Optogenetic fMRI reveals ventral hippocampal modulatory effects on large-scale visual processing

Abstract

Hippocampus has been traditionally associated to learning, memory, navigation and emotional behaviors. However, little is known regarding whether and how it influences the processing of large-scale visual sensory information. In this study, we combined optogenetic stimulation and visual fMRI to investigate the influence of the ventral hippocampus on visual processing across the central visual pathway, including superior colliculus, lateral geniculate nucleus and visual cortex. Our optogenetic fMRI results reveal for the first time the differential influences of high and low frequency ventral hippocampal activities on visual processing along the central visual pathway.