Reflections of action in sensory cortex

Nearly every movement that one makes produces a corresponding set of sensations. The simple fact that much of our sensory world is driven by our own actions underscores one of the major computations that our brains execute every day: to interpret the sensory world even as we interact with and change it. It should not be surprising therefore that activity in sensory cortex reflects not only incoming sensory inputs but also ongoing movement and behavioral state. With a focus on the mouse as a model organism, this review highlights recent findings revealing the widespread modulation of sensory cortex across diverse movements, the circuitry through which movement-related inputs are integrated with sensory signals, and the computational and perceptual roles that motor-sensory integration may serve within the brain.