Months-long stability of the head-direction system

Abstract

Spatial orientation is a universal ability that allows animals to navigate their environment. In mammals, the head-direction (HD) system is an essential component of the brains navigation system, yet the stability of its underlying neuronal code remains unclear. Here, by longitudinally tracking the activity of the same HD cells in freely moving mice, we show that the internal organization of population activity in the HD system was preserved for several months. Furthermore, the HD system developed a unique mapping between its internal organization and spatial orientation in each environment. This was not affected by visits to other environments and was stabilized with experience. These findings demonstrate that stable neuronal code supports the sense of direction and forms long-lasting orientation memories.