Spatial embedding and wiring cost constrain the functional layout of the cortical network of rodents and primates

Mammals show a wide range of brain sizes, reflecting adaptation to diverse habitats. Comparing interareal cortical networks across brains of different sizes and mammalian orders provides robust information on evolutionarily preserved features and species-specific processing modalities. However, these networks are spatially embedded, directed, and weighted, making comparisons challenging. Using tract tracing data from macaque and mouse, we show the existence of a general organizational principle based on an exponential distance rule (EDR) and cortical geometry, enabling network comparisons within the same model framework. These comparisons reveal the existence of network invariants between mouse and macaque, exemplified in graph motif profiles and connection similarity indices, but also significant differences, such as fractionally smaller and much weaker long-distance connections in the macaque than in mouse. The latter lends credence to the prediction that long-distance cortico-cortical connections could be very weak in the much-expanded human cortex, implying an increased susceptibility to disconnection syndromes such as Alzheimer disease and schizophrenia. Finally, our data from tracer experiments involving only gray matter connections in the primary visual areas of both species show that an EDR holds at local scales as well (within 1.5 mm), supporting the hypothesis that it is a universally valid property across all scales and, possibly, across the mammalian class

Quelle est la corrélation entre la taille du cerveau et les propriétés du réseau cortical ?

Les entrées des projections de dLGN et FB des aires corticales à L1 du V1 de la souris sont discontinues. Elles correspondent à un motif d'expression M2AChR. Ce motif est aussi observé chez le rat et le singe. Les neurones en L2/3 alignés avec les zones M2+ ont une grande acuité spatiale, tandis que dans les zones M2- ont une grande acuité temporelle. Ensemble, les zones M2 + et M2- forment des domaines constants. Ils codent des sous-régions du RF, de sorte que plusieurs domaines contribuent à l'image d'un point du champ visuel.En utilisant des traceurs rétrogrades, nous montrons un principe d'organisation générale fondée sur une règle de la distance exponentielle (EDR) et la géométrie corticale. Nous trouvons des invariants de réseau, mais aussi des différences significatives, telles que des connexions de longue distance beaucoup plus faibles chez le macaque. Une EDR est aussi présente à l'échelle locale, à moins de 1,5 mm, ce qui indique qu'elle pourrait être une propriété universellement applicable à toutes les échelles et chez toutes les mammifères.41 injections avec des traceurs rétrogrades ont été faites dans 22 des 45 régions du néocortex de la souris. Nous avons aplati le cortex et utilisé des critères histologiques et génétiques pour la répartition des neurones marqués dans les aires corticales. Pour chaque connexion, un poids a été déterminé. La cohérence entre les animaux est influencée par le poids moyen et la taille de l'injection. La distribution lognormale des connexions à une aire corticale couvre 5 ordres de grandeur et constitue un profil de connectivité qui est caractéristique de chaque aire. La matrice cortico-corticale présente une densité de 96%We find that inputs to the non-columnar mouse V1 from the dLGN and FB projections from cortical areas to L1 are patchy. The patches are matched to a pattern of M2AChR expression at ?xed locations of mouse, rat, and monkey V1. Neurons in L2/3 aligned with M2-rich patches have high spatial acuity, whereas cells in M2-poor zones have high temporal acuity. Together M2+ and M2-zones form constant-size domains that are repeated across V1. Domains map subregions of the RF, such that multiple copies are contained within the point image. Using tract tracing data from macaque and mouse, we show a general organizational principle based on an exponential distance rule (EDR) and cortical geometry. We find network invariants between mouse and macaque, but also significant differences, such as fractionally smaller and much weaker long distance connections in the macaque than in mouse. An EDR holds at local scales as well (within 1.5 mm), indicating that it might be a universally valid property across all scales and across the mammalian class.41 injections with retrograde tracers were made in 22 of the 40 areas of the mouse neocortex. Flat mounts of the cortex complete with comprehensive histological and genetic criteria enabled allocation of counts of labeled neurons to individual cortical areas. A weight was determined for each connection. Consistency across animals was systematically influenced by mean weight and injection size. The lognormal distribution of connections to a cortical area spanned 5 orders of magnitude and constituted a connectivity profile that was highly characteristic for each area. The resulting matrix showed that 96% of connections that can exist do exis

A weighted and directed interareal connectivity matrix for macaque cerebral cortex

Retrograde tracer injections in 29 of the 91 areas of the macaque cerebral cortex revealed 1,615 interareal pathways, a third of which have not previously been reported. A weight index (extrinsic fraction of labeled neurons [FLNe]) was determined for each area-to-area pathway. Newly found projections were weaker on average compared with the known projections; nevertheless, the 2 sets of pathways had extensively overlapping weight distributions. Repeat injections across individuals revealed modest FLNe variability given the range of FLNe values (standard deviation <1 log unit, range 5 log units). The connectivity profile for each area conformed to a lognormal distribution, where a majority of projections are moderate or weak in strength. In the G29 x 29 interareal subgraph, two-thirds of the connections that can exist do exist. Analysis of the smallest set of areas that collects links from all 91 nodes of the G29 x 91 subgraph (dominating set analysis) confirms the dense (66%) structure of the cortical matrix. The G29 x 29 subgraph suggests an unexpectedly high incidence of unidirectional links. The directed and weighted G29 x 91 connectivity matrix for the macaque will be valuable for comparison with connectivity analyses in other species, including humans. It will also inform future modeling studies that explore the regularities of cortical networks

A weighted and directed interareal connectivity matrix for macaque cerebral cortex

International audienceRetrograde tracer injections in 29 of the 91 areas of the macaque cerebral cortex revealed 1,615 interareal pathways, a third of which have not previously been reported. A weight index (extrinsic fraction of labeled neurons [FLNe]) was determined for each area-to-area pathway. Newly found projections were weaker on average compared with the known projections; nevertheless, the 2 sets of pathways had extensively overlapping weight distributions. Repeat injections across individuals revealed modest FLNe variability given the range of FLNe values (standard deviation <1 log unit, range 5 log units). The connectivity profile for each area conformed to a lognormal distribution, where a majority of projections are moderate or weak in strength. In the G(29 x) (29) interareal subgraph, two-thirds of the connections that can exist do exist. Analysis of the smallest set of areas that collects links from all 91 nodes of the G(29 x 91) subgraph (dominating set analysis) confirms the dense (66%) structure of the cortical matrix. The G(29 x 29) subgraph suggests an unexpectedly high incidence of unidirectional links. The directed and weighted G(29 x 91) connectivity matrix for the macaque will be valuable for comparison with connectivity analyses in other species, including humans. It will also inform future modeling studies that explore the regularities of cortical networks