A neural code for egocentric spatial maps in the human medial temporal lobe
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
Abstract
Summary Spatial navigation relies on neural systems that encode information about places, distances, and directions in relation to the external world or relative to the navigating organism. Since the proposal of cognitive maps, the neuroscience of navigation has focused on allocentric (world-referenced) neural representations including place, grid, and head-direction cells. Here, using single-neuron recordings during virtual navigation, we identify “anchor cells” in the human brain as a neural code for egocentric (self-centered) spatial maps: Anchor cells represent egocentric directions towards “anchor points” located in the environmental center or periphery. Anchor cells were abundant in parahippocampal cortex, supported full vectorial representations of egocentric space, and were integrated into a neural memory network. Neurons encoding allocentric direction complemented anchor-cell activity, potentially assisting anchor cells in transforming percepts into allocentric representations. Anchor cells may facilitate egocentric navigation strategies, may support route planning from egocentric viewpoints, and may underlie the first-person perspective in episodic memories.
Authors 12
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Lukas Kunz corresponding
University of Freiburg · University Medical Center Freiburg · Columbia University
Affiliation as printed
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
Epilepsy Center, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
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University of Freiburg · University Medical Center Freiburg
Affiliation as printed
Epilepsy Center, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
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University of Freiburg · University Medical Center Freiburg · Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology
Affiliation as printed
Department of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology, Aachen, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B1 2TT, UK
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Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Affiliation as printed
Institute for Theoretical Biology, Department of Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Swansea University · Columbia University
Affiliation as printed
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
Department of Psychology, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
Department of Psychology, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 PP, UK
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Affiliation as printed
Computational Memory Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Affiliation as printed
Doctoral Program in Neurobiology and Behavior, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Affiliation as printed
Institute for Theoretical Biology, Department of Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
Computational Memory Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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University of Freiburg · University Medical Center Freiburg
Affiliation as printed
Epilepsy Center, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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