Hexagons all the way down: grid cells as a conformal isometric map of space.

IF 3.8 2区生物学 Q1 BIOCHEMICAL RESEARCH METHODS PLoS Computational Biology Pub Date : 2025-02-13 DOI:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1012804

Vemund Sigmundson Schøyen, Kosio Beshkov, Markus Borud Pettersen, Erik Hermansen, Konstantin Holzhausen, Anders Malthe-Sørenssen, Marianne Fyhn, Mikkel Elle Lepperød

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Abstract

Grid cells in the entorhinal cortex are known for their hexagonal spatial activity patterns and are thought to provide a neural metric for space, and support path integration. In this study, we further investigate grid cells as a metric of space by optimising them for a conformal isometric (CI) map of space using a model based on a superposition of plane waves. By optimising the phases within a single grid cell module, we find that the module can form a CI of two-dimensional flat space with phases arranging into a regular hexagonal pattern, supporting an accurate spatial metric. Additionally, we find that experimentally recorded grid cells exhibit CI properties, with one example module showing a phase arrangement similar to the hexagonal pattern observed in our model. These findings provide computational and preliminary experimental support for grid cells as a CI-based spatial representation. We also examine other properties that emerge in CI-optimised modules, including consistent energy expenditure across space and the minimal cell count required to support unique representation of space and maximally topologically persistent toroidal population activity. Altogether, our results suggest that grid cells are well-suited to form a CI map, with several beneficial properties arising from this organisation.

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来源期刊

PLoS Computational Biology BIOCHEMICAL RESEARCH METHODS-MATHEMATICAL & COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY

CiteScore

7.10

自引率

4.70%

发文量

820

审稿时长

2.5 months

期刊介绍： PLOS Computational Biology features works of exceptional significance that further our understanding of living systems at all scales—from molecules and cells, to patient populations and ecosystems—through the application of computational methods. Readers include life and computational scientists, who can take the important findings presented here to the next level of discovery. Research articles must be declared as belonging to a relevant section. More information about the sections can be found in the submission guidelines. Research articles should model aspects of biological systems, demonstrate both methodological and scientific novelty, and provide profound new biological insights. Generally, reliability and significance of biological discovery through computation should be validated and enriched by experimental studies. Inclusion of experimental validation is not required for publication, but should be referenced where possible. Inclusion of experimental validation of a modest biological discovery through computation does not render a manuscript suitable for PLOS Computational Biology. Research articles specifically designated as Methods papers should describe outstanding methods of exceptional importance that have been shown, or have the promise to provide new biological insights. The method must already be widely adopted, or have the promise of wide adoption by a broad community of users. Enhancements to existing published methods will only be considered if those enhancements bring exceptional new capabilities.