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An amplitude code transmits information at a visual synapse

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posted on 2023-06-09, 17:28 authored by Ben James, Léa Darnet, Jose Moya DiazJose Moya Diaz, Sofie-Helene Seibel, Leon LagnadoLeon Lagnado
Most neurons transmit information digitally using spikes that trigger the release of synaptic vesicles with low probability. The first stages of vision and hearing are distinct in that they operate with analog signals, but it is unclear how these are recoded for synaptic transmission. By imaging the release of glutamate in live zebrafish, we demonstrate that ribbon synapses of retinal bipolar cells encode contrast through changes in both the frequency and amplitude of release events. Higher contrasts caused multiple vesicles to be released within an event, and such coding by amplitude often continued after the rate code had reached a maximum frequency. Glutamate packets equivalent to five vesicles transmitted four times as many bits of information per vesicle compared with those released individually. By discretizing analog signals into sequences of numbers up to about 11, ribbon synapses can increase the dynamic range, temporal precision and efficiency with which visual information is transmitted.

Funding

Synaptic computation in the visual system; G1321; WELLCOME TRUST; 102905/Z/13/Z

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

Nature Neuroscience

ISSN

1097-6256

Publisher

Nature Publishing Group

Issue

7

Volume

22

Page range

1140-1147

Department affiliated with

  • Neuroscience Publications

Research groups affiliated with

  • Sussex Neuroscience Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2019-04-03

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2019-11-20

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2019-04-03

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