SUMMARY
During active sensing, neural responses to sensory inputs directly generated by our own movements are suppressed. In the auditory cortex (ACtx), self-initiated movements elicit corollary discharge from secondary motor cortex (M2) that suppresses pyramidal neuron (PyrN) spiking via recruitment of local inhibitory neurons. Here, we observed that ACtx layer (L)6 PyrNs were also activated hundreds of milliseconds prior to movement onset, at approximately the same time as fast spiking inhibitory neurons. Most L6 PyrNs were corticothalamic (CT) cells, which all expressed FoxP2, a protein marker enriched in brain areas that integrate sensory inputs to control vocal motor behaviors. L6 CTs were strongly activated prior to orofacial movements, but not locomotion, and received ten times more direct inputs from the basal ganglia than M2. These findings identify new pathways and local circuits for motor modulation of sound processing and suggest a new role for CT neurons in active sensing.
Competing Interest Statement
The authors have declared no competing interest.