# The mouse posterior insular cortex encodes expressive and receptive aspects of courtship vocalizations

## TL;DR

The mouse posterior insula has distinct neurons for producing and receiving vocalizations, with activity influenced by social context.

## Contribution

The study identifies distinct neural populations in the posterior insula for vocal expression and reception, linked to social context and sensory cues.

## Key findings

- Distinct subsets of posterior insula ROIs are active during vocal expression and reception.
- Vocal expression activity in the posterior insula occurs before vocal onset and is present in deaf mice.
- Posterior insula receptive activity is strongly modulated by social context.

## Abstract

Socially effective vocal communication requires brain regions that encode expressive and receptive aspects of vocal communication in a social context-dependent manner. Here, we combined a novel behavioral assay with microendoscopic calcium imaging to interrogate neuronal activity (regions of interest [ROIs]) in the posterior insula (pIns) in socially interacting mice as they switched rapidly between states of vocal expression and reception. We found that largely distinct subsets of pIns ROIs were active during vocal expression and reception. Notably, pIns activity during vocal expression increased prior to vocal onset and was also detected in congenitally deaf mice, pointing to a motor signal. Furthermore, receptive pIns activity was modulated strongly by social context. Lastly, tracing experiments reveal that deep-layer neurons in the pIns directly bridge the auditory thalamus to a midbrain vocal gating region. Therefore, the pIns is a site that encodes vocal expression and reception in a manner that depends on social context.

Pomberger et al. show that the mouse posterior insula encodes vocal expression and reception in a socially sensitive manner. Largely distinct neuronal populations respond during vocal production and listening, with modulation shaped by social context and sensory cues. Anatomical tracing links the insula to key auditory and vocal motor structures.