A new perspective on the head direction cell system and spatial behavior. (October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dudchenko, Paul A.; Wood, Emma R.; Smith, Anna
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews. Volume 105(2019)
• Page Start: 24
• Page End: 33
• Publication Date: 2019-10
• Subjects: Head direction cells -- Spatial cognition -- Landmarks -- Navigation; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Behavior -- Periodicals; Ethology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychophysiologie -- Périodiques; Comportement humain -- Périodiques; Animaux -- Mœurs et comportement -- Périodiques; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Animal behavior; Human behavior; Neurology; Psychophysiology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 573.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.06.036
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0149-7634

Abstract

Highlights: Damage to the head direction circuit produces only modest impairments in spatial behavior. Head direction cells predict spatial behavior in some tasks, but not others. New evidence suggests that there are different kinds of head direction cells. Different head direction cells may underlie different spatial abilities. Abstract: The head direction cell system is an interconnected set of brain structures containing neurons whose firing is directionally tuned. The robust representation of allocentric direction by head direction cells suggests that they provide a neural compass for the animal. However, evidence linking head direction cells and spatial behavior has been mixed. Whereas damage to the hippocampus yields profound deficits in a range of spatial tasks, lesions to the head direction cell system often yield milder impairments in spatial behavior. In addition, correlational approaches have shown a correspondence between head direction cells and spatial behavior in some tasks, but not others. These mixed effects may be explained in part by a new view of the head direction cell system arising from recent demonstrations of at least two types of head direction cells: 'traditional' cells, and a second class of 'sensory' cells driven by polarising features of an environment. The recognition of different kinds of head direction cells now allows a nuanced assessment of this system's role in guiding navigation.