Layer 5 Circuits in V1 Differentially Control Visuomotor Behavior

Neocortical sensory areas are thought to act as distribution hubs, transmitting information about the external environment to downstream areas. Within primary visual cortex, various populations of pyramidal neurons (PNs) send axonal projections to distinct targets, suggesting multiple cellular networks may be independently engaged during behavior. We investigated whether PN subpopulations differentially support visual detection by training mice on a novel eyeblink conditioning task. Applying 2-photon calcium imaging and optogenetic manipulation of anatomically defined PNs, we show that layer 5 corticopontine neurons strongly encode sensory and motor task information and are selectively necessary for performance. Our findings support a model in which target-specific cortical subnetworks form the basis for adaptive behavior by directing relevant information to distinct brain areas. Overall, this work highlights the potential for neurons to form physically interspersed but functionally segregated networks capable of parallel, independent control of perception and behavior. •Visually cued eyeblink conditioning requires V1, and behavior is modified by arousal•Activity of corticopontine neurons accurately represents performance•Corticopontine, but not corticostriatal, output is necessary for performance Tang and Higley show that corticopontine neurons in visual cortex encode sensory and motor information during a visually cued eyeblink conditioning task and are necessary for performance, highlighting the existence of physically interspersed but functionally segregated networks that control behavior.