biostudies-literatureSumser AGerman Ministry of Science, Research and ArtsDeutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftBoehringer Ingelheime3003108https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11978071biostudies-literatureUnknown23(4)Active and passive sensing strategies are integral to an animal's behavioral repertoire. Nevertheless, there is a lack of information regarding the neuronal circuitry that underpins these strategies, particularly at the thalamus level. We evaluated how active versus passive whisker deflections are represented in single neurons of the ventral posteromedial thalamus (VPM) and the posterior medial thalamus (POm) in awake mice. These are the first- and higher-order thalamic nuclei of the whisker system, respectively. VPM neurons robustly responded to both active and passive whisker deflections, while POm neurons showed a preference for passive deflections and responded poorly to active touches. This response disparity could not be explained by stimulus kinematics and only in part by the animalPLoS biologyActive and passive touch are differentially represented in the mouse somatosensory thalamus.PMC11978071GR3757/4-1FellowshipINST 35/1597-1 FUGGCompletion GrantINST 35/1503-1 FUGGIsaias-Camacho EUGroh ASumser AMease RAfalseActive and passive touch are differentially represented in the mouse somatosensory thalamus.Active and passive sensing strategies are integral to an animal's behavioral repertoire. Nevertheless, there is a lack of information regarding the neuronal circuitry that underpins these strategies, particularly at the thalamus level. We evaluated how active versus passive whisker deflections are represented in single neurons of the ventral posteromedial thalamus (VPM) and the posterior medial thalamus (POm) in awake mice. These are the first- and higher-order thalamic nuclei of the whisker system, respectively. VPM neurons robustly responded to both active and passive whisker deflections, while POm neurons showed a preference for passive deflections and responded poorly to active touches. This response disparity could not be explained by stimulus kinematics and only in part by the animal2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Apr2026-05-29T17:12:45.651Z2026-04-08T05:28:34.793ZS-EPMC119780714019860110.1371/journal.pbio.3003108