Neural mechanisms for spatial computation.

Matthew F Nolan

doi:10.1113/jp273087

Abstract

Locating oneself within an environment, remembering goal locations and planning routes are fundamental cognitive functions (Wolbers & Hegarty, 2010). Profound insights into the mechanisms for these cognitive abilities have come from the discovery of neurons in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex with spatial firing properties. These neurons, which include place cells (O'Keefe, 1976), head direction cells (Taube et al. 1990), grid cells (Hafting et al. 2005) and border cells, also called boundary cells (Solstad et al. 2008; Lever et al. 2009), have stereotypical spatial firing patterns, leading to the idea that the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex and their associated structures form a neural system for spatial computation. In part because of the robustness of these spatial codes, the hippocampus and its associated cortical structures have become a major focus for investigation of physiological mechanisms underlying cognitive function (Moser & Moser, 2013).

Highlights

Locating oneself within an environment, remembering goal locations and planning routes are fundamental cognitive functions (Wolbers & Hegarty, 2010)
These neurons, which include place cells (O’Keefe, 1976), head direction cells (Taube et al 1990), grid cells (Hafting et al 2005) and border cells, called boundary cells (Solstad et al 2008; Lever et al 2009), have stereotypical spatial firing patterns, leading to the idea that the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex and their associated structures form a neural system for spatial computation
While firing properties of place, head direction, grid and other spatial cells have been described in considerable detail, the mechanisms responsible for spatial firing and the precise roles in behaviour of these and other less well-characterized cells remain the subject of considerable investigation and debate

Summary

Introduction

Locating oneself within an environment, remembering goal locations and planning routes are fundamental cognitive functions (Wolbers & Hegarty, 2010). These neurons, which include place cells (O’Keefe, 1976), head direction cells (Taube et al 1990), grid cells (Hafting et al 2005) and border cells, called boundary cells (Solstad et al 2008; Lever et al 2009), have stereotypical spatial firing patterns, leading to the idea that the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex and their associated structures form a neural system for spatial computation. Grid cells are hypothesized to perform path integration; that is, computation of location from information about direction and speed of movement relative to a known starting point.

Results

Conclusion