Topic: cognitive mapping

Recent empirical studies have revealed spatial tuning in traditionally non-spatial brain regions, as well as coding differences across species in traditionally spatial regions. These findings have in part motivated new models of cognitive mapping that make quantitative predictions at multiple levels of explanation. Taken together, these advances highlight a growing need to quantitatively compare spatial codes across brain regions, species, levels of explanation, and against computational models. To address this need, here we leverage a Representational Similarity Analysis framework to quantita

Mammals instinctively explore and form mental maps of their spatial environments. Models of cognitive mapping in neuroscience tend to depict map-learning as a process of random or biased diffusion; however, in practice, animals explore spaces using structured, purposeful, sensory-guided actions. A promising model system for probing the relationship between spontaneous exploration and spatial cognition is threat-evoked escape behavior in mice. Notably, Shamash et al. 2021 examined how mice learn routes to a shelter when the direct path is blocked by an obstacle. They found that during a 20-min