title: Weighted cue integration in the rodent head direction system.
abstract: How the brain combines information from different sensory modalities and of differing reliability is an important and still-unanswered question. Using the head direction (HD) system as a model, we explored the resolution of conflicts between landmarks and background cues. Sensory cue integration models predict averaging of the two cues, whereas attractor models predict capture of the signal by the dominant cue. We found that a visual landmark mostly captured the HD signal at low conflicts: however, there was an increasing propensity for the cells to integrate the cues thereafter. A large conflict presented to naive rats resulted in greater visual cue capture (less integration) than in experienced rats, revealing an effect of experience. We propose that weighted cue integration in HD cells arises from dynamic plasticity of the feed-forward inputs to the network, causing within-trial spatial redistribution of the visual inputs onto the ring. This suggests that an attractor network can implement decision processes about cue reliability using simple architecture and learning rules, thus providing a potential neural substrate for weighted cue integration.
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, Department of Cognitive, Perceptual and Brain Sciences, Institute of Behavioural Neuroscience, University College London, , 26 Bedford Way, London WC1H 0AP, UK.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.forename: Caitlin E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Piette
authors.forename: Hector
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Page
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Walters
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marozzi
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nardini
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stringer
authors.forename: Kathryn J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Jeffery
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D003463:Cues; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008297:Male; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009039:Motion Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D014741:Video Recording
keywords: attractor dynamics; head direction cells; path integration; sensory cue integration; vestibular system; vision