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Superior colliculus bidirectionally modulates choice activity in frontal cortex

Author

Listed:
  • Alyse Thomas

    (Baylor College of Medicine)

  • Weiguo Yang

    (Baylor College of Medicine)

  • Catherine Wang

    (Baylor College of Medicine)

  • Sri Laasya Tipparaju

    (Baylor College of Medicine)

  • Guang Chen

    (Baylor College of Medicine)

  • Brennan Sullivan

    (Baylor College of Medicine)

  • Kylie Swiekatowski

    (Baylor College of Medicine)

  • Mahima Tatam

    (Baylor College of Medicine)

  • Charles Gerfen

    (Section on Neuroanatomy, National Institute of Mental Health)

  • Nuo Li

    (Baylor College of Medicine)

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 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 competitive interactions. SC GABAergic neurons encoded ipsilateral choice and locally inhibited glutamatergic neurons that encoded contralateral choice. Activating or suppressing these cell types could bidirectionally drive choice activity in frontal cortex. These results thus identify SC as a major locus to modulate choice competition within the broader action selection network.

Suggested Citation

  • Alyse Thomas & Weiguo Yang & Catherine Wang & Sri Laasya Tipparaju & Guang Chen & Brennan Sullivan & Kylie Swiekatowski & Mahima Tatam & Charles Gerfen & Nuo Li, 2023. "Superior colliculus bidirectionally modulates choice activity in frontal cortex," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-22, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-43252-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43252-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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