Locomotion selectively enhances visual speed encoding in mouse medial higher visual areas

Mammalian visual systems are comprised of multiple brain areas with distinct functional roles. While functional specializations have been proposed in the mouse based on visual feature encoding, the extent to which these specializations are contingent on ongoing behavior is unknown. To address this, we analyzed the neural encoding of visual motion stimuli by thousands of neurons recorded in six cortical and two thalamic visual areas while mice were stationary or locomoting. We found locomotion selectively enhanced visual speed encoding in medial higher visual cortical areas, indicating that these areas may be specialized for processing visual motion during locomotion. By contrast, the encoding of drifting gratings direction was enhanced non-selectively across the mouse visual cortex during locomotion. Our results reveal how a complex interplay of sensory input and ongoing behavior differentially shapes the efficacy of sensory processing in mouse higher visual areas, supporting context-dependent functional roles.