Objective Head direction (HD) cells provide directional information during spatial navigation and thus act as aninternal compass. The goal of this study is to understand how the HD circuit creates a lasting neural trace oftransient directional changes. Cells selective for HD have been identified in several brain regions, includingthe retrosplenial cortex (RSC), and display persistent activity in response to transient vestibular turningcues. Although a well-established theoretical framework proposes an elegant circuitry for achieving thisself-sustaining activity, biological evidence for such a circuit is lacking. Studies of HD circuitry have facedsignificant challenges due to the necessity of functional monitoring at large and small scales in vivo, andprecise stimulus control. This study will take advantage of recent advances allowing the targeting of specificcells and their inputs for chronic two-photon imaging in the awake, head-fixed, and passively rotated mouse.Experiments will aim to (1) determine the spatial and temporal organization of HD-tuned responses in RSC,and (2) functionally characterize the presynaptic inputs of HD cells. This information will validate or rejecta prominent theory of neural network organization, and provide unprecedented insight into a poorlyunderstood but critical brain function. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological scienceszoologymammalogyprimatologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesneurobiologycognitive neurosciencenatural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryalkaline earth metalssocial sciencessocial geographytransportnavigation systemsnatural sciencescomputer and information sciencesartificial intelligencecomputational intelligence Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2016 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2016 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinator UNIVERSITETET I OSLO Net EU contribution € 196 400,40 Address PROBLEMVEIEN 5-7 0313 Oslo Norway See on map Region Norge Oslo og Viken Oslo Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 196 400,40
