Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2020.10.06.326678v1?rss=1 Authors: Esmaeili, V., Tamura, K., Muscinelli, S. P., Modirshanechi, A., Boscaglia, M., Lee, A. B., Oryshchuk, A., Foustoukos, G., Liu, Y., Crochet, S., Gerstner, W., Petersen, C. C. H. Abstract: Purposeful behavior requires planning of actions based on external information. However, neuronal mechanisms converting sensory input into a motor plan remain elusive. Here, we combined wide-field calcium imaging, multi-area single-neuron recordings and focal optogenetic inactivation to reveal the precise sequence of cortical activity transforming sensory information into motor planning in mice trained to respond to a brief whisker stimulus by licking after a delay. We found that upon learning, the sensory information, initially highly-localized, rapidly spreads to diverse motor and higher-order areas, together with transient deactivation of orofacial regions, converging during the delay period to a focalized region of the frontal cortex. The secondary whisker motor cortex (wM2) appears as a key relay of this sensorimotor transformation, showing the earliest learning-enhanced response to the whisker stimulus. Our results suggest a specific cortical circuit with wM2 acquiring a pivotal role in transforming whisker information into preparatory activity for goal-directed motor planning. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info