Is There a Geometric Module for Spatial Orientation? Insights from a Rodent Navigation Model

Autor/inn/en	Sheynikhovich, Denis; Chavarriaga, Ricardo; Strosslin, Thomas; Arleo, Angelo; Gerstner, Wulfram
Titel	Is There a Geometric Module for Spatial Orientation? Insights from a Rodent Navigation Model
Quelle	In: Psychological Review, 116 (2009) 3, S.540-566 (27 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0033-295X
DOI	10.1037/a0016170
Schlagwörter	Cues; Spatial Ability; Geometric Concepts; Information Processing; Animals; Brain; Neurological Organization; Visual Stimuli; Models; Error Patterns; Responses; Correlation; Behavioral Science Research + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Stichwort; Räumliches Vorstellungsvermögen; Elementare Geometrie; Informationsverarbeitung; Animal; Tier; Tiere; Gehirn; Analogiemodell; Fehlertyp; Korrelation
Abstract	Modern psychological theories of spatial cognition postulate the existence of a geometric module for reorientation. This concept is derived from experimental data showing that in rectangular arenas with distinct landmarks in the corners, disoriented rats often make diagonal errors, suggesting their preference for the geometric (arena shape) over the nongeometric (landmarks) cues. Moreover, sensitivity of hippocampal cell firing to changes in the environment layout was taken in support of the geometric module hypothesis. Using a computational model of rat navigation, the authors proposed and tested the alternative hypothesis that the influence of spatial geometry on both behavioral and neuronal levels can be explained by the properties of visual features that constitute local views of the environment. Their modeling results suggest that the pattern of diagonal errors observed in reorientation tasks can be understood by the analysis of sensory information processing that underlies the navigation strategy employed to solve the task. In particular, 2 navigation strategies were considered: (a) a place-based locale strategy that relies on a model of grid and place cells and (b) a stimulus-response taxon strategy that involves direct association of local views with action choices. The authors showed that the application of the 2 strategies in the reorientation tasks results in different patterns of diagonal errors, consistent with behavioral data. These results argue against the geometric module hypothesis by providing a simpler and biologically more plausible explanation for the related experimental data. Moreover, the same model also describes behavioral results in different types of water-maze tasks. (Contains 1 table and 13 figures.) (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org/publications
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10