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Distinct neural population code and causal roles of primate caudate nucleus in multimodal decision-making

Author

Listed:
  • Zhao Zeng

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Ce Zhang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yue Xu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Hua He

    (Shanghai Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital)

  • Yong Gu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Perceptual decision-making involves distributed networks spanning both association cortices and subcortical areas. A fundamental question is whether such a network is highly redundant, or each node is distinct with unique function. Using a visuo-vestibular decision-making task, here we show the subcortical caudate nucleus (CN) of male primates displays distinct population code compared to association cortices along the modality dimension. Specifically, in a low-dimensional state subspace, neural trajectory in the frontal and posterior-parietal association cortical activity during multimodal-stimulus condition evolves along the visual trajectory, whereas along the vestibular trajectory in the CN. We then show CN population activity is consistent with the animal’s behavioral strategy employed within a generalized drift-diffusion framework. Importantly, causal-link experiments, including application of GABAa-receptor agonist, D1-receptor antagonist, and electrical microstimulation, further confirmed CN’s critical contributions to perceptual behavior. Our results confirm CN’s vital importance to decision making in complex environments with multimodal information.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhao Zeng & Ce Zhang & Yue Xu & Hua He & Yong Gu, 2025. "Distinct neural population code and causal roles of primate caudate nucleus in multimodal decision-making," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-16, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-60504-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-60504-y
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