Problem-Solving Governs Processing of Sensory Stimuli

(University of Zurich, June 24, 2013)

Researchers at the University of Zurich have discovered that goal-directed behavior can affect how sensory stimuli are processed by the brain. They trained mice to perform two different tasks using their whiskers in the dark and then mapped the path of signals in the brain. For one task, involving identifying surface texture, signals were sent from the primary somatosensory cortex to the secondary somatosensory cortex. For a second task, involving identifying the orientation of a rod, signals were instead sent to the motor cortex. When no task was involved, brain patterns looked the same, regardless of stimulus. This research may lead to a better understanding of cognitive disorders.