A BIOLOGICALLY INSPIRED MODEL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF HEAD-DIRECTION CELLS IN THE RAT BRAIN USING VISUAL INPUT

Authors

  • YiShen Liao (Corresponding Author) Modern Industry School of Virtual Reality, Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, Nanchang 330013, Jiangxi, China.
  • HuaYang Li Modern Industry School of Virtual Reality, Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, Nanchang 330013, Jiangxi, China.
  • Yun Zhang Modern Industry School of Virtual Reality, Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, Nanchang 330013, Jiangxi, China.
  • AiHua Zhao Modern Industry School of Virtual Reality, Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, Nanchang 330013, Jiangxi, China.
  • HaoDong Qin Modern Industry School of Virtual Reality, Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, Nanchang 330013, Jiangxi, China.
  • Lang Chen Modern Industry School of Virtual Reality, Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, Nanchang 330013, Jiangxi, China.
  • QingShan Chen Modern Industry School of Virtual Reality, Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, Nanchang 330013, Jiangxi, China.

Keywords:

Head-direction cells, Visual input, Entorhinal cortex, Developmental process, Bio-inspired navigation

Abstract

Head direction cells (HDCs), located in the entorhinal cortex and postsubiculum of the rat brain, exhibit specific firing patterns corresponding to head direction, primarily driven by visual input. This study proposes a biologically inspired computational model for HDCs development using visual information as the primary input. The model employs a one-dimensional annular cell structure, where neural activity is driven by optical flow calculated via the Lucas-Kanade algorithm and corrected through visual template matching and the PI controller. This closed-loop mechanism simulates the maturation process of HDCs, enabling the neural activity package to accurately track the real head-direction angle. Experimental results show that the model not only demonstrate the developmental process of HDCs, but also achieves precise head-direction estimation with significantly reduced cumulative errors compared to traditional gyroscope-based methods, offering a low-hardware-requirement solution. The model not only replicates the development of HDCs but also lays a foundation for bio-inspired navigation systems, with potential applications in robotics and cognitive modeling.

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Published

2026-07-03

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 1 (2026)

Section

Research Article

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61784/msme3022

How to Cite

YiShen Liao, HuaYang Li, Yun Zhang, AiHua Zhao, HaoDong Qin, Lang Chen, QingShan Chen. A Biologically Inspired Model For The Development Of Head-Direction Cells In The Rat Brain Using Visual Input. Journal of Manufacturing Science and Mechanical Engineering. 2026, 4(1): 1-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.61784/msme3022.