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

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Animal Behavior
• Spatial Navigation

Background:

• Reorientation is crucial for navigation, allowing individuals to regain bearings when lost.
• Disoriented individuals often rely on environmental geometry over other cues like landmarks.
• The specific geometric strategies animals employ and the role of vision remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of vision in geometric cue utilization for spatial reorientation in mice.
• To determine if sighted and congenitally blind mice use similar or different strategies for reorientation based on environmental geometry.

Main Methods:

• Tested sighted and congenitally blind mice in environments with manipulated global shape parameters.
• Assessed navigational strategies by observing mouse behavior in relation to traversable space and boundaries.
• Compared reorientation success rates and strategy use between sighted and blind groups.

Main Results:

• Navigational affordances of the environment, specifically traversable space, promote boundary sampling essential for geometric reorientation in both sighted and blind mice.
• Blind mice effectively reoriented using 3D edges by patrolling borders, independent of traversable space limitations.
• Vision is not essential for the utilization of geometric strategies in spatial reorientation.

Conclusions:

• Environmental geometry and boundary cues are fundamental for spatial reorientation in mice, regardless of visual capability.
• Blind mice demonstrate adaptive reorientation strategies, utilizing 3D edges effectively.
• The study highlights the robustness of geometric navigation and suggests vision is not deterministic for its use.