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A gravity-based three-dimensional compass in the mouse brain

Author

Listed:
  • Dora E. Angelaki

    (New York University
    Baylor College of Medicine)

  • Julia Ng

    (Baylor College of Medicine)

  • Amada M. Abrego

    (Baylor College of Medicine)

  • Henry X. Cham

    (Baylor College of Medicine)

  • Eftihia K. Asprodini

    (University of Thessaly)

  • J. David Dickman

    (Baylor College of Medicine
    Rice University)

  • Jean Laurens

    (Baylor College of Medicine)

Abstract

Gravity sensing provides a robust verticality signal for three-dimensional navigation. Head direction cells in the mammalian limbic system implement an allocentric neuronal compass. Here we show that head-direction cells in the rodent thalamus, retrosplenial cortex and cingulum fiber bundle are tuned to conjunctive combinations of azimuth and tilt, i.e. pitch or roll. Pitch and roll orientation tuning is anchored to gravity and independent of visual landmarks. When the head tilts, azimuth tuning is affixed to the head-horizontal plane, but also uses gravity to remain anchored to the allocentric bearings in the earth-horizontal plane. Collectively, these results demonstrate that a three-dimensional, gravity-based, neural compass is likely a ubiquitous property of mammalian species, including ground-dwelling animals.

Suggested Citation

  • Dora E. Angelaki & Julia Ng & Amada M. Abrego & Henry X. Cham & Eftihia K. Asprodini & J. David Dickman & Jean Laurens, 2020. "A gravity-based three-dimensional compass in the mouse brain," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-15566-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15566-5
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    Cited by:

    1. Christian L. Ebbesen & Robert C. Froemke, 2022. "Automatic mapping of multiplexed social receptive fields by deep learning and GPU-accelerated 3D videography," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-21, December.

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