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Allocentric and egocentric spatial representations coexist in rodent medial entorhinal cortex

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaoyang Long

    (Army Medical University)

  • Daniel Bush

    (University College London)

  • Bin Deng

    (Army Medical University)

  • Neil Burgess

    (University College London
    University College London)

  • Sheng-Jia Zhang

    (Army Medical University)

Abstract

Successful navigation relies on reciprocal transformations between spatial representations in world-centered (allocentric) and self-centered (egocentric) frames of reference. The neural basis of allocentric spatial representations has been extensively investigated with grid, border, and head-direction cells in the medial entorhinal cortex (MEC) forming key components of a ‘cognitive map’. Recently, egocentric spatial representations have also been identified in several brain regions, but evidence for the coexistence of neurons encoding spatial variables in each reference frame within MEC is so far lacking. Here, we report that allocentric and egocentric spatial representations are both present in rodent MEC, with neurons in deeper layers representing the egocentric bearing and distance towards the geometric center and / or boundaries of an environment. These results demonstrate a unity of spatial coding that can guide efficient navigation and suggest that MEC may be one locus of interactions between egocentric and allocentric spatial representations in the mammalian brain.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaoyang Long & Daniel Bush & Bin Deng & Neil Burgess & Sheng-Jia Zhang, 2025. "Allocentric and egocentric spatial representations coexist in rodent medial entorhinal cortex," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-18, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-54699-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54699-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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