The superior colliculus (SC) is thought to integrate visual and auditory signals and help select actions, but it is unknown if and how these capabilities jointly contribute to behavior. Here, we show that the SC promotes competing actions independently of stimuli. We trained mice to locate an audiovisual stimulus on their left or right, and found that auditory, visual, and action-related signals are largely carried by separate SC neurons in different layers. Unilateral SC inactivation did not affect sensory sensitivity but reduced contralateral actions in favor of inaction. Bilateral inactivation restored left-right balance. A simple 3-option logistic classification model captured the results, with prefrontal cortex summing sensory signals from sensory cortices and the two sides of SC contributing stimulus-independent signals promoting both eligible actions. The role of SC in perceptual decisions is thus to promote competing actions independently of sensory inputs.
Takacs, F., Bimbard, C., Booth, G. M., Robacha, M., Shinn, M., Socha, K. Z., Harris, K. D., Coen, P., Carandini, M.
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