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Updated: May 15, 2025

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Task demands influence search strategy selection in otoconia-deficient mice.

Ryan M Yoder1, Lucas C Carstensen1, Keshav Jagannathan2

  • 1Department of Psychology, Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN, United States.

Frontiers in Neurology
|May 13, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Otolith organ signals are crucial for mice navigating using visual cues. However, otolith dysfunction showed subtle deficits only on a small Barnes maze, not a large one, suggesting context-dependent roles in spatial navigation.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Sensory Systems
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • The vestibular system, particularly otolith organs, is vital for spatial orientation and navigation.
  • Previous research indicated otolith signals are necessary for using distal visual cues in navigation.
  • Unexpectedly, some spatial tasks showed no significant impairment in otolith-deficient mice, raising questions about otoliths' role.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To further investigate the contribution of otolith signals to visual navigation using the Barnes maze.
  • To assess reference memory performance and search strategies in otolith-deficient mice.

Main Methods:

  • Two versions of the Barnes maze (small and large) were used to test spatial learning and memory.
  • Otoconia-deficient (tilted) mice and control mice were compared on search strategies and probe trial performance.
Keywords:
Barnes mazeotolith organsreference memoryself-movementspatial

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  • Reference memory was assessed by observing search patterns and goal-location preference.

    • Main Results:

    • On a small Barnes maze, otoconia-deficient mice failed to adopt an efficient spatial search strategy, unlike controls.
    • Despite strategy differences, both groups successfully located the goal on probe trials in both maze sizes.
    • Navigational deficits were more apparent in otolith-deficient mice on the small maze compared to the large maze.

    Conclusions:

    • Otolith signals contribute to efficient spatial search strategies, particularly in smaller environments.
    • While otoliths influence navigation, their absence does not preclude using distal cues for goal localization.
    • Environmental factors, like maze size and cue salience, may modulate the apparent necessity of otolith signals for navigation.