Laminar-specific control of response gain and orientation-tuning by parvalbumin-expressing inhibitory interneurons in primate visual cortex

Laminar-specific control of response gain and orientation-tuning by parvalbumin-expressing inhibitory interneurons in primate visual cortex | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Laminar-specific control of response gain and orientation-tuning by parvalbumin-expressing inhibitory interneurons in primate visual cortex Alessandra Angelucci, Amin Vafaei, Andrew Clark, Alireza Khadir, and 2 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9117440/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Understanding the role of different inhibitory interneuron subtypes in cortical computations is essential for explaining sensory processing in the neocortex. Orientation tuning in primate primary visual cortex (V1) provides a canonical model for studying how cortical sensory circuits and inhibitory interneurons compute relevant stimulus features. The selective feedforward convergence of non–orientation-selective thalamic afferents establishes initial orientation tuning in the granular V1 input layer. As signals propagate through the cortical microcircuit, orientation tuning sharpens in extra-granular layers, yet the underlying mechanisms and the contribution of specific inhibitory neuron subtypes remain unresolved. To study the role of the largest cortical inhibitory neuron subclass, parvalbumin-expressing (PV⁺) interneurons, in this V1 computation, we combined laminar extracellular recordings with bidirectional optogenetic manipulations of PV⁺ cells in marmoset V1. We find striking laminar specificity: in the granular layer, PV⁺ cells implement divisive/ multiplicative linear gain control, whereas in extra-granular layers they exert tuned nonlinear suppression that enhances orientation tuning. Computational modeling suggests that PV+ neurons control gain by modulating a neuron’s spiking threshold, and orientation tuning by modulating a neuron’s input noise, which regulates the neuron’s input–output function. Our findings reconcile discrepancies in previous rodent studies, reveal important species differences, and establish a framework for understanding layer-dependent inhibitory computations in the primate cortex. Biological sciences/Neuroscience/Sensory processing Biological sciences/Neuroscience/Visual system Marmoset V1 primary visual cortex receptive field optogenetics laminar recordings GABAergic neurons cell types Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Supplementary Files ExtDataFig1v4.pdf Extended Data Figure 1 ExtDataFig2v3.pdf Extended Data Figure 2 ExtDataFig3v4.pdf Extended Data Figure 3 ExtDataFig4v2.pdf Extended Data Figure 4 ExtDataFig5v3.pdf Extended Data FIgure 5 ExtDataFig6v4.pdf Extended Data Figure 6 ExtDataFig7v3.pdf Extended Data Figure 7 ExtDataFig8v4.pdf Extended Data Figure 8 Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9117440","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":620055662,"identity":"574b8a1a-6a5d-41fb-9dbb-96a74d5cf516","order_by":0,"name":"Alessandra 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