Task-induced modulations of neuronal activity along the auditory pathway

Sensory processing varies depending on behavioral context. Here, we ask how task-engagement modulates neurons in the auditory system. We train mice in a simple tone-detection task, and compare their neuronal activity during passive hearing and active listening. Electrophysiological extracellular recordings in the inferior colliculus, medial geniculate body, primary auditory cortex and anterior auditory field reveals widespread modulations across all regions and cortical layers, and in both putative regular and fast-spiking cortical neurons. Clustering analysis unveils ten distinct modulation patterns that can either enhance or suppress neuronal activity. Task-engagement changes the tone-onset response in most neurons. Such modulations first emerge in subcortical areas, ruling out cortical feedback as the only mechanism underlying subcortical modulations. Half the neurons additionally display late modulations associated with licking, arousal or reward. Our results reveal the presence of ...感觉加工过程会随行为情境的不同而发生动态变化。本研究旨在探究任务参与度如何调控听觉系统内的神经元活动。我们通过一项简单的音调检测任务训练小鼠，并对比其在被动聆听与主动聆听状态下的神经元活动。我们对下丘（inferior colliculus）、内侧膝状体（medial geniculate body）、初级听觉皮层（primary auditory cortex）以及听觉前区（anterior auditory field）开展细胞外电生理记录，结果显示所有受试脑区与皮层层级均存在广泛的调控效应，且该效应同时存在于推测的规则放电与快速放电皮层神经元中。聚类分析揭示了十种截然不同的调控模式，这些模式可分别增强或抑制神经元活动。任务参与度会改变大多数神经元的音调起始响应。这类调控效应最初在皮层下脑区出现，这一发现排除了皮层反馈是皮层下调控唯一机制的可能性。另有半数神经元表现出与舔舐行为、觉醒状态或奖赏相关的延迟调控效应。我们的研究结果揭示了……的存在。