That was my breaking point too.

Thanks for the post. You knew that it was out before we did!

I downloaded an electronic version this summer and started to read it...many, many good chapters. I can highly recommend!

This work builds on an extensive line of previous fMRI studies on heading codes (by @wolberslab.bsky.social, @doellerlab.bsky.social, @matthiasnau.bsky.social, @hugospiers.bsky.social, Baumann & Mattingley, Kim & Maguire + others). It was a LONG time in the making so we are thrilled to see it out!!!

When we looked at the model weights, we found that voxelwise peaks were distributed across all directions (like a compass), but the voxelwise troughs tended to be aligned with the main axis of the space. The latter result was unexpected and we think it’s pretty cool!

These heading codes generalized across perceptually different versions of the city, different locations in the city, and different phases of the taxi-cab task—thus fulfilling the expected characteristics of a “neural compass”.

We found heading-related response in retrosplenial complex (RSC) and superior parietal lobe (SPL). This is nicely consistent with previous studies that observed heading codes in these regions using trial-based designs.

How do we keep track of our sense of direction during navigation? Head direction cells in rodents are well-studied, but what about humans? To answer this question, we used an encoding model to analyze fMRI responses while participants performed a “taxi-cab” task in a VR city.

"Things the reviewers care more about than we do" + "Things we care about, but we're pretty sure you don't"

Super cool! Sending you best wishes for a safe trip and many moments of brilliant insight.