Virtual reality used to understand how animals perceive space

UCLA researcher’s work has implications for diagnosing and treating neurological diseases. Nobody thinks much about how to navigate from the sofa to refrigerator. Memorizing sensory cues along the way, like the sight of the dining room table or a kitchen countertop, requires no conscious effort. You may not realize it, but your brain is processing data faster than any super computer, rapidly constructing a mental map based on sensory inputs as you move through your house. When healthy, we don’t appreciate this gift. However, spat…