Universal conditions for exact path integration in neural systems.

ABSTRACT: Animals are capable of navigation even in the absence of prominent landmark cues. This behavioral demonstration of path integration is supported by the discovery of place cells and other neurons that show path-invariant response properties even in the dark. That is, under suitable conditions, the activity of these neurons depends primarily on the spatial location of the animal regardless of which trajectory it followed to reach that position. Although many models of path integration have been proposed, no known single theoretical framework can formally accommodate their diverse computational mechanisms. Here we derive a set of necessary and sufficient conditions for a general class of systems that performs exact path integration. These conditions include multiplicative modulation by veloci

SUBMITTER: Issa JB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3340063 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature