Coordinated multi-level adaptations across neocortical areas during task learning

Shuting Han () and Fritjof Helmchen ()
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Shuting Han: University of Zurich
Fritjof Helmchen: University of Zurich

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: Abstract The coordinated changes of neural activity during learning, from single neurons to populations of neurons and their interactions across brain areas, remain poorly understood. To reveal specific learning-related changes, we applied multi-area two-photon calcium imaging in mouse neocortex during training of a sensory discrimination task. We uncovered coordinated adaptations in primary somatosensory area S1 and the anterior (A) and rostrolateral (RL) areas of posterior parietal cortex (PPC). At the single-neuron level, task-learning was marked by increased number and stabilized responses of task neurons. At the population level, responses exhibited decreased dimensionality and reduced trial-to-trial variability, paralleled by enhanced encoding of task information. The PPC areas became gradually engaged, opening additional within-area subspaces and inter-area subspaces with S1. Task encoding subspaces gradually aligned with these interaction subspaces. Behavioral errors correlated with decreased encoding accuracy and misaligned subspaces. Thus, multi-level adaptations within and across cortical areas contribute to learning-related refinement of sensory processing and decision-making.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62949-7

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