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The hippocampus of rats
Prof Kate Jeffery has done some very interesting work on how the hippocampus of rats processes navigational information. Scientists are clear that the hippocampus is critical for navigation but believe that it is only one part of a larger system that has many functions including recognising landmarks, computing distances and directions etc. and forming memories….
Magnetoreception – the ability to sense the Earth’s magnetic field
David Keays is one of the mega stars of animal navigation research and has spent a life time trying to work out how magnetism might work. Here is a summary of his latest work: Magnetoreception is the ability to sense the Earth’s magnetic field, which is used for orientation and navigation. Behavioural experiments have shown…
Magnetoreception and the ruling hypothesis
This paper is fascinating. This site has always been sceptical about Magnetoreception – the magnetic navigation story for the same reasons that are discussed here. No-one has found the magnetic receptors. the cryptochrome story requires conditions in the eye that are not conducive to quantum effects and knowing where North is does not help without…
Mathematical analysis of the homing flights of pigeons based on GPS tracks
Ingo Schiffner At the RIN 11 Animal Navigation Conference Ingo Schiffner, presented a paper: Mathematical Analysis of Pigeon Tracks, characterisation of the underlying Navigational Process and now he has produced another paper covering Mathematical analysis of the homing fights of pigeons based on GPS tracks. For me, this work begins to create an underlying mathematical basis…
An interview with an older Sami Olle
>>>>intro>>> I think that the indigenous peoples have a lot to teach us about navigation as it is probable that they have not lost the art of navigation without modern aids and perhaps they can describe how they find their way. Please find an interview with Olle Utsi a wise Sami http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sami_people The Sami / Lapps…
Quantum effects in evolution: terrestrial fine-tuning of magnetic parameters
Editor’s remark Here is an interesting paper suggesting that animals can detect the magnetic field and use it. I am still very sceptical and think that these ideas are Classic Age of Enlightenment attempts to find quantifiable truth where in fact there may be none. Have a read and let me know your thoughts…