“The “Subway Effect”: Neural Basis of Reorientation and Navigational Decision-Making”
Gary M. Muir, St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN 55057

“Head direction” (HD) cells in the anterior dorsal thalamic nucleus (ADN) of rodents show activity clearly related to the animal’s directional heading (i.e., the animal’s head direction) in the horizontal plane, independent of its location. The strong relationship between HD cell firing and the animal’s head direction has led investigators to believe that HD cells provide the neural basis of the animal’s perceived head direction, or its “sense of direction.” Very few studies, however, have examined the relationship between HD cell activity and navigational decision-making, and those that have showed mixed results (for a review, see Muir & Taube, 2002). By recording HD cell activity during periods of “misorientation” (where the animal is incorrectly oriented to the environment but unaware of any error) and subsequent reorientation to the environment, the proposed research will examine the neural basis of reorientation and attempt to determine under what conditions information from HD cells might be used to guide the animal’s navigational decision-making.

Gary M. Muir, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Psychology
St. Olaf College
1520 St. Olaf Avenue
Northfield, MN 55057 
Phone: (507) 786-3018
Fax: (507) 786-3986