Visual-cortex-projecting neurons in mouse auditory cortex show distinct audiovisual responses independent of motor-related activity

Optogenetically tagged mouse auditory-cortex neurons projecting to primary visual cortex show sensory-specific audiovisual responses, with more frequent stimulus responsiveness than non-tagged neurons.

• Why it matters: Auditory modulation in V1 is partly thought to originate from auditory cortex, but the circuit-level role of the AC-to-V1 projection is unclear.
• What they did: Using acute in vivo high-density recordings in mouse AC, the team optogenetically tagged AC-to-V1 projecting neurons and tested auditory, visual, and audiovisual stimuli.
• The result: AC-to-V1 neurons more often responded to auditory, visual, or audiovisual inputs, many were frequency-selective, and some were orientation-selective, without being explained by motor activity or recording confounds.

AI summary of the abstract · may contain errors · not medical advice · read the paper.