78088_3_merged_1553276181.pdf (1.59 MB)
An amplitude code transmits information at a visual synapse
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 17:28 authored by Ben James, Léa Darnet, Jose Moya DiazJose Moya Diaz, Sofie-Helene Seibel, Leon LagnadoLeon LagnadoMost 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 NeuroscienceISSN
1097-6256Publisher
Nature Publishing GroupExternal DOI
Issue
7Volume
22Page range
1140-1147Department affiliated with
- Neuroscience Publications
Research groups affiliated with
- Sussex Neuroscience Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2019-04-03First Open Access (FOA) Date
2019-11-20First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2019-04-03Usage metrics
Categories
No categories selectedKeywords
Licence
Exports
RefWorks
BibTeX
Ref. manager
Endnote
DataCite
NLM
DC