Multiple sources contribute to predictive tactile attenuation in the mouse whisker system

The brain predicts action outcomes using interacting neuronal systems that integrate sensory feedback, movement, and rewards. In the mouse whisker system, we investigated whether two presumed predictive mechanisms jointly attenuate ascending tactile signals during movement. To this end, we employed an open-loop whisker-reach task that monitored facial nucleus motor activity and presented experimental tactile consequences while measuring tactile attenuation in the barrel cortex. Experimentally manipulating sensory consequences revealed two distinct systems. Sensory gating, a previously documented but functionally unclear mechanism of tactile attenuation, appeared graded but persisted during and after movement. In contrast, a second system was found to be temporally precise, generate suppression when stimuli are omitted, and capable of being learned within hundreds of trials. We label it state estimation as its characteristics—active suppression of expected tactile input—aligns well with the classical reafference principle, previously overlooked in the whisker system.