# Circuit and Synaptic Mechanisms of Visual Spatial Attention

> **NIH NIH R01** · GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · 2020 · $436,654

## Abstract

Sensory processing is a way to understand neural circuits and their functions during behavior.
Behavioral context strongly affects sensory processing. For example, a brief visual stimulus is
easier to detect if it appears in a predictable spatial location. Attention to visual space strongly
enhances neural and behavioral responses to stimuli in those locations, but the detailed neural
mechanisms producing these effects remain unknown. This is largely because we lack the
ability to measure specific neurons, circuits, and synapses in real-time during behavior that
elicits visual spatial attention. We are uniquely positioned to bridge this critical knowledge gap
with an innovative combination of cell-type specific optogenetics, multi-site silicon electrode
recordings, and whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in mouse primary visual cortex (V1) during a
well-defined visual spatial attention behavior. This innovative combination of techniques will
enable us to 1) determine response (gain) modulation in defined excitatory and inhibitory
neurons during spatial attention; 2) determine gain modulation across cortical layers during
spatial attention; 3) determine synaptic mechanisms of gain modulation during spatial attention
SIGNIFICANCE. This project will meet a significant need to understand how an internal
cognitive state—attention—exerts its effects across synaptic, cellular, network, and
behavioral levels. Establishing a biophysical basis for attention and sensory processing will
provide greater understanding of neurological disorders characterized by deficits of attention
and sensory perception, such as schizophrenia and autism.
INNOVATION. This work provides technical innovation by combining multiple scales of
measurement from specific neural circuits during a well-controlled sensory behavior that elicits
spatial attention. We will combine high-density local field potential and action potential
measurements at population level, patch-clamp measurements from cortical and thalamic
circuits at the synaptic level, and cell-type specific optogenetics. We provide conceptual
innovation by defining how an internal cognitive factor like attention modulates sensory signals
in defined circuits across network and synaptic levels.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9983218
- **Project number:** 5R01NS109978-03
- **Recipient organization:** GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
- **Principal Investigator:** Bilal Haider
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $436,654
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-30 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9983218

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9983218, Circuit and Synaptic Mechanisms of Visual Spatial Attention (5R01NS109978-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9983218. Licensed CC0.

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