Postsubiculum & otolith contributions to head direction

描述（由申请人提供）：本发明是发现空间导航背后的神经机制的重要一步，其需要持续更新个体的身体位置和相对于期望目标的位置的运动。头部方向（HD）信号，其中包括空间标志和自我运动信息，被认为是一个人的方向的神经表示。在以前的研究中已经发现了参与HD信号生成和控制的大脑结构网络，但每个大脑结构贡献的信息的性质仍然不清楚。所提出的实验旨在评估HD信号的几个关键方面，包括：1）后下托（PoS）对HD信号的贡献; 2）HD信号中包含的前庭信息的类型;以及3）在反向运动期间负责破坏HD信号的机制。具体而言，将在PoS损伤后的大鼠中评估HD活性;将在直立和倒立运动期间缺乏重力感受器的小鼠中评估HD活性。结果将提供对HD信号的信息内容的更好的理解，并且可能使与前庭功能障碍相关的疾病的更有效的治疗成为可能。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The present proposal is an important step in discovering the neural mechanisms underlying spatial navigation, which requires continual updating of an individual's body position and movements relative to the location of a desired goal. The head direction (HD) signal, which includes spatial landmark and self- movement information, is thought to be the neural representation of an individual's direction. The network of brain structures involved in HD signal generation and control have been discovered in previous studies but the nature of information contributed by each brain structure remains unclear. The proposed experiments are designed to assess several key aspects of the HD signal, including: 1) the contribution of the postsubiculum (PoS) to the HD signal: 2) the type(s) of vestibular information included in the HD signal; and 3) the mechanism responsible for disruption of the HD signal during inverted locomotion. Specifically, HD activity will be assessed in rats following PoS lesion; HD activity will be assessed in mice lacking gravireceptors during upright and inverted locomotion. Results will provide a greater understanding of the HD signal's information content and may enable more effective treatments for disorders related to vestibular dysfunction.