Single-Trial Representations of Decision-Related Variables by Decomposed Frontal Corticostriatal Ensemble Activity

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Systems Neuroscience

Background:

• The frontal cortex-striatum circuit is crucial for adaptive goal-directed behaviors.
• Mechanisms of decision-related signal transmission between the medial frontal cortex and striatum remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how neuronal ensembles in the secondary motor cortex (M2) and dorsal striatum (DS) mediate decision-making based on past action outcomes.
• To elucidate the spatiotemporal dynamics of neural activity during outcome-based choice tasks.

Main Methods:

• Simultaneous multiunit recordings from M2 and DS in rats performing a choice task.
• Tensor Component Analysis (TCA), a single-trial dimensionality reduction technique, applied to concatenated neuronal ensembles.
• Analysis of neural dynamics related to task-relevant variables like choice position, repetition/switch patterns, and outcome.

Main Results:

• Identified three distinct spatiotemporal neural dynamics (TCA components) at the single-trial level.
• Choice-position-selective dynamics correlated with behavioral variables.
• Choice-pattern-selective dynamics distinguished between repeating or switching choices.
• Outcome-selective dynamics showed increased activity post-response.

Conclusions:

• The secondary motor cortex and dorsal striatum collaboratively process distinct decision-related signals.
• These circuits monitor action outcomes and determine subsequent choices (repeat or switch) for action selection.
• Neural dynamics in the M2-DS circuit underpin adaptive, outcome-based decision-making.