36378956, PMCID: PMC9703638, DOI: 10.1126/science.abm8797.
- OptogeneticsCardin J. Optogenetics. 2022, 2561-2565. DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1006-0_524.
- Altered hippocampal interneuron activity precedes ictal onsetMiri ML, Vinck M, Pant R, Cardin J. Altered hippocampal interneuron activity precedes ictal onset. ELife 2018, 7: e40750. PMID: 30387711, PMCID: PMC6245730, DOI: 10.7554/elife.40750.
- Multiscale optical imaging of cortical activity in mouseBarson D, Hamodi A, Lur G, Cardin J, Crair M, Higley M. Multiscale optical imaging of cortical activity in mouse. 2017, jtu4a.13. DOI: 10.1364/boda.2017.jtu4a.13.
- Projection-Specific Visual Feature Encoding by Layer 5 Cortical SubnetworksLur G, Vinck MA, Tang L, Cardin JA, Higley MJ. Projection-Specific Visual Feature Encoding by Layer 5 Cortical Subnetworks. Cell Reports 2016, 14: 2538-2545. PMID: 26972011, PMCID: PMC4805451, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.02.050.
- Optogenetic stimulation of cholinergic brainstem neurons during focal limbic seizures: Effects on cortical physiologyFurman M, Zhan Q, McCafferty C, Lerner BA, Motelow JE, Meng J, Ma C, Buchanan GF, Witten IB, Deisseroth K, Cardin JA, Blumenfeld H. Optogenetic stimulation of cholinergic brainstem neurons during focal limbic seizures: Effects on cortical physiology. Epilepsia 2015, 56: e198-e202. PMID: 26530287, PMCID: PMC4679683, DOI: 10.1111/epi.13220.
- Arousal and Locomotion Make Distinct Contributions to Cortical Activity Patterns and Visual EncodingVinck M, Batista-Brito R, Knoblich U, Cardin JA. Arousal and Locomotion Make Distinct Contributions to Cortical Activity Patterns and Visual Encoding. Neuron 2015, 86: 740-754. PMID: 25892300, PMCID: PMC4425590, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2015.03.028.
- OptogeneticsCardin J. Optogenetics. 2015, 2175-2179. DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-6675-8_524.
- OptogeneticsCardin J. Optogenetics. 2014, 1-5. DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-7320-6_524-1.
- Integrated Optogenetic and Electrophysiological Dissection of Local Cortical Circuits In VivoCardin J. Integrated Optogenetic and Electrophysiological Dissection of Local Cortical Circuits In Vivo. 2011, 67: 339-355. DOI: 10.1007/7657_2011_23.
- Dissecting local circuits in vivo: Integrated optogenetic and electrophysiology approaches for exploring inhibitory regulation of cortical activityCardin JA. Dissecting local circuits in vivo: Integrated optogenetic and electrophysiology approaches for exploring inhibitory regulation of cortical activity. Journal Of Physiology-Paris 2011, 106: 104-111. PMID: 21958624, PMCID: PMC3277809, DOI: 10.1016/j.jphysparis.2011.09.005.
- A cell-type-specific dynamic Bayesian network model for spontaneous and optogenetically evoked activity in the primary visual cortexMohebi A, Cardin J, Oweiss K. A cell-type-specific dynamic Bayesian network model for spontaneous and optogenetically evoked activity in the primary visual cortex. BMC Neuroscience 2011, 12: o5. PMCID: PMC3240184, DOI: 10.1186/1471-2202-12-s1-o5.
- A critical role for NMDA receptors in parvalbumin interneurons for gamma rhythm induction and behaviorCarlén M, Meletis K, Siegle J, Cardin J, Futai K, Vierling-Claassen D, Rühlmann C, Jones S, Deisseroth K, Sheng M, Moore C, Tsai L. A critical role for NMDA receptors in parvalbumin interneurons for gamma rhythm induction and behavior. Molecular Psychiatry 2011, 17: 537-548. PMID: 21468034, PMCID: PMC3335079, DOI: 10.1038/mp.2011.31.
- Cellular Mechanisms of Temporal Sensitivity in Visual Cortex NeuronsCardin JA, Kumbhani RD, Contreras D, Palmer LA. Cellular Mechanisms of Temporal Sensitivity in Visual Cortex Neurons. Journal Of Neuroscience 2010, 30: 3652-3662. PMID: 20219999, PMCID: PMC2880457, DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.5279-09.2010.
- Targeted optogenetic stimulation and recording of neurons in vivo using cell-type-specific expression of Channelrhodopsin-2Cardin JA, Carlén M, Meletis K, Knoblich U, Zhang F, Deisseroth K, Tsai LH, Moore CI. Targeted optogenetic stimulation and recording of neurons in vivo using cell-type-specific expression of Channelrhodopsin-2. Nature Protocols 2010, 5: 247-254. PMID: 20134425, PMCID: PMC3655719, DOI: 10.1038/nprot.2009.228.
- Driving fast-spiking cells induces gamma rhythm and controls sensory responsesCardin JA, Carlén M, Meletis K, Knoblich U, Zhang F, Deisseroth K, Tsai LH, Moore CI. Driving fast-spiking cells induces gamma rhythm and controls sensory responses. Nature 2009, 459: 663-667. PMID: 19396156, PMCID: PMC3655711, DOI: 10.1038/nature08002.
- Pinacidil induces vascular dilation and hyperemia in vivo and does not impact biophysical properties of neurons and astrocytes in vitroCao R, Higashikubo B, Cardin J, Knoblich U, Ramos R, Nelson M, Moore C, Brumberg J. Pinacidil induces vascular dilation and hyperemia in vivo and does not impact biophysical properties of neurons and astrocytes in vitro. Cleveland Clinic Journal Of Medicine 2009, 76: s80-s85. PMID: 19380306, PMCID: PMC4406396, DOI: 10.3949/ccjm.76.s2.16.
- Cellular Mechanisms Underlying Stimulus-Dependent Gain Modulation in Primary Visual Cortex Neurons In VivoCardin JA, Palmer LA, Contreras D. Cellular Mechanisms Underlying Stimulus-Dependent Gain Modulation in Primary Visual Cortex Neurons In Vivo. Neuron 2008, 59: 150-160. PMID: 18614036, PMCID: PMC2504695, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2008.05.002.
- Stimulus Feature Selectivity in Excitatory and Inhibitory Neurons in Primary Visual CortexCardin JA, Palmer LA, Contreras D. Stimulus Feature Selectivity in Excitatory and Inhibitory Neurons in Primary Visual Cortex. Journal Of Neuroscience 2007, 27: 10333-10344. PMID: 17898205, PMCID: PMC3025280, DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1692-07.2007.
- Memory suppressor genes: Enhancing the relationship between synaptic plasticity and memory storageCardin J, Abel T. Memory suppressor genes: Enhancing the relationship between synaptic plasticity and memory storage. Journal Of Neuroscience Research 1999, 58: 10-23. PMID: 10491568, DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-4547(19991001)58:1<10::aid-jnr3>3.0.co;2-2.
- Lucifer Yellow filling of area X-projecting neurons in the high vocal center of female canariesBenton S, Cardin J, DeVoogd T. Lucifer Yellow filling of area X-projecting neurons in the high vocal center of female canaries. Brain Research 1998, 799: 138-147. PMID: 9666104, DOI: 10.1016/s0006-8993(98)00485-5.