ErbB4 regulation of a thalamic reticular nucleus circuit for sensory selection

Selective processing of behaviorally relevant sensory inputs against irrelevant ones is a fundamental cognitive function, impairments of which have been implicated in major psychiatric disorders. It is known that the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) gates sensory information en route to the cortex, however the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here we show in mice that deficiency of Erbb4 gene in somatostatin-expressing TRN neurons markedly altered behaviors dependent on sensory selection. Whereas performance in identifying targets from distractors was improved, the ability to switch attention between conflicting sensory cues was impaired. These behavioral changes were mediated by enhanced cortical drive onto TRN that promotes the TRN-mediated cortical feedback inhibition of thalamic neurons. Our results uncover a previously unknown role of ErbB4 in regulating cortico-TRN-thalamic circuit function. We propose that ErbB4 sets the sensitivity of TRN to cortical inputs at levels that can support sensory selection while allowing behavioral flexibility.