Spontaneous behaviors drive multidimensional, brainwide activity

Neuron activity across the brain How is it that groups of neurons dispersed through the brain interact to generate complex behaviors? Three papers in this issue present brain-scale studies of neuronal activity and dynamics (see the Perspective by Huk and Hart). Allen et al. found that in thirsty mice, there is widespread neural activity related to stimuli that elicit licking and drinking. Individual neurons encoded task-specific responses, but every brain area contained neurons with different types of response. Optogenetic stimulation of thirst-sensing neurons in one area of the brain reinstated drinking and neuronal activity across the brain that previously signaled thirst. Gründemann et al. investigated the…

• HH
  Howard Hughes Medical Institute
• SF
  Simons Foundation

  Award: 325512
• HF
  Human Frontier Science Program
• W
  Wellcome

  Award: 095668,095669,108726,205093
• GC
  Gatsby Charitable Foundation