Neural competition between prefrontal and auditory cortex constrains novel sound strategy learning

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Animal Behavior
• Computational Neuroscience

Background:

• Animals adapt behaviors, but neural mechanisms for strategy transitions remain elusive.
• The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is implicated in flexible behavior, yet its role in strategy replacement is unclear.
• Understanding neural constraints on behavioral adaptation is crucial for neuroscience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the neural correlates of behavioral strategy transitions in mice.
• To elucidate the roles of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and auditory cortex (ACx) in learning and strategy use.
• To model the computational principles underlying adaptive behavior.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an ethological search task in mice.
• Recorded neural activity in the mPFC and ACx during learning.
• Employed chemogenetic manipulation to disrupt neural activity.
• Applied a decentralized multiexpert competition model for analysis.

Main Results:

• Identified mPFC neural activity linked to a decaying win-stay strategy.
• Auditory cortex (ACx) activity predicted sound-guided search performance, strengthening with learning.
• Chemogenetic disruption of ACx improved sound-guided search.
• Global mPFC silencing accelerated the adoption of sound-tracking strategies.

Conclusions:

• The mPFC may implement a default strategy that inhibits the adoption of more efficient, cue-guided behaviors.
• ACx plays a crucial role in supporting and improving sound-guided search strategies.
• A decentralized competition model effectively explains behavioral adaptation and perturbation effects.