Modeling the contributions of Basal ganglia and Hippocampus to spatial navigation using reinforcement learning.

A computational neural model that describes the competing roles of Basal Ganglia and Hippocampus in spatial navigation is presented. Model performance is evaluated on a simulated Morris water maze explored by a model rat. Cue-based and place-based navigational strategies, thought to be subserved by...

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Main Authors: Deepika Sukumar, Maithreye Rengaswamy, V Srinivasa Chakravarthy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2012-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3482225?pdf=render
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author Deepika Sukumar
Maithreye Rengaswamy
V Srinivasa Chakravarthy
author_facet Deepika Sukumar
Maithreye Rengaswamy
V Srinivasa Chakravarthy
author_sort Deepika Sukumar
collection DOAJ
description A computational neural model that describes the competing roles of Basal Ganglia and Hippocampus in spatial navigation is presented. Model performance is evaluated on a simulated Morris water maze explored by a model rat. Cue-based and place-based navigational strategies, thought to be subserved by the Basal ganglia and Hippocampus respectively, are described. In cue-based navigation, the model rat learns to directly head towards a visible target, while in place-based navigation the target position is represented in terms of spatial context provided by an array of poles placed around the pool. Learning is formulated within the framework of Reinforcement Learning, with the nigrostriatal dopamine signal playing the role of Temporal Difference Error. Navigation inherently involves two apparently contradictory movements: goal oriented movements vs. random, wandering movements. The model hypothesizes that while the goal-directedness is determined by the gradient in Value function, randomness is driven by the complex activity of the SubThalamic Nucleus (STN)-Globus Pallidus externa (GPe) system. Each navigational system is associated with a Critic, prescribing actions that maximize value gradients for the corresponding system. In the integrated system, that incorporates both cue-based and place-based forms of navigation, navigation at a given position is determined by the system whose value function is greater at that position. The proposed model describes the experimental results of [1], a lesion-study that investigates the competition between cue-based and place-based navigational systems. The present study also examines impaired navigational performance under Parkinsonian-like conditions. The integrated navigational system, operated under dopamine-deficient conditions, exhibits increased escape latency as was observed in experimental literature describing MPTP model rats navigating a water maze.
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spelling doaj.art-2cccd714515b443eaeade6d8f41cd4342022-12-22T02:00:22ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032012-01-01710e4746710.1371/journal.pone.0047467Modeling the contributions of Basal ganglia and Hippocampus to spatial navigation using reinforcement learning.Deepika SukumarMaithreye RengaswamyV Srinivasa ChakravarthyA computational neural model that describes the competing roles of Basal Ganglia and Hippocampus in spatial navigation is presented. Model performance is evaluated on a simulated Morris water maze explored by a model rat. Cue-based and place-based navigational strategies, thought to be subserved by the Basal ganglia and Hippocampus respectively, are described. In cue-based navigation, the model rat learns to directly head towards a visible target, while in place-based navigation the target position is represented in terms of spatial context provided by an array of poles placed around the pool. Learning is formulated within the framework of Reinforcement Learning, with the nigrostriatal dopamine signal playing the role of Temporal Difference Error. Navigation inherently involves two apparently contradictory movements: goal oriented movements vs. random, wandering movements. The model hypothesizes that while the goal-directedness is determined by the gradient in Value function, randomness is driven by the complex activity of the SubThalamic Nucleus (STN)-Globus Pallidus externa (GPe) system. Each navigational system is associated with a Critic, prescribing actions that maximize value gradients for the corresponding system. In the integrated system, that incorporates both cue-based and place-based forms of navigation, navigation at a given position is determined by the system whose value function is greater at that position. The proposed model describes the experimental results of [1], a lesion-study that investigates the competition between cue-based and place-based navigational systems. The present study also examines impaired navigational performance under Parkinsonian-like conditions. The integrated navigational system, operated under dopamine-deficient conditions, exhibits increased escape latency as was observed in experimental literature describing MPTP model rats navigating a water maze.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3482225?pdf=render
spellingShingle Deepika Sukumar
Maithreye Rengaswamy
V Srinivasa Chakravarthy
Modeling the contributions of Basal ganglia and Hippocampus to spatial navigation using reinforcement learning.
PLoS ONE
title Modeling the contributions of Basal ganglia and Hippocampus to spatial navigation using reinforcement learning.
title_full Modeling the contributions of Basal ganglia and Hippocampus to spatial navigation using reinforcement learning.
title_fullStr Modeling the contributions of Basal ganglia and Hippocampus to spatial navigation using reinforcement learning.
title_full_unstemmed Modeling the contributions of Basal ganglia and Hippocampus to spatial navigation using reinforcement learning.
title_short Modeling the contributions of Basal ganglia and Hippocampus to spatial navigation using reinforcement learning.
title_sort modeling the contributions of basal ganglia and hippocampus to spatial navigation using reinforcement learning
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3482225?pdf=render
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AT vsrinivasachakravarthy modelingthecontributionsofbasalgangliaandhippocampustospatialnavigationusingreinforcementlearning