Task-Dependent Changes in the Large-Scale Dynamics and Necessity of Cortical Regions.

Journal: Neuron
Published Date: Sep 26, 2019

Abstract

Neural activity throughout the cortex is correlated with perceptual decisions, but inactivation studies suggest that only a small number of areas are necessary for these behaviors. Here we show that the number of required cortical areas and their dynamics vary across related tasks with different cognitive computations. In a visually guided virtual T-maze task, bilateral inactivation of only a few dorsal cortical regions impaired performance. In contrast, in tasks requiring evidence accumulation and/or post-stimulus memory, performance was impaired by inactivation of widespread cortical areas with diverse patterns of behavioral deficits across areas and tasks. Wide-field imaging revealed widespread ramps of Ca activity during the accumulation and visually guided tasks. Additionally, during accumulation, different regions had more diverse activity profiles, leading to reduced inter-area correlations. Using a modular recurrent neural network model trained to perform analogous tasks, we argue that differences in computational strategies alone could explain these findings.

Authors

  • Lucas Pinto
    Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
  • Kanaka Rajan
    Joseph Henry Laboratories of Physics and Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States of America.
  • Brian DePasquale
    Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA.
  • Stephan Y Thiberge
    Bezos Center for Neural Dynamics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
  • David W Tank
    Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Bezos Center for Neural Dynamics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA. Electronic address: dwtank@princeton.edu.
  • Carlos D Brody
    Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University.

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