ePoster

Neural coding of space and goals: Dynamics of egocentric boundary tuning during bait-chasing

Pearl Saldanha, Martin Bjerke, Benjamin Adric Dunn, Jonathan Robert Whitlock
FENS Forum 2024(2024)
Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress Center, Vienna, Austria

Conference

FENS Forum 2024

Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress Center, Vienna, Austria

Resources

Authors & Affiliations

Pearl Saldanha, Martin Bjerke, Benjamin Adric Dunn, Jonathan Robert Whitlock

Abstract

Over the past decade, considerable research has delved into the Retrosplenial Cortex's (RSC) critical function in spatial navigation, employing allocentric and egocentric frames of reference to interact with its surroundings. Andy Alexander's 2018 study on Egocentric Boundary Vector Cells (EBVCs) in the RSC in an open-field arena marked a significant advancement in our understanding. Building on this foundation, our study extends the investigation into EBVCs' roles in navigation within an open field context and in a dynamic egocentric task—specifically, a rat pursuing a bait within the same environment.This research aims to unravel how the introduction of a bait influences the neural priorities of EBVCs: Our findings reveal that, intriguingly, even amid pursuit, rats maintain an awareness of the boundaries, likely as a strategy to avoid collisions while targeting the bait. This behaviour suggests a sophisticated balance between goal-directed actions and environmental awareness.Furthermore, our study unveils a remarkable epiphenomenon: a subset of EBVCs alter their tuning from open-field exploration to bait-chasing scenarios and demonstrate a unique phenomenon where some cells specifically align their activity towards the bait. This adjustment indicates a nuanced neural representation of space and goal-oriented behaviour.To dissect these complex neural dynamics, we employed cutting-edge Neuropixels probes (versions 1.0 and 2.0) alongside an advanced 3D posture tracking system, enabling an unprecedented examination of EBVCs properties. Our research contributes new insights into the intricate interplay between neural mechanisms and behaviour in dynamic environments.

Unique ID: fens-24/neural-coding-space-goals-dynamics-egocentric-8aec76cc