ROLE OF VELOCITY PERCEPTION ON PLACE FIELD SIZE AND DENSITY OF HIPPOCAMPAL PLACE CELLS

摘要

Place field size is stable for a given neuron in a familiarenvironment, yet increases along the septotemporal axisof hippocampal CA1. It is suggested that place cellassemblies are velocity controlled oscillators (VCO), i.e.,the place cell’s oscillation frequency is positivelycorrelated with the running velocity. The VCO model hasthe potential assumption that the velocity is correctlyperceived. However, the perception of velocity may notbe faithful to the actual physical velocity in somepathological and behavioral conditions. In this study, weexamine the scenario in which perceived velocity deviatesfrom the actual value. Place field size and distributiondensity change with the precision of perceived velocity.Simulation studies verify that this model is in accordancewith previous studies. Testable predictions are alsoproposed.