scholarly journals Facilitation of learning spatial relations among locations by visual cues: Implications for theoretical accounts of spatial learning

2009 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 306-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradley R. Sturz ◽  
Michael F. Brown ◽  
Debb ie M. Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Learning ◽  
Visual Cues ◽  
Spatial Relations

scholarly journals A time-stamp mechanism may provide temporal information necessary for egocentric to allocentric spatial transformations

eLife ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Avner Wallach ◽  
Erik Harvey-Girard ◽  
James Jaeyoon Jun ◽  
André Longtin ◽  
Len Maler
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Learning ◽  
Spatial Organization ◽  
Spatial Information ◽  
Spatial Relations ◽  
Temporal Information ◽  
Accurate Estimation ◽  
Neural Recordings ◽  
Brain Circuitry ◽  
Learning Circuits ◽  
Thalamic Region

Learning the spatial organization of the environment is essential for most animals’ survival. This requires the animal to derive allocentric spatial information from egocentric sensory and motor experience. The neural mechanisms underlying this transformation are mostly unknown. We addressed this problem in electric fish, which can precisely navigate in complete darkness and whose brain circuitry is relatively simple. We conducted the first neural recordings in the preglomerular complex, the thalamic region exclusively connecting the optic tectum with the spatial learning circuits in the dorsolateral pallium. While tectal topographic information was mostly eliminated in preglomerular neurons, the time-intervals between object encounters were precisely encoded. We show that this reliable temporal information, combined with a speed signal, can permit accurate estimation of the distance between encounters, a necessary component of path-integration that enables computing allocentric spatial relations. Our results suggest that similar mechanisms are involved in sequential spatial learning in all vertebrates.

Space use, cave choice, and spatial learning in the dendrobatid frog Colostethus palmatus

2003 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Horst Lüddecke
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Learning ◽  
Daily Activity ◽  
Visual Cues ◽  
Search Time ◽  
Reproductive Behaviour ◽  
Habitat Choice ◽  
Test Area ◽  
Learning Performance ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Similar Search

AbstractMoving in and out of small cavelike structures is a common daily activity of Colostethus palmatus. Such sites are used for shelter and spawning. Therefore, cave quality is important to survival and reproductive success. The frogs' association with caves was studied in a 24-cave communal paludarium. Adult frogs recognised cave quality, and chose large damp caves for spawning, but large, wet and dark caves were preferred for shelter, while small ones were used less or ignored. The search time needed to find an available cave gradually shortened over trials, reaching a minimum in about eight days, indicating that frogs learned cave position. Males and females had similar search times. Frogs less familiar with the test area had longer initial search times than frogs with more experience, but achieved equally short search times after about eight days. In conjunction with previous findings the results suggest that visual cues are important in habitat choice and spatial learning, and that territorial and reproductive behaviour are intimately associated with learning performance.

scholarly journals Spatial learning in Japanese eels (Anguilla japonica)

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 233-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shigeru Watanabe ◽  
Kazutaka Shinozuka
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Learning ◽  
Visual Cues ◽  
Learning Task ◽  
Anguilla Japonica ◽  
Open Tube ◽  
Spatial Learning Task ◽  
Dark Room

Abstract Japanese eels (Anguilla japonica) were trained on a Morris-type spatial learning task. There were four tubes in a pool, but the eels could hide in only one of these. The eels learned the position of the open tube, and maintained their performance when the pool was rotated to remove possible intra-maze cues. The eels could not maintain their performance in a dark room, suggesting that spatial learning involved extra-maze visual cues. When the position of the open tube was randomly changed every day, the performance of the eels in finding the open tube did not improve.

scholarly journals A novel time-stamp mechanism transforms egocentric encounters into an allocentric spatial representation

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Avner Wallach ◽  
Erik Harvey-Girard ◽  
James Jaeyoon Jun ◽  
André Longtin ◽  
Leonard Maler
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Learning ◽  
Spatial Representation ◽  
Spatial Organization ◽  
Spatial Relations ◽  
Complete Darkness ◽  
Time Intervals ◽  
Neural Recordings ◽  
Brain Circuitry ◽  
Learning Circuits ◽  
Thalamic Region

AbstractLearning the spatial organization of the environment is essential for most animals’ survival. This often requires the animal to derive allocentric information about the environment from egocentric sensory and motor experience. The neural circuits and mechanisms underlying this transformation are currently unknown. We addressed this problem in electric fish, which can precisely navigate in complete darkness and whose requisite brain circuitry is relatively simple. We conducted the first neural recordings in the preglomerular complex, the thalamic region exclusively connecting the optic tectum with the spatial learning circuits in the dorsolateral pallium. While tectal egocentric information was eliminated in preglomerular neurons, the time-intervals between object encounters were precisely encoded. We show that this highly-reliable temporal information, combined with a speed signal, can permit accurate path-integration that then enables computing allocentric spatial relations. Our results suggest that similar mechanisms are involved in spatial learning via sequential encounters in all vertebrates.

Reduced spatial learning in mice infected with the nematode, Heligmosomoides polygyrus

Parasitology ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 110 (5) ◽  
pp. 591-597 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Kavaliers ◽  
D. D. Colwell
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Learning ◽  
Water Maze ◽  
Visual Cues ◽  
Parasitic Infection ◽  
Spatial Location ◽  
Maze Learning ◽  
Heligmosomoides Polygyrus ◽  
Infective Larvae ◽  
Spatial Performance ◽  
Spatial Water Maze

SUMMARYParasite modification of host behaviour influences a number of critical responses, but little is known about the effects on host spatial abilities. This study examined the effects of infection with the intestinal trichostrongylid nematode, Heligmosomoides polygyrus, on spatial water maze learning by male laboratory mice, Mus musculus. In this task individual mice had to learn the spatial location of a submerged hidden platform using extramaze visual cues. Determinations of spatial performance were made on day 19 post-infection with mice that had been administered either 50 or 200 infective larvae of H. polygyrus. The infected mice displayed over 1 day of testing (6 blocks of 4 trials) significantly poorer acquisition and retention of the water maze task than either sham-infected or control mice, with mice that had received 200 infective larvae displaying significantly poorer spatial performance than individuals receiving 50 larvae. The decrease in spatial learning occurred in the absence of either any symptoms of illness and malaise, or any evident motor, visual and motivational impairments. It is suggested that in this single host system the parasitic infection-induced decrease in spatial learning arises as a side-effect of the host's immunological and neuromodulatory responses and represents a fitness cost of response to infection.

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