Source Paper
Head-direction cells recorded from the postsubiculum in freely moving rats. I. Description and quantitative analysis
JS Taube, RU Muller, JB Ranck
Journal of Neuroscience • 1990
Source Paper
JS Taube, RU Muller, JB Ranck
Journal of Neuroscience • 1990
This paper is a study of the behavioral and spatial firing correlates of neurons in the rat postsubiculum. Recordings were made from postsubicular neurons as rats moved freely throughout a cylindrical chamber, where the major cue for orientation was a white card taped to the inside wall. An automatic video/computer system monitored cell discharge while simultaneously tracking the position of 2 colored light emitting diodes (LEDs) secured to the animal's head. The animal's location was calculated from the position of one of the LEDs and head direction in the horizontal plane calculated from the relative positions of the 2 LEDs. Approximately 26% of the cells were classified as head-direction cells because they discharged as a function of the animal's head direction in the horizontal plane, independent of the animal's behavior, location, or trunk position. For each head-direction cell, vectors drawn in the direction of maximal firing were parallel throughout the recording chamber and did not converge toward a single point. Plots of firing rate versus head direction showed that each firing-rate/head-direction function was adequately described by a triangular function. Each cell's maximum firing rate occurred at only one (the preferred) head direction; firing rates at head directions on either side of the preferred direction decreased linearly with angular deviation from the preferred direction. Results from 24 head-direction cells in 7 animals showed an equal distribution of preferred firing directions over a 360 degrees angle. The peak firing rate of head- direction cells varied from 5 to 115 spikes/sec (mean: 35). The range of head-direction angles over which discharge was elevated (directional firing range) was usually about 90 degrees, with little, if any, discharge at head directions outside this range. Quantitative analysis showed the location of the animal within the cylinder had minimal effect on directional cell firing. For each head-direction cell, the preferred direction, peak firing rate, and directional firing range remained stable for days. These results identify a new cell type that signals the animal's head direction in its environment.
Objective: Quantitative analysis of head-direction cell firing patterns in relation to the animal's head direction, location, and behavior in a cylindrical chamber
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Prepare recording electrodes for postsubicular neuron recordings in freely moving rats
Note: Recordings made from postsubicular neurons
“Recordings were made from postsubicular neurons as rats moved freely throughout a cylindrical chamber”
Secure 2 colored light emitting diodes to the animal's head for position and head direction tracking
Note: One LED used to calculate animal location, relative positions of both LEDs used to calculate head direction
“2 colored light emitting diodes (LEDs) secured to the animal's head. The animal's location was calculated from the position of one of the LEDs and head direction in the horizontal plane calculated from the relative positions of the 2 LEDs”
Tape a white card to the inside wall of the cylindrical chamber as the major orientation cue
Note: This serves as the primary visual reference for head direction
“the major cue for orientation was a white card taped to the inside wall”
Allow rats to move freely throughout the cylindrical chamber while simultaneously recording neural activity and tracking head position via the video/computer system
Note: Cell discharge monitored automatically while LED positions tracked
“An automatic video/computer system monitored cell discharge while simultaneously tracking the position of 2 colored light emitting diodes”
Classify recorded neurons as head-direction cells based on discharge patterns as a function of head direction in the horizontal plane, independent of behavior, location, or trunk position
Note: Approximately 26% of cells met head-direction cell criteria
“Approximately 26% of the cells were classified as head-direction cells because they discharged as a function of the animal's head direction in the horizontal plane, independent of the animal's behavior, location, or trunk position”
Draw vectors in the direction of maximal firing for each head-direction cell and verify they are parallel throughout the recording chamber
Note: Vectors should not converge toward a single point
“For each head-direction cell, vectors drawn in the direction of maximal firing were parallel throughout the recording chamber and did not converge toward a single point”
Generate plots of firing rate versus head direction and fit data to triangular function for each head-direction cell
Note: Each firing-rate/head-direction function adequately described by triangular function
“Plots of firing rate versus head direction showed that each firing-rate/head-direction function was adequately described by a triangular function”
Identify the preferred head direction (maximum firing rate) for each cell and measure firing rates at head directions on either side of preferred direction
Note: Firing rates decrease linearly with angular deviation from preferred direction
“Each cell's maximum firing rate occurred at only one (the preferred) head direction; firing rates at head directions on either side of the preferred direction decreased linearly with angular deviation from the preferred direction”
Determine the range of head-direction angles over which discharge was elevated for each head-direction cell
Note: Directional firing range usually about 90 degrees with little or no discharge outside this range
“The range of head-direction angles over which discharge was elevated (directional firing range) was usually about 90 degrees, with little, if any, discharge at head directions outside this range”
Examine distribution of preferred firing directions across all head-direction cells from all animals
Note: Results from 24 head-direction cells in 7 animals
“Results from 24 head-direction cells in 7 animals showed an equal distribution of preferred firing directions over a 360 degrees angle”
Record maximum firing rate for each head-direction cell
Note: Peak firing rates ranged from 5 to 115 spikes/sec with mean of 35 spikes/sec
“The peak firing rate of head-direction cells varied from 5 to 115 spikes/sec (mean: 35)”
Quantitatively analyze the effect of animal location within the cylinder on directional cell firing
Note: Location had minimal effect on directional cell firing
“Quantitative analysis showed the location of the animal within the cylinder had minimal effect on directional cell firing”
Monitor stability of preferred direction, peak firing rate, and directional firing range for each head-direction cell across multiple recording days
Note: Firing characteristics remained stable for days
“For each head-direction cell, the preferred direction, peak firing rate, and directional firing range remained stable for days”
Freely moving rats; 24 head-direction cells analyzed across 7 animals