A rat’s guide to virtual reality
A highly detailed 3D rendering of a double helix human DNA in blue color, with small carbon elements and light effects on a dark gray-blue background. The image shows an angle of view of different
Testing rats in a virtual reality (VR) maze uncovers a specific neural mechanism behind navigation, offering an insight into the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases.
In a recent study, senior author Mayank Mehta and his team from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA; CA, USA) monitored dorsal CA1 neuronal activity in the hippocampus of rats while the animals navigated a maze in VR. By developing our understanding of the underlying neural circuitry, this study paves the way for treating hippocampus dysfunction–related neurological disorders including Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, and epilepsy.
