Competition between cue response and place response: a model of rat navigation behaviour

Abstract

Different neural systems are involved in animal navigation depending on the type of task. Experimental studies support the idea that the hippocampus is necessary to learn a spatial representation required to navigate toward hidden goals (place response), whereas the dorsolateral striatum is involved in the learning of stimulus-response associations when navigating toward visible (or cued) goals. These systems compete for action selection according to the characteristics of the task, previous experience (e.g. training procedure) or endogenous factors. This paper reviews both experimental data on the theory of multiple memory systems involved in navigation, and a recent computational model of action selection based on the competition of place and cue responses learnt during training. The model implements separately the two types of response, i.e. place response and stimulus response. Furthermore, competition takes place to select which behaviour will actually be performed. The model was tested in a simulated environment using a protocol analogous to those used in experiments with animals.

Is there a geometric module for spatial orientation? Insights from a rodent navigation model.

“…Finally, the model assumptions that the taxon and locale strategies can be learned in parallel and are mediated by separate memory systems suggest an explanation for the absence of blocking and overshadowing between intramaze landmarks (that allow taxon learning) and the shape of the environment (that favors place-based learning; Hayward et al, 2004; Hayward, McGregor, Good, & Pearce, 2003). However, a detailed model of interaction between the two strategies (Chavarriaga, Strösslin, Sheynikhovich, & Gerstner, 2005a, 2005b) is required to explain the precise pattern of overshadowing and blocking effects in various cue configurations and training protocols (Doeller & Burgess, 2008; Roberts & Pearce, 1998), which is out of the scope of the present article.…”

Contextual Learning in the Neurosolver

“…In such a maze, the rat cannot see a hidden platform submerged in white, opaque water, but it nevertheless learns its position by using visual cues from the environment. The results (e.g., [16], [17) indicate that rats navigate using direct cues to the goal (taxon navigation) or memories based on places activated by the environment clues (praxic navigation), although the true nature of rats' maze running skills is still under discussion (e.g., [18]). When the environment changes, or obstacles like walls are used to obstruct the view, the appropriate place cells do not fire, implying that the rat is unaware of its true location and needs to re-discover the platform through more explorations.…”