Infra‐slow modulation of fast beta/gamma oscillations in the mouse visual system

Key points Neurophysiological activity in the subcortical visual system fluctuates in both infra‐slow and fast oscillatory ranges, but the level of co‐occurrence and potential functional interaction of these rhythms is unknown. Analysing dark‐adapted spontaneous activity in the mouse subcortical visual system, we find that these two types of oscillation interact uniquely through a population of neurons expressing both rhythms. Genetic ablation of rod/cone signalling potentiates infra‐slow and abolishes fast beta/gamma oscillations while genetic ablation of melanopsin substantially diminishes the interaction between these two rhythms. Our results indicate that in an intact visual system the phase of infra‐slow modulates fast beta/gamma oscillations. Thus one possible impact of infra‐slow oscillations in vision is to guide visual processing by interacting with fast narrowband oscillations. Infra‐slow (