Hippocampal firing fields anchored to a moving object predict homing direction during path-integration-based behavior

Najafian Jazi, M.; Tymorek, A.; Yen, T. Y.; Kavarayil, F. J.; Stingl, M.; Chau, S. R.; Baskurt, B.; Garcia Vilela, C.; Allen, K.

doi:10.1101/2022.09.30.510268

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2022.09.30.510268

Hippocampal firing fields anchored to a moving object predict homing direction during path-integration-based behavior

Najafian Jazi, M.·Tymorek, A.·Yen, T. Y.·Kavarayil, F. J.·Stingl, M.·Chau, S. R.·Baskurt, B.·Garcia Vilela, C.·Allen, K.

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Abstract

Homing based on path integration (H-PI) is a form of navigation in which an animal uses self-motion cues to keep track of its position and return to a starting point. Despite evidence for a role of the hippocampus in H-PI, the firing patterns of hippocampal neurons associated with homing performance are unknown. Here we developed a behavioral task for mice to characterize spatially selective cells during H-PI. The task required a mouse to find a variably placed lever on an arena before returning to its home base. H-PI was assessed in complete darkness. Recordings from CA1 pyramidal neurons in mice showed that several firing fields were anchored to the lever position. The spatial stability of lever-anchored fields was reduced during trials with lower homing accuracy, and the activity of a subset of lever-anchored firing fields predicted homing direction. These results demonstrate how neurons with object-anchored firing fields contribute to navigation.

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Najafian Jazi, M., Tymorek, A., Yen, T. Y., Kavarayil, F. J., Stingl, M., Chau, S. R., Baskurt, B., Garcia Vilela, C., Allen, K.. 2022-10-03. Hippocampal firing fields anchored to a moving object predict homing direction during path-integration-based behavior. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.09.30.510268

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