Learning from successes and failures often improves the quality of subsequent decisions. Past outcomes, however, should not influence purely perceptual decisions after task acquisition is complete since these are designed so that only sensory evidence determines correct choice. Yet, numerous studies report outcomes can bias decisions, causing spurious changes in choice behavior without improving accuracy. Here we show effects reward on principled: past rewards future choices specifically...

The hippocampus is crucial for forming associations between environmental stimuli. However, it unclear how neural activities of hippocampal neurons dynamically change during the learning process. To address this question, we developed an associative memory task rats with auditory In task, were required to associate tone pitches (high and low) ports (right left) obtain a reward. We recorded firing activity in CA1 process task. As result, many increased their rates when received reward after...

It is widely assumed that trial-by-trial variability in visual detection performance explained by the fidelity of responses cortical areas influenced fluctuations internal states, such as vigilance and behavioral history. However, it not clear which neuronal ensembles represent different states. Here, we utilized a task, distinguishes states response to identical stimuli, while recording neurons simultaneously from primary cortex (V1) posterior parietal (PPC). We found rats sometimes...

Animals can make faster behavioral responses to multisensory stimuli than unisensory stimuli. The superior colliculus (SC), which receives multiple inputs from different sensory modalities, is considered be involved in the initiation of motor responses. However, mechanism by information facilitates not yet understood. Here, we demonstrate that modulates competition among SC neurons elicit We conducted multiunit recordings rats performing a two-alternative spatial discrimination task using...

Abstract Gene markers are useful tools to identify cell types for fine mapping of neuronal circuits. Here we report area‐specific sublamina structure the rat cerebral cortex using cholecystokinin ( cck ) and purkinje protein4 pcp4 mRNAs as excitatory neuron subtypes in layers 5 6. We found a segregated expression, especially pronounced layer 6, where corticothalamic corticocortical projecting neurons reside. To examine relationship between gene expression projection target, injected...

The ventral tenia tecta (vTT) is a component of the olfactory cortex and receives both bottom-up odor signals top-down signals. However, roles vTT in odor-coding integration inputs are poorly understood. Here, we investigated involvement these processes by recording activity from individual neurons during performance learned odor-guided reward-directed tasks mice. We report that cells highly tuned to specific behavioral epoch tasks, whereby duration increased firing correlated with temporal...

Background The mammalian neocortex is subdivided into many areas, each of which exhibits distinctive lamina architecture. To investigate such area differences in detail, we chose three genes for comparative analyses, namely, RORbeta, ER81 and Nurr1, mRNAs have been reported to be mainly expressed layers 4, 5 6, respectively. analyze their qualitative quantitative coexpression profiles the rat neocortex, used double situ hybridization (ISH) histochemistry cortical box method previously...

Abstract Cortical neurons show distinct firing patterns across multiple task epochs characterized by different computations. Recent studies suggest that such underlie dynamic population code achieving computational flexibility, whereas in some cortical areas often coherent epochs. To understand how single-neuron contributes to code, we analyzed neural responses the rat perirhinal cortex (PRC) during cue and reward of a two-alternative forced-choice task. We found PRC encoded opposite choice...

Abstract The brain creates internal representations of the external world in form neural activity, which is structured to support adaptive behavior. In many cortical regions, individual neurons respond specific features that are matched function each region and statistics world. frontal cortex, however, display baffling complexity, responding a mixture sensory, motor other variables. Here we use an integrated new approach understanding architecture higher-order representations, this show...

Flavor plays a critical role in the pleasure of food. research has mainly focused on human subjects and revealed that many brain regions are involved flavor perception. However, animal models for elucidating mechanisms neural circuits lacking. Herein, we demonstrate use novel behavioral task which mice capable detection. When olfactory pathways were blocked, they could not perform task. accuracy was affected when gustatory pathway blocked by benzocaine. These results indicate performed this...

The nucleus of the lateral olfactory tract (NLOT) is not only a part cortex that receives sensory inputs but also cortical amygdala, which regulates motivational behaviors. To examine how neural activity NLOT modulated by decision-making processes occur during various states learned goal-directed behaviors, we recorded spike activities mice performing odor-guided go/no-go tasks to obtain water reward. We observed several neurons exhibited sharp go-cue excitation and persistent no-go-cue...

Abstract The activity of primary auditory cortex (A1) neurons is modulated not only by sensory inputs but also other task-related variables in associative learning. However, it unclear how A1 neural changes dynamically response to these during the learning process memory tasks. Therefore, we developed an task using stimuli rats. In this task, rats were required associate tone frequencies (high and low) with a choice ports (right or left) obtain reward. was recorded. increased their firing...

The dissociation between a subjective-criterion performance and forced in sensory detection can provide critical insights into the neural correlates of awareness. Here, we established behavioral task for rats to test their spatial-visual cue ability, using two alternative choice with without third option where animals get rewards only objective absence visual cue. In trials option, spatial accuracy decreased from near perfect chance levels as brightness decreased. contrast, exhibited >90%...

Abstract Ventral tenia tecta (vTT) is a part of the olfactory cortex that receives both sensory signals from bulb and top-down prefrontal cortex. To address question whether how neuronal activity vTT modulated by cognitive processes such as attention, expectation working memory occurs during goal-directed behaviors, we recorded individual responses in freely moving awake mice performed learned odor-guided feeding drinking behaviors. We found firing pattern cells had repeatable behavioral...

Abstract Cortical neurons show distinct firing patterns across multiple task-epochs characterized by computational aspects. Recent studies suggest that such underly dynamic population code achieving flexibility, whereas in some cortical areas often coherent epochs. To understand how single-neuron contribute to code, we analyzed neural responses the perirhinal cortex (PRC) during cue and reward epochs of a two-alternative forced-choice task. We found PRC encoded opposite choice-directions...