Superior colliculus cell types bidirectionally modulate choice activity in frontal cortex.

ABSTRACT: Action selection occurs through competition between potential choice options. Neural correlates of choice competition are observed across frontal cortex and downstream superior colliculus (SC) during decision-making, yet how these regions interact to mediate choice competition remains unresolved. Here we report that cell types within SC can bidirectionally modulate choice competition and drive choice activity in frontal cortex. In the mouse, topographically matched regions of frontal cortex and SC formed a descending motor pathway for directional licking and a re-entrant loop via the thalamus. During decision-making, distinct neuronal populations in both frontal cortex and SC encoded opposing lick directions and exhibited push-pull dynamics. SC GABAergic neurons encoded ipsilateral choice

SUBMITTER: Thomas A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10168218 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature