1
Return

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

delete2026-08-07
delete0
delete
OA
AI
K
Kai Lu *
K
Kelvin T. Wong
C
Chengcheng J. Yang
L
Lin N. Zhou
Y
Yike Teresa Shi
M
Maya L Costello
R
Robert C. Liu *
DOI:10.1126/sciadv.aeb3005delete
deleteOriginal
deleteOriginal request for help
deleteShare
deleteSave
Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
In nature, animals learn to replace predisposed behaviors with new strategies, yet the neural constraints on these transitions are unclear. Using an ethological search task in mice, we reveal medial prefrontal cortical (mPFC) neural correlates of a predisposed win-stay strategy that decays as animals learn to follow a more reliable auditory cue. Auditory cortex (ACx) activity predicts correct trial-by-trial sound-guided search, even on day one of training. This prognostic coding strengthens with learning and emerges from suppressed spiking, most pronounced in neurons tuned laterally to the cue’s spectrum. Chemogenetic disruption reveals ACx contributions to improving performance. Unexpectedly, the global silencing of mPFC accelerates successful usage of sound-tracking, contrary to its canonical role in flexible or stimulus-dependent behavior. Instead, a decentralized multiexpert competition model best predicts behavior and causal perturbations. These findings suggest that mPFC implements a default strategy based on prior knowledge, which actively hinders the expression of more efficient strategies.

Journal

Science Advances cover
Science Advances
IF:
12.5
Papers:
2.0W
Citations:
18.1W

Organization

E
emory university
Scholars:
3.6K
Papers: 1.4K
Citations: 0
Cited Papers

Cited Papers

Citing Papers

Citing Papers