Abstract
SummaryThe neuronal mechanisms generating a delayed motor response initiated by a sensory cue remain elusive. Here, we tracked the precise sequence of cortical activity in mice transforming a brief whisker stimulus into delayed licking using wide-field calcium imaging, multiregion high-density electrophysiology, and time-resolved optogenetic manipulation. Rapid activity evoked by whisker deflection acquired two prominent features for task performance: (1) an enhanced excitation of secondary whisker motor cortex, suggesting its important role connecting whisker sensory processing to lick motor planning; and (2) a transient reduction of activity in orofacial sensorimotor cortex, which contributed to suppressing premature licking. Subsequent widespread cortical activity during the delay period largely correlated with anticipatory movements, but when these were accounted for, a focal sustained activity remained in frontal cortex, which was causally essential for licking in the response period. Our results demonstrate key cortical nodes for motor plan generation and timely execution in delayed goal-directed licking.
Highlights
Incoming sensory information is processed in a learning- and context-dependent manner to direct behavior
It would be crucial to examine how neuronal activity flows across brain areas as sensory information is transformed into goal-directed motor plans and investigate how the underlying sensory and motor circuits become connected through reward-based learning (Esmaeili et al, 2020)
We found that the global activation of dorsal cortex during the delay period could be largely ascribed to preparatory movements that develop with learning, except for a localized neuronal activity in anterolateral motor (ALM) (Komiyama et al, 2010), consistent with previous studies (Chen et al, 2017; Guo et al, 2014)
Summary
Incoming sensory information is processed in a learning- and context-dependent manner to direct behavior. The neuronal circuits contributing to withholding a premature motor response during the delay are poorly understood To dissect this process, it would be crucial to examine how neuronal activity flows across brain areas as sensory information is transformed into goal-directed motor plans (de Lafuente and Romo, 2006) and investigate how the underlying sensory and motor circuits become connected through reward-based learning (Esmaeili et al, 2020)
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