Converting an allocentric goal into an egocentric steering signal

Nature, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 626(8000), P. 808 - 818

Published: Feb. 7, 2024

Neuronal signals that are relevant for spatial navigation have been described in many species

Language: Английский

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Neural circuit mechanisms for steering control in walkingDrosophila

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 5, 2020

Abstract Orienting behaviors provide a continuous stream of information about an organism’s sensory experiences and plans. Thus, to study the links between sensation action, it is useful identify neurons in brain that control orienting behaviors. Here we describe descending Drosophila predict influence orientation (heading) during walking. We show these cells have specialized functions: whereas one cell type predicts sustained low-gain steering, other transient high-gain steering. These latter integrate internally-directed steering signals from head direction system with stimulus-directed multimodal pathways. The inputs are organized produce “see-saw” commands, so increasing output hemisphere accompanied by decreasing hemisphere. Together, our results internal external drives integrated motor commands different timescales, for flexible precise space.

Language: Английский

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Neural circuit mechanisms for steering control in walking Drosophila

Published: Nov. 27, 2024

Orienting behaviors provide a continuous stream of information about an organism’s sensory experiences and plans. Thus, to study the links between sensation action, it is useful identify neurons in brain that control orienting behaviors. Here we describe descending Drosophila predict influence orientation (heading) during walking. We show these cells have specialized functions: whereas one cell type predicts sustained low-gain steering, other transient high-gain steering. These latter integrate internally-directed steering signals from head direction system with stimulus-directed multimodal pathways. The inputs are organized produce “see-saw” commands, so increasing output hemisphere accompanied by decreasing hemisphere. Together, our results internal external drives integrated motor commands different timescales, for flexible precise space.

Language: Английский

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Theory of morphodynamic information processing: Linking sensing to behaviour

Vision Research, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 227, P. 108537 - 108537

Published: Jan. 4, 2025

The traditional understanding of brain function has predominantly focused on chemical and electrical processes.However, new research in fruit fly (Drosophila) binocular vision reveals ultrafast photomechanical photoreceptor movements significantly enhance information processing, thereby impacting a fly's perception its environment behaviour.The coding advantages resulting from these mechanical processes suggest that similar physical motion-based strategies may affect neural communication ubiquitously.The theory morphodynamics proposes rapid biomechanical microstructural changes at the level neurons synapses speed efficiency sensory intrinsic thoughts, actions by regulating phasic manner.We propose morphodynamic processing evolved to drive predictive coding, synchronising cognitive across networks match behavioural demands hand effectively.

Language: Английский

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Neural circuits for goal-directed navigation across species

Trends in Neurosciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 47(11), P. 904 - 917

Published: Oct. 10, 2024

Language: Английский

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A central steering circuit inDrosophila

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: July 2, 2024

Abstract Locomotion steering control enables animals to pursue targets, evade threats, avoid obstacles, and explore their environment. Steering commands are generated in the brain communicated via descending neurons leg or wing motor circuits. The diversity of ways which turns triggered executed has led view that might rely on distributed neural processing across multiple Here, however, we present evidence for a central circuit Drosophila is used both goal-directed exploratory capable eliciting ranging from subtle course corrections rapid saccades. organized hierarchy, top layer comprises reciprocally connected DNa03 LAL013 neurons. Our data suggest initiated by reinforced stabilized through winner-take-all mechanism involving LAL013. DNa11 form an intermediate layer. They receive input target circuits directly as well indirectly subordinate activation coordinately changes stepping directions all six legs generate saccadic turns. Together, these define flexibly fly exploits explores its

Language: Английский

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Inductive biases of neural network modularity in spatial navigation

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 10(29)

Published: July 19, 2024

The brain may have evolved a modular architecture for daily tasks, with circuits featuring functionally specialized modules that match the task structure. We hypothesize this enables better learning and generalization than architectures less modules. To test this, we trained reinforcement agents various neural on naturalistic navigation task. found agent, an segregates computations of state representation, value, action into modules, achieved generalization. Its learned representation combines prediction observation, weighted by their relative uncertainty, akin to recursive Bayesian estimation. This agent’s behavior also resembles macaques’ more closely. Our results shed light possible rationale brain’s modularity suggest artificial systems can use insight from neuroscience improve in natural tasks.

Language: Английский

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The neuroethology of ant navigation

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 35(3), P. R110 - R124

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Unlike any other group of animals, all ant species are social: individual ants share the food they gather with their nestmates and as a consequence must repeatedly leave nest to find then return home it. These back-and-forth foraging trips have been studied for about century much our growing understanding strategies underlying animal navigation has come from these studies. One important strategy that use keep track where on trip is 'path integration', in which continuously update 'home vector' gives estimated distance direction nest. As path integration accumulates errors, it cannot be relied bring precisely home: such precision accomplished by using views acquired before start foraging. Further learning scaffolded vectors or remembered vectors, guide route help useful experienced way. Many rely olfaction well vision guidance full details paths revealed how mix innate learnt multisensory cues. Wood ants, we focus this review, take an oscillating along pheromone trail sample odours, but acquire visual information only at peaks troughs oscillations. To provide working model neural basis multimodal navigational outline anatomy functioning major central brain areas circuits - complex, mushroom bodies lateral accessory lobes involved coordination behaviour olfactory patterns. Because brains not yet well-studied, work done notably, Drosophila, silkworm moths bees derive plausible circuitry can deliver ants' strategies.

Language: Английский

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A vector-based strategy for olfactory navigation inDrosophila

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 16, 2025

Odors serve as essential cues for navigation. Although tracking an odor plume has been modeled a reflexive process, it remains unclear whether animals can use memories of their past encounters to infer the spatial structure chemical environment or location within it. Here we developed virtual-reality olfactory paradigm that allows head-fixed Drosophila navigate structured landscapes, offering insight into how memory mechanisms shape navigational strategies. We found flies track appetitive corridor by following its boundary, alternating between rapid counterturns exit and directed returns edge. Using combination behavioral modeling, functional calcium imaging, neural perturbations, demonstrate this 'edge-tracking' strategy relies on vector-based computations central complex in which store dynamically update direction return them plume's boundary. Consistent with this, find FC2 neurons fan-shaped body, encode fly's goal, signal back boundary when are outside plume. Together, our studies suggest leverage dynamic landmark guide navigation, analogous memory-based strategies other insects long-distance migration homing nests. Plume thus uses components conserved toolkit, enabling through shifting landscape.

Language: Английский

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Combining Sampling Methods with Attractor Dynamics in Spiking Models of Head-Direction Systems

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 26, 2025

Uncertainty is a fundamental aspect of the natural environment, requiring brain to infer and integrate noisy signals guide behavior effectively. Sampling-based inference has been proposed as mechanism for dealing with uncertainty, particularly in early sensory processing. However, it unclear how reconcile sampling-based methods operational principles higher-order areas, such attractor dynamics persistent neural representations. In this study, we present spiking network model head-direction (HD) system that combines dynamics. To achieve this, derive required interactions perform sampling from large family probability distributions-including variables encoded Poisson noise. We then propose method allows update its estimate current head direction by integrating angular velocity samples-derived inputs-with pull towards circular manifold, thereby maintaining consistent This makes specific, testable predictions about HD can be examined future neurophysiological experiments: predicts correlated subthreshold voltage fluctuations; distinctive short- long-term firing correlations among neurons; characteristic statistics movement activity "bump" representing direction. Overall, our approach extends previous theories on probabilistic neurons, offers novel perspective computations responsible orientation navigation, supports hypothesis combined provide viable framework studying across brain.

Language: Английский

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