Abstract
Behavioral experience and flexibility are crucial for survival in a constantly changing environment. Despite evolutionary pressures to develop adaptive behavioral strategies in a dynamically changing sensory landscape, the underlying neural correlates have not been well explored. Here, we use genetically encoded voltage imaging to measure signals in primary somatosensory cortex (S1) during sensory learning and behavioral adaptation in the mouse. In response to changing stimulus statistics, mice adopt a strategy that modifies their detection behavior in a context dependent manner as to maintain reward expectation. Surprisingly, neuronal activity in S1 shifts from simply representing stimulus properties to transducing signals necessary for adaptive behavior in an experience dependent manner. Our results suggest that neuronal signals in S1 are part of an adaptive framework that facilitates flexible behavior as individuals gain experience, which could be part of a general scheme that dynamically distributes the neural correlates of behavior during learning.
Highlights
Behavioral experience and flexibility are crucial for survival in a constantly changing environment
While much is known about the origin and processing of sensory signals in mammalian brains[1,2,3], far less is understood about how resultant behavioral strategies are formed with practice and experience, and the role of primary sensory areas in this output process
Mice adopt a strategy that modifies their behavior in a way as to maintain reward in the face of these changes: once an animal is trained to adapt to a change in stimulus statistics, neuronal activity dynamically shifts between changes in S1 sensitivity and decision criterion downstream
Summary
Behavioral experience and flexibility are crucial for survival in a constantly changing environment. We use genetically encoded voltage imaging to measure signals in primary somatosensory cortex (S1) during sensory learning and behavioral adaptation in the mouse. In response to changing stimulus statistics, mice adopt a strategy that modifies their detection behavior in a context dependent manner as to maintain reward expectation. We designed a series of psychophysical experiments evaluating behavioral performance and neuronal activity during (1) gradual learning of a basic detection task and (2) adaptation to repetitive changes in sensory contingencies. Mice adopt a strategy that modifies their behavior in a way as to maintain reward in the face of these changes: once an animal is trained to adapt to a change in stimulus statistics, neuronal activity dynamically shifts between changes in S1 sensitivity and decision criterion downstream. S1 inactivation through lesioning disrupted the adaptive behavior, suggesting the S1 primary cortex is necessary for an adaptive response to dynamic stimuli
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