Distinct input-output relationships between basal forebrain subnuclei underlie heterogeneous cholinergic modulation of the mouse cortex

Prefrontal projections to the basal forebrain subnuclei HDB versus SI produce distinct large-scale cortical activity patterns through a cholinergic mechanism in mice.

• Why it matters: Functional heterogeneity in basal forebrain control is known, but the anatomical and circuit rules that let subnuclei be recruited independently and task-specifically remain unclear.
• What they did: The authors used anterograde and retrograde tracing to map connectivity between HDB and SI and forebrain regions, then tested recruitment with optogenetics plus widefield Ca2+ imaging while stimulating prefrontal inputs.
• The result: HDB and SI target largely segregated forebrain areas yet receive partially overlapping inputs, and their stimulation yields distinct cortical activity patterns, supporting flexible, area-specific cholinergic modulation.

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