Both visual and idiothetic cues contribute to head direction cell stability during navigation along complex routes
Open accessAbstract
Successful navigation requires a constantly updated neural representation of directional heading, which is conveyed by head direction (HD) cells. The HD signal is predominantly controlled by visual landmarks, but when familiar landmarks are unavailable, self-motion cues are able to control the HD signal via path integration. Previous studies of the relationship between HD cell activity and path integration have been limited to two or more arenas located in the same room, a drawback for interpretation because the same visual cues may have been perceptible across arenas. To address this issue, we tested the relationship between HD cell activity and path integration by recording HD cells while rats navigated within a 14-unit T-maze and in a multiroom maze that consisted of unique arenas that were located in different rooms but connected by a passageway. In the 14-unit T-maze, the HD signal remained relatively stable between the start and goal boxes, with the preferred firing directions usually shifting <45° during maze traversal. In the multiroom maze in light, the preferred firing directions also remained relatively constant between rooms, but with greater variability than in the 14-unit maze. In darkness, HD cell preferred firing directions showed marginally more variability between rooms than in the lighted condition. Overall, the results indicate that self-motion cues are capable of maintaining the HD cell signal in the absence of familiar visual cues, although there are limits to its accuracy. In addition, visual information, even when unfamiliar, can increase the precision of directional perception.
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A possible solution is to use one's perceived orientation relative to local landmarks to anchor one's sense of direction, which can then be maintained during navigation through idiothetic cues.
“A possible solution is to use one’s perceived orientation relative to local (currently-visible) landmarks to anchor one’s sense of direction, which can then be maintained during navigation through idiothetic cues10–12.”
From Anchoring the neural compass: coding of local spatial reference frames in human medial parietal lobe (2014) · cites this paper as [11]
HD cells maintain stable preferred directions when traveling across distinct environments.
“the fact that HD cells maintain stable preferred directions when traveling across distinct environments11, 35, 36”
From Anchoring the neural compass: coding of local spatial reference frames in human medial parietal lobe (2014) · cites this paper as [11]
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Anchoring the neural compass: coding of local spatial reference frames in human medial parietal lobe
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- Authors
- Yoder, R. M., Clark, B. J., Brown, J. E., Lamia, M. V., Valerio, S., Shinder, M. E., & Taube, J. S.
- Affiliations
- Dartmouth College (US)
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
- Corresponding author
- Taube, Jeffrey S.
- Venue
- Journal of Neurophysiology
- Publisher
- American Physiological Society
- Published
- 2011-06
- Volume
- 105
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 2989-3001
- ISSN
- 0022-3077 (ISSN-L)
- 1522-1598
- PMC
- PMC3118751
- OpenAlex
- W1970755914
- Cited by
- 105
- References
- 49
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 28 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 3.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Journal of Neurophysiology (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Opus: Research & Creativity (Indiana University – Purdue University Fort Wayne) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Public Health Service
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (F32DC008481, DC009318, DC008773, R01DC009318, F32DC008773, DC008481)
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NS 053907)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Automotive Engineering › Spatial Cognition and Navigation
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Vestibular and auditory disorders
- Keywords
- head direction cells, path integration, self-motion cues, idiothetic cues, visual landmarks, spatial navigation, T-maze, darkness, rats, heading stability
- MeSH terms
- Action Potentials, Animals, Brain, Cues, Dark Adaptation, Female, Neurons, Photic Stimulation, Space Perception, Spectrum Analysis, Maze Learning, Head Movements, Rats, Long-Evans, Rats
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