Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 17, 2026

Operant Procedures for Assessing Behavioral Flexibility in Rats
Published on: February 15, 2015
Dendritic computation for abstract rule-based flexible decision-making
Yuan Zhang1,2,3,4, Yanhe Liu1,4, Yachuang Hu1,2,3,4
1Institute of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
Abstract:
Intelligent behavior involves flexible integration of sensory input and abstract rule knowledge. Dendritic computation has been shown to contribute to top-down modulation of sensory processing; however, whether and how it is involved in flexible cognitive processing remains to be elucidated. Combining a rule-based flexible decision-making task with in vivo two-photon imaging and optogenetics in mice, we found that within single layer 5 extratelencephalic neurons in the auditory cortex, apical dendrites preferentially encoded the inferred abstract rule and somata preferentially represented sensory stimuli, whereas choice signals were present in both compartments. Optogenetic dendritic inhibition impaired rule-dependent somatic choice coding, supporting a task-relevant integration across the dendritic and somatic compartments. These results indicate that dendritic computation in cortical neurons mediates flexible behavior.
Related Concept Videos
Decision Making
Automatic decision-making is fast, intuitive, and relies on gut feelings...
Decision Making: Traditional Method
First, a specific claim about the population parameter is decided based on the research question and is stated in a simple form. Further, an opposing statement to this claim is also stated. These statements can act as null and alternative hypotheses, out of which a null hypothesis would be a...
Woodward–Hoffmann Selection Rules and Microscopic Reversibility
Deductive Reasoning
Decision Making: P-value Method
First, a specific claim about the population parameter is proposed. The claim is based on the research question and is stated in a simple form. Further, an opposing statement to the claim is also stated. These statements can act as null and alternative hypotheses: a null hypothesis would be a neutral statement while the alternative hypothesis can have a...
Reason and Intuition