AUTHOR=Resulaj Arbora 

TITLE=Projections of the Mouse Primary Visual Cortex

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neural Circuits

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neural-circuits/articles/10.3389/fncir.2021.751331

DOI=10.3389/fncir.2021.751331

ISSN=1662-5110

ABSTRACT=<p>Lesion or damage to the primary visual cortex (V1) results in a profound loss of visual perception in humans. Similarly, in mice, optogenetic silencing of V1 profoundly impairs discrimination of orientated gratings. V1 is thought to have such a critical role in perception in part due to its position in the visual processing hierarchy. It is the first brain area in the neocortex to receive visual input, and it distributes this information to more than 18 brain areas. Here I review recent advances in our understanding of the organization and function of the V1 projections in the mouse. This progress is in part due to new anatomical and viral techniques that allow for efficient labeling of projection neurons. In the final part of the review, I conclude by highlighting challenges and opportunities for future research.</p>