Locomotion selectively enhances visual speed encoding in mouse medial higher visual areas

Abstract

Mammalian visual systems are comprised of multiple brain areas with distinct functional roles. Whilst functional specialisations have been proposed in the mouse based on visual feature encoding, the extent to which these specialisations are contingent on ongoing behaviour is unknown. To address this we analysed neural encoding of visual motion stimuli by thousands of neurons recorded across six cortical and two thalamic mouse visual areas while mice were stationary or locomoting. We found locomotion selectively enhanced visual speed encoding in medial higher visual cortical areas, indicating that these areas may be specialised for the processing visual motion during locomotion. By contrast, encoding of drifting gratings direction was enhanced non-selectively across the mouse visual cortex during locomotion. Our results therefore reveal how a complex interplay of sensory input and ongoing behaviour differentially shapes the efficacy of sensory processing in mouse higher visual areas.