Developmental perspectives on spatial navigation: sensory development, experience, and neuronal heterogeneity

Spatial cognition in mammals relies on various spatially tuned cell types in the hippocampus and associated brain regions. Recent studies have increasingly explored the developmental timelines of these cells, their characteristics during early life, and the developmental origins of their functional heterogeneity in adulthood. In this review we discuss these findings and propose that the emergence and properties of spatially tuned cells across various developmental stages are shaped by the sequential maturation of multiple sensory and motor systems, as well as by the maturation of local inhibitory circuits. In addition, sensory and navigation experiences crucially influence the development of spatial navigation and episodic memory circuits. Finally, we highlight the diversity of cell types during development, and discuss how this diversity contributes to the functional heterogeneity of spatially tuned cells in adulthood.