Role of orientation and surface properties in spatial learning

人类的海马体在记忆，尤其是情景记忆中起着至关重要的作用。在动物中，同样的结构对空间学习和记忆至关重要。我的研究项目的主要目标是了解动物在空间学习和导航中使用的行为策略，最终目标是找到不同物种海马功能的共性。动物有各种各样的策略来定位自己和空间环境中的其他物体。它们可以接近预测目标位置的单个线索（即信标），它们可以使用环境中多个线索之间的关系，它们可以朝着特定方向（即向西），它们可以使用在自我运动过程中获得的信息（路径整合），或者它们可以使用环境的形状/几何形状。我最近的研究表明，设备的方向（或方向）和表面特性对成功的空间学习尤为重要。目前的研究计划的目的是了解这些因素如何相互作用，以产生成功的导航动物。

The human hippocampus plays a vital role in memory, particularly episodic memory. In animals, this same structure is critical for spatial learning and memory. The main goal of my research program is to understand the behavioral strategies used by animals in spatial learning and navigation, with the ultimate goal of finding commonalities in hippocampal function across species. Animals have a variety of strategies available to locate themselves and other objects in their spatial environment. They can approach a single cue (i.e., beacon) that predicts the location of a goal, they can use the relationship among multiple cues in the environment, they can go in a particular direction (i.e., west), they can use information obtained in the process of self-movement (path integration), or they can use the shape/geometry of their environment. My recent work suggests that orientation (or direction) and surface properties of an apparatus are particularly important to successful spatial learning. The aim of the present research proposal is to understand how these factors interact to produce successful navigation in animals.