Novel motion simulator reveals key role of air flow in rodent navigation (IMAGE)
Caption
With the assistance of a novel motion simulator, researchers at Bar-Ilan University in Israel have discovered that rats rely on airflow to navigate their surroundings. When they move, the flow of air relative to their bodies provides crucial information, complementary to their sense of balance, to perceive their own motion in space. This might explain their agility in the dark as they scurry through pipes and tunnels, turn corners, and effortlessly travel from one location to another, all while knowing exactly where they’re headed.
Figure: The rat motion system - built with two industrial robotic arms - to generate various stimuli of self-motion
Credit
Prof. Adam Zaidel, Bar-Ilan University
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