Award details

Single-unit correlates of spatial cognition: do head direction cells underlie the ability to navigate between environments?

ReferenceS13305
Principal Investigator / Supervisor Dr Paul Dudchenko
Co-Investigators /
Co-Supervisors
Institution University of Stirling
DepartmentPsychology
Funding typeResearch
Value (£) 123,928
StatusCompleted
TypeResearch Grant
Start date 06/03/2001
End date 06/03/2004
Duration36 months

Abstract

Rodents have the ability to infer the spatial relationship between locations that cannot be directly perceived. Traditionally, the neural substrate of this ability has been considered to be place cells; hippocampal neurons which fire when the animal occupies a specific location. However, we propose that a second type of cell, the head direction (HD) cell, may be better suited as a basis for navigation between locations. The proposed project will assess the relationship between the firing direction of HD cells and the accuracy of an animals navigation, and will compare the responses of HD cells and place cells recorded simultaneously. The knowledge gained will extend our understanding of the neural bases of spatial cognition.

Summary

unavailable
Committee Closed Committee - Animal Sciences (AS)
Research TopicsX – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research PriorityX – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative X - not in an Initiative
Funding SchemeX – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme
terms and conditions of use (opens in new window)
export PDF file