Tuft dendrites in frontal motor cortex enable flexible learning

2026/05/07 by Eduardo Maristany de las Casas, Kris Killmann, Moritz Drueke +5 · 1 voice
Neuroscience · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Neural dynamics and brain function #Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research #Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling

paper · doi:10.1126/science.adx4358

Abstract

Flexible learning relies on integrating sensory and contextual information to adjust behavioral output in different environments. The anterolateral motor cortex (ALM) is a frontal area critical for action selection in rodents. We found that inputs critical to decision-making converge on the apical tuft dendrites of layer 5b pyramidal neurons in ALM. We therefore investigated the role of these dendrites in a rule-switching paradigm. Activation of dendrite-inhibiting layer 1 interneurons impaired relearning, without affecting previously learned behavior. This inhibition profoundly suppressed global calcium activity in dendritic shafts but not local transients in spines, while additionally reducing burst firing. Moreover, excitatory synaptic inputs to tuft dendrites exhibited rule-dependent clustering. We conclude that dendritic calcium signaling is a key computational component of flexible learning.

Discussions

• 1/10 When the going gets tough, the dendrites get going. Here is a summary on our new paper just published in @science.org on flexible learning in frontal motor cortex. With @mattlark.bsky.social 🔬. [bsky, 68 points, 4 comments]

Related

• Tuft dendrite spikes are accompanied by selective input from distinct functional networks
• Dendritic error backpropagation in deep cortical microcircuits
• Entorhinal cortex directs learning-related changes in CA1 representations
• Learning stabilizes temporal activity but not neuronal selectivity in prefrontal cortex
• The role of gain neuromodulation in layer-5 pyramidal neurons