AAV1 is the optimal viral vector for optogenetic experiments in pigeons (Columba livia)

Although optogenetics has revolutionized rodent neuroscience, it is still rarely used in other model organisms as the efficiencies of viral gene transfer differ between species and comprehensive viral transduction studies are rare. However, for comparative research, birds offer valuable model organisms as they have excellent visual and cognitive capabilities. Therefore, the following study establishes optogenetics in pigeons on histological, physiological, and behavioral levels. We show that AAV1 is the most efficient viral vector in various brain regions and leads to extensive anterograde and retrograde ChR2 expression when combined with the CAG promoter. Furthermore, transient optical stimulation of ChR2 expressing cells in the entopallium decreases pigeons' contrast sensitivity during a grayscale discrimination task. This finding demonstrates causal evidence for the involvement of the entopallium in contrast perception as well as a proof of principle for optogenetics in pigeons and provides the groundwork for various other methods that rely on viral gene transfer in birds. Rook et al. establish a viral gene transfer system to perform optogenetics in pigeons. They deliver ChR2 via AAV1 into the visual entopallium and show its behavioral relevance for contrast perception, verifying the applicability of optogenetics in an avian species.