Visual capture of the head-direction signal in a rat model of Fragile X Syndrome

In Fmr1-/y rats, postsubiculum head-direction neurons closely follow landmark rotations and fail experience-dependent recalibration, unlike wild-type rats.

• Why it matters: Altered sensory processing and multisensory integration in Fragile X Syndrome are linked to ASD/ID, but the circuit basis for how vision and self-motion are weighted is unclear.
• What they did: Adult Fmr1-/y and wild-type rats were recorded with high-density silicon probes in PoSub while undergoing repeated rotations of a visual landmark.
• The result: Wild-type head-direction signals only partially tracked landmark rotations and showed weakening visual control across cue conflicts, whereas Fmr1-/y rats showed enhanced visual capture and reduced angular head velocity tuning.

AI summary of the abstract · may contain errors · not medical advice · read the paper.