CaMKIIα neurons in the anterior insular cortex regulate attention behavior in mice

Yingping Ma; Shaofei Jiang; Xin Zhao; Shen Li; Liping Chen; Zhe Zhao; Wei Shen; Yan Wu; Haitao Wu

doi:10.3389/fncir.2023.1197541

CaMKIIα neurons in the anterior insular cortex regulate attention behavior in mice

Front Neural Circuits. 2023 Jul 4:17:1197541. doi: 10.3389/fncir.2023.1197541. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Yingping Ma¹, Shaofei Jiang², Xin Zhao², Shen Li², Liping Chen², Zhe Zhao², Wei Shen², Yan Wu², Haitao Wu^{1

2

3

4}

Affiliations

¹ School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
² Department of Neurobiology, Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China.
⁴ Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China.

Abstract

Introduction: The insular cortex is involved in multiple physiological processes including working memory, pain, emotion, and interoceptive functions. Previous studies have indicated that the anterior insular cortex (aIC) also mediates interoceptive attention in humans. However, the exact cellular and physiological function of the aIC in the regulation of this process is still elusive.

Methods: In this study, using the 5-choice serial reaction time task (5-CSRTT) testing paradigm, we assessed the role of the aIC in visuospatial attention and impulsiveness in mice.

Results: The results showed a dramatic activation of c-Fos in the aIC CaMKIIα neurons after the 5-CSRTT procedure. In vivo fiber photometry revealed enhanced calcium signaling in aIC CaMKIIα neurons when the mice responded correctly. In addition, chemogenetic suppression of aIC CaMKIIα neurons led to increased incorrect responses within the appropriate time. Importantly, pharmacological activation of aIC CaMKIIα neurons enhanced their performance in the 5-CSRTT test.

Discussion: These results provide compelling evidence that aIC CaMKIIα neurons are essential for the modulation of attentional processing in mice.

Keywords: 5-choice serial reaction time task; CaMKIIα; attention; impulsiveness; insular cortex.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Attention
Cerebral Cortex* / physiology
Emotions
Humans
Insular Cortex*
Mice
Neurons / physiology

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grants 2021ZD0202500 and 2021YFA1101801), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32171148, 31770929, and 31522029), and the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission (Z181100001518001 and Z161100000216154) to HW.