Ring Attractor Dynamics in Drosophila Brain

This lecture presents a study on ring attractor networks in the Drosophila brain, focusing on how neurons maintain heading direction during navigation. The authors introduce the concept of attractor networks and discuss the unique and persistent properties of the network representing heading direction. Techniques such as two-photon imaging and optogenetic stimulation are used to study the neuronal population involved. The findings reveal the mechanisms behind the uniqueness of the bump and how mutual suppression plays a role. The lecture concludes with a comparison of different neural network models and their ability to explain the observed behaviors.