Flexibly selecting appropriate actions in response to complex, ever-changing environments requires both cortical and subcortical regions, which are typically described as participating in a strict hierarchy. In this traditional view, highly specialized subcortical circuits allow for efficient responses to salient stimuli, at the cost of adaptability and context-specificity, which are attributed to the neocortex. Their interactions are often described as the cortex providing top-down command signals for subcortical structures to implement; however, as available technologies develop, studies increasingly demonstrate that behavior is represented by brain-wide activity and that even subcortical structures contain early signals of choice, suggesting that behavioral functions emerge as a result of different regions interacting as truly collaborative networks. In this review, we discuss the field's evolving understanding of how cortical and subcortical regions in placental mammals interact cooperatively- not only via top-down cortical-subcortical inputs, but through bottom-up interactions, especially via the thalamus. We describe our current understanding of the circuitry of both the cortex and two exemplar subcortical structures- the superior colliculus and striatum- to identify which information is prioritized by which regions. We then describe the functional circuits these regions form with one another- and the thalamus- to create parallel loops and complex networks for brain-wide information flow. Finally, we challenge the classic view that functional modules are contained within specific brain regions; instead, we propose that certain regions prioritize specific types of information over others, but the subnetworks they form- defined by their anatomical connections and functional dynamics- are the basis of true specialization.

中文翻译：

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目标导向行为中的皮质-皮质下相互作用


灵活地选择适当的行动来应对复杂、不断变化的环境需要皮层和皮层下区域，这些区域通常被描述为参与严格的层次结构。在这种传统观点中，高度专业化的皮层下回路可以对显着刺激做出有效反应，但代价是适应性和情境特异性，而这些都归因于新皮层。它们的相互作用通常被描述为皮层为皮层下结构提供自上而下的命令信号以实现；然而，随着现有技术的发展，研究越来越多地表明，行为是由全脑活动代表的，甚至皮层下结构也包含早期的选择信号，这表明行为功能是不同区域作为真正的协作网络相互作用的结果。在这篇综述中，我们讨论了该领域对胎盘哺乳动物的皮质和皮质下区域如何协作相互作用的不断发展的理解——不仅通过自上而下的皮质-皮质下输入，而且通过自下而上的相互作用，特别是通过丘脑。我们描述了我们目前对皮层和两个典型皮层下结构（上丘和纹状体）电路的理解，以确定哪些信息被哪些区域优先考虑。然后，我们描述这些区域彼此以及丘脑形成的功能回路，以创建用于全脑信息流的并行环路和复杂网络。 最后，我们挑战功能模块包含在特定大脑区域内的经典观点；相反，我们建议某些区域优先考虑特定类型的信息，但它们形成的子网络（由其解剖连接和功能动态定义）是真正专业化的基础。