Modelling spatial memory

Abstract

Among the different capabilities of animals, the formation of spatial memories is crucial for their life. Living beings able to move, constantly need to orient themselves in the environment to reach a target that might be not always visible. This chapter investigates the process of spatial memory formation as an essential ingredient for orientation in open and unstructured environments. Neural centres devoted to spatial memory and path integration were deeply investigated both in rats and different insect species like ants, bees and fruit flies. In this chapter a neural-inspired model for the formation of a spatial working memory is discussed considering some key elements of the insect neural centres involved, in particular the ellipsoid body of the central complex.