Dendritic computation for abstract rule-based flexible decision-making.

Authors

Yuan Zhang, Yanhe Liu, Yachuang Hu, Zhenkun Zhang, Jie Du, Lele Cui, Qi Liu, Lin Zhong, Yu Xin, Ruiming Chai, Li Deng, Jingwei Pan, Jackie Schiller, Ning-Long Xu

Published in

Science (New York, N.Y.). Volume 394. Issue 6821. Pages eadz5323. Oct 15, 2026. Epub Oct 15, 2026.

Abstract

Intelligent behavior involves flexible integration of sensory input and abstract rule knowledge. Dendritic computation has been shown to contribute to top-down modulation of sensory processing; however, whether and how it is involved in flexible cognitive processing remains to be elucidated. Combining a rule-based flexible decision-making task with in vivo two-photon imaging and optogenetics in mice, we found that within single layer 5 extratelencephalic neurons in the auditory cortex, apical dendrites preferentially encoded the inferred abstract rule and somata preferentially represented sensory stimuli, whereas choice signals were present in both compartments. Optogenetic dendritic inhibition impaired rule-dependent somatic choice coding, supporting a task-relevant integration across the dendritic and somatic compartments. These results indicate that dendritic computation in cortical neurons mediates flexible behavior.

PMID:
42879555
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 16 Oct 2026.

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