Hierarchical unimodal processing within the primary somatosensory cortex during a bimodal detection task

Abstract

Where and how in the brain do neurons process more than one sensory modality? To answer these questions, scientists have generated a wide variety of studies at distinct space-time scales in different animal models, and often shown contradictory conclusions. Some conclude that this process occurs in early sensory cortices, but others that this occurs in areas central to sensory cortices. Here, we sought to determine whether sensory neurons process and encode physical stimulus properties of different modalities (tactile and acoustic). For this, we designed a bimodal detection task where the senses of touch and hearing compete from trial to trial. Two Rhesus monkeys performed this novel task, while neural activity was recorded in areas 3b and 1 of the primary somatosensory cortex (S1). We analyzed neurons coding properties and variability, organizing them by their receptive fields position relative to the stimulation zone. Our results indicate that neurons of areas 3b and 1 are unimodal, encoding only the tactile modality, both in the firing rate and variability, but not to the acoustic one. Moreover, we found that neurons of both subareas encode the tactile information differently, revealing a hidden processingbased hierarchy. Finally, using a powerful non-linear dimensionality reduction algorithm, we show that the activity from areas 3b and 1 can be separated, establishing a clear division in the functionality of these two subareas of S1. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTOur brain integrates information from all our senses to perceive the external world. But where and how in the brain this integration occurs? Here we ask if the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) encodes information from more than one sensory modality. We recorded the activity of single neurons from areas 3b and S1, while trained monkeys performed a bimodal detection task, where tactile and acoustic stimuli compete. The analysis showed that neurons from areas 3b and 1 responded only to the tactile modality both in their rate and variability. However, our results support that these two areas are different enough as to be considered functionally distinct entities.