Emergent elasticity in the neural code for space
Abstract
We develop a theoretical model, grounded in known properties of neural dynamics and synaptic plasticity, that can fuse information gathered from the past history of velocity and sequence of encountered landmarks during exploratory behavior, to construct a self-consistent internal representation of space. Moreover, through model reduction techniques, we obtain conceptual insights into how consistent internal spatial representations naturally emerge through an elastic relaxation process in an effective spring–particle system. We verify several experimentally testable predictions of our model involving the spatial behavior of grid cells in the medial entorhinal cortex, as well as suggest additional experiments.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Nov 27, 2018
- Source ID
- 10.1073/pnas.1805959115
Entities
People
- Kiah Hardcastle
- Lisa M. Giocomo
- Samuel A Ocko
- Surya Ganguli
Organizations
- Esther A. & Joseph Klingenstein Fund
- James S. McDonnell Foundation
- McKnight Foundation
- National Institute of Mental Health
- New York Stem Cell Foundation
- Office of Naval Research
- Simons Foundation
- Stanford University
- Whitehall Foundation