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Prediction of primary somatosensory neuron activity during active tactile exploration

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posted on 2023-06-09, 00:35 authored by Darlo Campagner, Mathew Hywel Evans, Michael Bale, Andrew Erskine, Rasmus Strange Petersen
Primary sensory neurons form the interface between world and brain. Their function is well-understood during passive stimulation but, under natural behaving conditions, sense organs are under active, motor control. In an attempt to predict primary neuron firing under natural conditions of sensorimotor integration, we recorded from primary mechanosensory neurons of awake, head-fixed mice as they explored a pole with their whiskers, and simultaneously measured both whisker motion and forces with high-speed videography. Using Generalised Linear Models, we found that primary neuron responses were poorly predicted by whisker angle, but well-predicted by rotational forces acting on the whisker: both during touch and free-air whisker motion. These results are in apparent contrast to previous studies of passive stimulation, but could be reconciled by differences in the kinematics-force relationship between active and passive conditions. Thus, simple statistical models can predict rich neural activity elicited by natural, exploratory behaviour involving active movement of sense organs.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

eLIFE

ISSN

2050-084X

Publisher

eLife Sciences Publications

Volume

5

Department affiliated with

  • Neuroscience Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2016-03-15

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2016-03-15

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2016-03-15

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