Path integration maintains spatial periodicity of grid cell firing in a 1D circular track

Pierre-Yves Jacob (1) , Fabrizio Capitano (1) , Bruno Poucet (1) , Etienne Save (1) , Francesca Sargolini (1)

1 LNC - Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives [Marseille]

Entorhinal grid cells are thought to provide a 2D spatial metric of the environment. In this study we demonstrate that in a familiar 1D circular track (i.e., a continuous space) grid cells display a novel 1D equidistant firing pattern based on integrated distance rather than travelled distance or time. In addition, field spacing is increased compared to a 2D open field, probably due to a reduced access to the visual cue in the track. This metrical modification is accompanied by a change in LFP theta oscillations, but no change in intrinsic grid cell rhythmicity, or firing activity of entorhinal speed and head-direction cells. These results suggest that in a 1D circular space grid cell spatial selectivity is shaped by path integration processes, while grid scale relies on external information.

Domaines: Neurosciences; Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]; Sciences cognitives; Neurosciences [q-bio.NC]

Pierre-Yves Jacob, Fabrizio Capitano, Bruno Poucet, Etienne Save, Francesca Sargolini. Path integration maintains spatial periodicity of grid cell firing in a 1D circular track. Nature Communications, 2019, 10 (1), ⟨10.1038/s41467-019-08795-w⟩. ⟨hal-02025122⟩