RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Rapid suppression and sustained activation of distinct cortical regions for a delayed sensory-triggered motor response
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2020.10.06.326678
DO 10.1101/2020.10.06.326678
A1 Vahid Esmaeili
A1 Keita Tamura
A1 Samuel P. Muscinelli
A1 Alireza Modirshanechi
A1 Marta Boscaglia
A1 Ashley B. Lee
A1 Anastasiia Oryshchuk
A1 Georgios Foustoukos
A1 Yanqi Liu
A1 Sylvain Crochet
A1 Wulfram Gerstner
A1 Carl C.H. Petersen
YR 2021
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/05/22/2020.10.06.326678.abstract
AB The 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, multi-region high-density electrophysiology and time-resolved optogenetic manipulation. Rapid activity evoked by whisker deflection acquired two prominent features for task performance: i) an enhanced excitation of secondary whisker motor cortex, suggesting its important role connecting whisker sensory processing to lick motor planning, and ii) 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.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.