Coordinated multi-level adaptations across neocortical areas during task learning
Abstract The coordinated changes of neural activity during learning, from single neurons to populations of neurons and their interactions across brain areas, remain poorly understood. To reveal specific learning-related changes, we applied multi-area two-photon calcium imaging in mouse neocortex dur...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62949-7 |
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| _version_ | 1849226173577428992 |
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| author | Shuting Han Fritjof Helmchen |
| author_facet | Shuting Han Fritjof Helmchen |
| author_sort | Shuting Han |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The coordinated changes of neural activity during learning, from single neurons to populations of neurons and their interactions across brain areas, remain poorly understood. To reveal specific learning-related changes, we applied multi-area two-photon calcium imaging in mouse neocortex during training of a sensory discrimination task. We uncovered coordinated adaptations in primary somatosensory area S1 and the anterior (A) and rostrolateral (RL) areas of posterior parietal cortex (PPC). At the single-neuron level, task-learning was marked by increased number and stabilized responses of task neurons. At the population level, responses exhibited decreased dimensionality and reduced trial-to-trial variability, paralleled by enhanced encoding of task information. The PPC areas became gradually engaged, opening additional within-area subspaces and inter-area subspaces with S1. Task encoding subspaces gradually aligned with these interaction subspaces. Behavioral errors correlated with decreased encoding accuracy and misaligned subspaces. Thus, multi-level adaptations within and across cortical areas contribute to learning-related refinement of sensory processing and decision-making. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-efba378ef41447aebc226c554a171984 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-efba378ef41447aebc226c554a1719842025-08-24T11:38:21ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-08-0116111610.1038/s41467-025-62949-7Coordinated multi-level adaptations across neocortical areas during task learningShuting Han0Fritjof Helmchen1Brain Research Institute, University of ZurichBrain Research Institute, University of ZurichAbstract The coordinated changes of neural activity during learning, from single neurons to populations of neurons and their interactions across brain areas, remain poorly understood. To reveal specific learning-related changes, we applied multi-area two-photon calcium imaging in mouse neocortex during training of a sensory discrimination task. We uncovered coordinated adaptations in primary somatosensory area S1 and the anterior (A) and rostrolateral (RL) areas of posterior parietal cortex (PPC). At the single-neuron level, task-learning was marked by increased number and stabilized responses of task neurons. At the population level, responses exhibited decreased dimensionality and reduced trial-to-trial variability, paralleled by enhanced encoding of task information. The PPC areas became gradually engaged, opening additional within-area subspaces and inter-area subspaces with S1. Task encoding subspaces gradually aligned with these interaction subspaces. Behavioral errors correlated with decreased encoding accuracy and misaligned subspaces. Thus, multi-level adaptations within and across cortical areas contribute to learning-related refinement of sensory processing and decision-making.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62949-7 |
| spellingShingle | Shuting Han Fritjof Helmchen Coordinated multi-level adaptations across neocortical areas during task learning Nature Communications |
| title | Coordinated multi-level adaptations across neocortical areas during task learning |
| title_full | Coordinated multi-level adaptations across neocortical areas during task learning |
| title_fullStr | Coordinated multi-level adaptations across neocortical areas during task learning |
| title_full_unstemmed | Coordinated multi-level adaptations across neocortical areas during task learning |
| title_short | Coordinated multi-level adaptations across neocortical areas during task learning |
| title_sort | coordinated multi level adaptations across neocortical areas during task learning |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62949-7 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shutinghan coordinatedmultileveladaptationsacrossneocorticalareasduringtasklearning AT fritjofhelmchen coordinatedmultileveladaptationsacrossneocorticalareasduringtasklearning |