Postsubiculum & otolith contributions to head direction

描述(由申请人提供)：本提案是发现空间导航的神经机制的重要一步，空间导航需要不断更新个人相对于所需目标位置的身体位置和运动。头部方向(HD)信号包括空间标志和自身运动信息，被认为是个体方向的神经表征。之前的研究已经发现了参与HD信号产生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。这些实验旨在评估HD信号的几个关键方面，包括：1)丘脑后核(POS)对HD信号的贡献；2)HD信号中包含的前庭信息的类型(S)；以及3)在倒立运动中HD信号中断的机制。具体地说，HD活性将在POS损伤后的大鼠中进行评估；HD活性将在直立和倒立运动中缺乏重力感受器的小鼠中进行评估。结果将使人们更好地了解HD信号的信息内容，并可能使与前庭功能障碍相关的疾病得到更有效的治疗。

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.