For the first time: flying foxes use neural compass to navigate the ocean!

For the first time: flying foxes use neural compass to navigate the ocean!

An international team of scientists recently made important progress in understanding the navigation mechanisms of Egyptian flying foxes (Rousettus aegyptiacus). The research was conducted on Latham Island in the Indian Ocean, about 40 kilometers east of Tanzania, where the team first observed the activity of compass neurons in the wild. The study, which was published in the renowned JournalScience published could have far-reaching implications for understanding three-dimensional spatial perception in the mammalian brain.

The study leaders, including Prof. Dr. Henrik Mouritsen from the University of Oldenburg and Dr. Nachum Ulanovsky of the Weizmann Institute of Sciences in Rehovot, Israel, used tiny data loggers to record the flying foxes' brain activity during flight. GPS signals and neural data were collected while six Egyptian flying foxes flew over the island for 30 to 50 minutes at night. These measurements led to an unprecedented recording of the activity of over 400 neurons in relevant brain regions.

Function of head direction cells

The results of the study demonstrate the activity of special nerve cells that become active when the bat's head points in a certain direction. This gives researchers valuable insights into the basic navigation mechanism of flying foxes, which functions globally and is independent of local conditions. Previous experiments in Israel had already made it clear that the earth's magnetic field probably plays no role in the navigation of these animals.

The findings provide the first evidence for the function of head direction cells in the wild and show that flying foxes need several nights to learn landmarks and orient themselves. This learning ability means that the animals' neural compass works reliably after about three nights. In particular, vision plays a crucial role in the orientation of flying foxes.

Scientific context and further research

The works of Dr. Nachum Ulanovsky and his team go beyond specific observations. The research goals also include a better understanding of three-dimensional spatial perception in the mammalian brain. By using miniature devices to measure neural activity during flying foxes' flight, researchers hope to gain new perspectives on navigation, spatial memory and spatial perception.

To date, experiments on mammalian orientation have mainly taken place in two-dimensional environments. The challenges of navigating the three-dimensional real world have often been ignored until now. The annual research expeditions, which began in 2023, and a planned second expedition in 2024 are intended to help better understand human navigation mechanisms.

The project is supported by various foundations and the European Research Council, including scientists such as Dr. Liora Las and Dr. Abdalla Ali (State University of Zanzibar) contributed to the findings. In the future, work on the head direction cells of flying foxes could have far-reaching implications for understanding navigation mechanisms in the human brain, such as Weizmann Institute reported.