Prefrontal Parvalbumin Neurons in Control of Attention
Summary While signatures of attention have been extensively studied in sensory systems, the neural sources and computations responsible for top down control of attention are largely unknown. Using chronic recordings in mice, we found that fast spiking parvalbumin (FS PV) interneurons in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) uniformly show increased and sustained firing during goal driven attentional processing, correlating to the level of attention. Elevated activity of FS PV neurons on the timescale of seconds predicted successful execution of behavior. Successful allocation of attention was characterized by strong synchronization of FS PV neurons, increased gamma oscillations, and phase locking of pyramidal firing. Phase locked pyramidal neurons showed gamma phase dependent rate modulation during successful attentional processing. Optogenetic silencing of FS PV neurons deteriorated attentional processing, while optogenetic synchronization of FS PV neurons at gamma frequencies had pro cognitive effects and improved goal directed behavior. FS PV neurons thus act as a functional unit coordinating the activity in the local mPFC circuit during goal driven attentional processing.
Cell