Neuronal dynamics, timing, and flow of sensory and choice-related information in auditory-prefrontal circuitry

Auditory decision-making requires transforming sensory inputs into meaningful choices by integrating external stimuli with internal cognitive processes. Classical hierarchical models propose sequential processing, where primary sensory areas relay sensory information to higher-order regions that compute decision-related processes. However, whether this sequential hierarchy fully captures cortical dynamics remains unclear. Here, we analyzed simultaneous neuronal recordings from primary auditory cortex (A1) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) in two male macaque monkeys performing a spatial auditory decision-making task. Our analyses revealed a clear temporal hierarchy: sensory information was unidirectionally transferred from A1 to PFC, while decision-related information exhibited a bidirectional transfer, first from PFC to A1, and crucially back from A1 to PFC. These findings extend classical hierarchical assumptions, demonstrating a recurrent loop between A1 and PFC during decision-making, and offer a dynamic perspective on the integration of sensory and cognitive processes in the cerebral cortex.