Navigable Space and Traversable Edges Differentially Influence Reorientation in Sighted and Blind Mice

Marc E. Normandin; Maria C. Garza; Manuel Miguel Ramos-Alvarez; Joshua B. Julian; Tuoyo Eresanara; Nishanth Punjaala; Juan H. Vasquez; Matthew R. Lopez; Isabel A. Muzzio

doi:10.1177/09567976211055373

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Navigable Space and Traversable Edges Differentially Influence Reorientation in Sighted and Blind Mice

Journal article

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Navigable Space and Traversable Edges Differentially Influence Reorientation in Sighted and Blind Mice

Marc E. Normandin, Maria C. Garza, Manuel Miguel Ramos-Alvarez, Joshua B. Julian, Tuoyo Eresanara, Nishanth Punjaala, Juan H. Vasquez, Matthew R. Lopez and Isabel A. Muzzio

Psychological science, Vol.33(6), pp.925-947

06/2022

DOI: 10.1177/09567976211055373

PMCID: PMC9343889

PMID: 35536866

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9343889View

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Abstract

Reorientation enables navigators to regain their bearings after becoming lost. Disoriented individuals primarily reorient themselves using the geometry of a layout, even when other informative cues, such as landmarks, are present. Yet the specific strategies that animals use to determine geometry are unclear. Moreover, because vision allows subjects to rapidly form precise representations of objects and background, it is unknown whether it has a deterministic role in the use of geometry. In this study, we tested sighted and congenitally blind mice ( Ns = 8–11) in various settings in which global shape parameters were manipulated. Results indicated that the navigational affordances of the context—the traversable space—promote sampling of boundaries, which determines the effective use of geometric strategies in both sighted and blind mice. However, blind animals can also effectively reorient themselves using 3D edges by extensively patrolling the borders, even when the traversable space is not limited by these boundaries.

Details

Title: Subtitle: Navigable Space and Traversable Edges Differentially Influence Reorientation in Sighted and Blind Mice
Creators: Marc E. Normandin - The University of Texas at San Antonio
Maria C. Garza - The University of Texas at San Antonio
Manuel Miguel Ramos-Alvarez - Universidad de Jaén
Joshua B. Julian - Princeton University
Tuoyo Eresanara - The University of Texas at San Antonio
Nishanth Punjaala - The University of Texas at San Antonio
Juan H. Vasquez - The University of Texas at San Antonio
Matthew R. Lopez - The University of Texas at San Antonio
Isabel A. Muzzio - The University of Texas at San Antonio
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Psychological science, Vol.33(6), pp.925-947
DOI: 10.1177/09567976211055373
PMID: 35536866
PMCID: PMC9343889
NLM abbreviation: Psychol Sci
ISSN: 0956-7976
eISSN: 1467-9280
Grant note: DOI: 10.13039/100000001, name: National Science Foundation, award: NSF/IOS 1924732
Language: English
Date published: 06/2022
Academic Unit: Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
Record Identifier: 9984295027402771

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