A rapid whisker-based decision underlying skilled locomotion in mice

• DOI: 10.7554/elife.63596
• Publication Date: 2021-01-11T20:58:45Z
• Authors: Richard A Warren; Qianyun Zhang; Judah R Hoffman; Edward Y Li; Y Kate Hong; Randy M Bruno; Nathaniel B Sawtell
• Keywords: Motor Learning

Skilled motor behavior requires rapidly integrating external sensory input with information about internal state to decide which movements make next. Using machine learning approaches for high-resolution kinematic analysis, we uncover the logic of a rapid decision underlying sensory-guided locomotion in mice. After detecting obstacles their whiskers mice select distinct strategies depending on whisker-derived estimate obstacle location together position and velocity body. Although rely avoidance, lesions primary whisker cortex had minimal impact. While manipulations affected execution chosen strategy, decision-making process remained largely intact. These results highlight potential reductionist analysis naturalistic behaviors provide case subcortical brain structures appear sufficient mediating relatively sophisticated sensorimotor decision.