Active sensing: How the rat moves its whiskers

Key Points

• Rats adjust their whisker movements in response to environmental stimuli, demonstrating advanced active sensing.
• In experiments, whisker movements increased mechanosensation by 40% when navigating complex terrains.
• Analysis of whisker motion and neural responses showed a tight coordination between movements and sensory feedback.
• Understanding these mechanisms could lead to advancements in robotics and sensory technologies.