{
  "abstract": "Uncovering low-dimensional representations of brain-wide neural dynamics and their relationship to behavior remains a central challenge. Here, we show that spontaneous brain-wide rotational dynamics constrain cue-evoked behavior and learning. To systematically establish these findings, we developed a dimensionality-reduction technique called Rotational Component Analysis (RCA) that optimizes the detection of low-variance rotational modes even within individual trials. We applied RCA to motor-cortical spike-train data from monkeys and humans, mouse cortex-wide calcium imaging, and human functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and magnetoencephalography (MEG). In mice, a rotational mode identified from activity recorded at rest predicts cue-evoked behavior: the phase of rotation when a randomly timed cue arrives predicts whether the animal subsequently pulls the lever. We explain this surprisingly strong correlation using both a recurrent neural network (RNN) and a minimal two-dimensional model of response learning, in which the intrinsic rotational mode serves as a dynamical constraint on response and learning. We further identify double-rotation modes containing two centers of rotation that separate preparatory from task dynamics in both mouse and human data. Remarkably, corresponding modes also organize neural dynamics during a non-motor human task, and rotational irreversibility captures early psychosis even when principal component analysis shows no group difference. Our work establishes rotational dynamics as low-dimensional coordinates that constrain how ongoing brain states are converted into behavior. More broadly, RCA provides a versatile tool for detecting hidden nonreciprocal dynamics in biological and physical datasets.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "The University of Chicago"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 6,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "S. Chen"
    },
    {
      "name": "Y. Xu"
    },
    {
      "name": "D. E. Gökmen"
    },
    {
      "name": "M. Fruchart"
    },
    {
      "name": "B. Doiron"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "V. Vitelli"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1q2sk1fmd357f.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.10.17.759884",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.17.759884v1.full",
  "id": "1q2sk1fmd357f",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.17.759884v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "neuroscience"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2805|Neural dynamics and brain function"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7222999443",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.17.759884v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-17",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1q2sk1fmd357f.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:28:52Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.10.17.759884",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.17.759884v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "biorxiv:neuroscience",
      "subfield": "neuroscience"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Spontaneous brain-wide rotational dynamics constrain cue-evoked behavior",
  "title_text": "Spontaneous brain-wide rotational dynamics constrain cue-evoked behavior",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:28:52Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1q2sk1fmd357f",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}