# Inhibitory control of visual cortical circuits

> **NIH NIH K99** · YALE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $102,687

## Abstract

Project Summary
Neuronal activity in the cerebral cortex underlies essential brain functions, including perception and cognition,
and changes flexibly to adapt to changing behavioral states and environmental inputs. Several lines of
evidence suggest that inhibitory interneurons, which use GABA as a neurotransmitter, may be key regulators
of flexible cortical function. However, cortical GABAergic interneurons comprise several highly diverse
subpopulations with complex interactions, and are differentially activated during behavioral states such as quiet
wakefulness, locomotion, and arousal. This presents a challenge to identifying their precise roles. Interestingly,
our preliminary data suggest that in the mouse visual cortex, interactions between two specific interneuron
populations, those expressing the peptide somatostatin (SST-INs) and those expressing the vasoactive
intestinal peptide (VIP-INs) dramatically affect behavioral state-dependent visual processing.
This research will directly, using a cutting-edge, multi-level approach combining computational modeling and
quantitative data analysis, two-photon laser scanning microscopy (2PLSM), and genetically targeted
optogenetic manipulation of brain circuits in awake, behaving mice. We will causally test the links between the
activity of defined cell populations during distinct behavioral states and sensory processing. We will address
the following aims: (1) we will identify cell-type specific GABAergic interneuron contributions to sensory
processing, (2) determine how behavioral state modulates the impact of GABAergic inhibition, (3) identify how
distinct GABAergic interneuron populations regulate the correlational structure of visually evoked activity, and
(4) determine how IN-IN interactions dynamically regulate visual tuning. Our results will generate
unprecedented insight into the function of identified interneuron populations, discover fundamental
computational motifs of visual function and dysfunction, and provide a tightly integrated
computational/experimental foundation for Dr. Ferguson's long-term research program. This research has the
potential to provide novel insight into the role of GABAergic interneurons in the impairment of visual processing
in neurological and psychiatric disease.
The work described above will be carried out by Dr. Ferguson in the Department of Neuroscience at the Yale
University School of Medicine, under the supervision of her mentor, Dr. Jessica Cardin, and collaborators Drs.
Michael Higley and Brent Doiron. The proposal is carefully designed to broaden Dr. Ferguson's arsenal of
technical skills, hone her scientific reasoning, and provide career development training to prepare her to
become an Assistant Professor at the end of the K99 phase, and to apply for independent R01 funding at the
end of the R00 phase. These goals will be achieved through Dr. Ferguson's plans, described in this
application, to perform research; to meet frequently with her mentor, colla...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10015271
- **Project number:** 5K99EY030549-02
- **Recipient organization:** YALE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Katherine Ferguson
- **Activity code:** K99 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $102,687
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-30 → 2023-09-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10015271

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10015271, Inhibitory control of visual cortical circuits (5K99EY030549-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10015271. Licensed CC0.

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