Control of representation updating by higher-order thalamus enables history-based decision-making.

Higher-order thalamus and cortex interactions enable mice to update sensory representations based on recent experiences, with 20% of decision-related activity dependent on this circuit.

• Why it matters: Understanding how the brain dynamically integrates past sensory information is crucial for adaptive behavior, yet the neural mechanisms behind this process are largely unknown.
• What they did: The study used multi-area single-unit recordings and optogenetics in mice to investigate the interactions between the posterior parietal cortex and pulvinar, revealing a mechanism involving inhibitory control by the thalamic reticular nucleus.
• The result: Findings demonstrate that this thalamocortical circuit allows internal representations to adaptively track environmental changes, providing insights into the neural basis of history-based decision-making.