Evaluating the role of frontal cortical structures in self-movement cue processing during spontaneous exploration

Includes bibliographical references.Animals use environmental (visual, auditory, olfactory) and self-movement (vestibular, proprioception, optic flow) cues to maintain spatial orientation (Gallistel, 1990). Disruptions in spatial orientation are frequently associated with acute (stroke) and chronic (Dementia of the Alzheimer’s Type) neurological disorders; however, the nature of the processing deficit continues to be debated. Previous work has demonstrated that rats use self-movement cues to organize their exploratory behavior (Wallace, et al., 2006). Recent work has suggested a role for the human prefrontal cortex structures in self-movement cue processing related to dead reckoning or path integration (Wolbers, et al., 2007) The current study uses the organization of rat exploratory behavior under dark conditions to investigate the role of specific areas within the frontal cortex in self-movement cue processing.B.S. (Bachelor of Science