# Egocentric and Allocentric Spatial Coding in Cortex

> **NIH NIH R01** · BOSTON UNIVERSITY (CHARLES RIVER CAMPUS) · 2020 · $501,399

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The projects proposed in this new grant address the properties of spatial coding in cortical regions.
Representations of spatial location are important for a broad range of cognitive functions, including the
planning of goal-directed navigation. This grant proposes specific experiments to test modeling predictions
about the existence of egocentric representations of boundaries and coding of running speed relevant to the
formation of allocentric spatial representations in cortical structures.
Specific Aim #1: Recordings of the neural spiking activity in retrosplenial cortex and entorhinal cortex will test
the hypothesis that cortical regions must code the position of environmental boundaries in egocentric
coordinates. This prediction arose from models of the formation of allocentric representations of boundaries
which require input from an egocentric, view-centered coding of environmental boundaries. Experiments will
extend preliminary data from this lab showing egocentric coding of boundaries in retrosplenial cortex. Models
show that egocentric boundary cells could be combined with head direction input to code allocentric boundary
position, which can drive coding of spatial location. Further experiments will test the influence of environmental
boundaries on spiking activity in the entorhinal cortex and retrospenial cortex, including testing the influence of
manipulations of the shape of the environment, the insertion of new boundaries and different reward locations,
recordings in darkness, and testing coexistence of egocentric coding with allocentric coding by head direction
cells. This experimental testing of the predictions from models will provide an important link for building our
understanding of the coding of space for cognitive processing.
Specific Aim #2: Recordings of neural spiking activity in retrosplenial cortex and entorhinal cortex will test the
complementary hypothesis that coding of running speed also plays a role in generation of representations of
spatial location, and how the coding of running speed varies over different time courses and may depend on
sensory input from boundaries. Experiments will include analysis of the coding of running speed at different
spatial scales in entorhinal cortex and retrosplenial cortex ranging from one second to many minutes. The time
course will also be analyzed in experiments exploring the change in running speed representations when
barrier features are obscured by darkness. This aim also includes whole cell patch recording in slices to
analyze the time course of intrinsic spiking activity relevant to the circuit dynamics for coding of speed and
location. Finally, optogenetic inactivation of specific populations of neurons in medial septum will test how
inputs regulate the coding of spatial location and speed by neurons in the medial entorhinal cortex. These
experiments will contribute to our understanding of the dynamics of cortical circuits that underlie the formati...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9999683
- **Project number:** 5R01MH120073-02
- **Recipient organization:** BOSTON UNIVERSITY (CHARLES RIVER CAMPUS)
- **Principal Investigator:** Michael E Hasselmo
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $501,399
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-08-20 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9999683

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9999683, Egocentric and Allocentric Spatial Coding in Cortex (5R01MH120073-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9999683. Licensed CC0.

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