Extended Data Fig. 5: Robustness of the Choice mode in response to distractors.
From: Attractor dynamics gate cortical information flow during decision-making
Spike rate modulation in left ALM (n = 1061 cells) in response to strong distractors at different trial epochs, in distractor-trained mice. a, Example cells. b, Projection of neural activity on the Choice mode using all cells (left panel) or using only left-preferring cells (right panel). Lick-left trajectory without stimulation (red), with distractors during early-delay (gray), or late-delay (black), computed using correct trials. Lick-right trajectory during sample-epoch stimulation (blue). c, Impact of distractors on the Choice mode. Trajectories were aligned to the onset of each distractor. Data is shown as average across sessions ± s.e.m. (shaded). Data in a-c was computed using correct trials. The effect of distractors on the Choice mode on correct trials was temporary: distractors often resulted in transient change in spike rate of individual cells that contributed to the Choice mode, but their activity later recovered to the unperturbed (red) trajectory, indicating robustness. d, Distribution of Choice mode projections on single trials without distractors, averaged over the last 0.2 s of the delay epoch (end-delay points) for lick-left (red) versus lick-right (blue) trials. e, Distribution of Choice mode projections on trials with early-delay distractor (gray, robust trials; light blue, switching trials). Projections were averaged during mid-delay (left panel) or end-delay (right panel, Methods). Data is expressed as mean ± s.e.m. (shaded) across sessions.
