Flexible spatial navigation, e.g. the ability to take novel shortcuts, is contingent upon accurate mental representations of environments-cognitive maps. These cognitive maps critically depend on hippocampal place cells. In rodents, place cells replay recently travelled routes, especially during periods of behavioural inactivity (sleep/wakeful rest). This neural replay is hypothesised to promot...

Aging affects many aspects of everyday living, such as autonomy, security and quality of life. Among all, spatial memory and spatial navigation show a gradual but noticeable decline, as a result of both neurobiological changes and the general slowing down of cognitive functioning. We conducted a systematic review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRIS...

Insect navigation is thought to be based on an egocentric reference system which relates vector information derived from path integration to views of landmarks experienced en route and at the goal. Here we show that honeybees also possess an allocentric form of spatial memory which allows localization of multiple places relative to the intended goal, the hive. The egocentric route memory, which...

introduction: exposure to 3, 4- methylenedioxymethamphetamine (mdma) could lead to serotonergic system toxicity in the brain. this system is responsible for learning and memory functions. studies show that mdma causes memory impairment dose-dependently and acutely. the present study was designed to evaluate the chronic and acute effects of mdmd on spatial memory and acquisition of passive avoid...

For memory to be efficient and useful during recall, problem-solving, and planning, retrieval must be compressed in time. Evidence from rodents suggests that neural compression during replay of spatial memories varies widely, with a range of compression ratios reported from 6:1 to 64:1. Anecdotal evidence suggests that similar compression occurs during mental navigation in humans: we recall how...

Two experiments examined how spatial learning perspectives support navigation through virtual urban environments. Participants briefly learned the overall layout of a virtual desktop environment, and then were taken on a simulated journey ending at a starting location within the environment. In Experiment 1, during the journey participants watched simulated video feeds either from the front of ...

Learning by repetition engages distinct cognitive strategies whose contributions are adjusted with experience. Early in learning, performance relies upon flexible, attentive strategies. With extended practice, inflexible, automatic strategies emerge. This transition is thought fundamental to habit formation and applies to human and animal cognition. In the context of spatial navigation, place s...

Cholinergic and GABAergic innervation of the hippocampus plays an important role in human memory function and rat spatial navigation. Drugs which block acetylcholine receptors or enhance GABA receptor activation cause striking impairments in the encoding of new information. Lesions of the cholinergic innervation of the hippocampus reduce the amplitude of hippocampal theta rhythm and cause impai...

Cholinergic and GABAergic innervation of the hippocampus plays an important role in human memory function and rat spatial navigation. Drugs which block acetylcholine receptors or enhance GABA receptor activation cause striking impairments in the encoding of new information. Lesions of the cholinergic innervation of the hippocampus reduce the amplitude of hippocampal theta rhythm and cause impai...

In everyday life, navigators often consult a map before they navigate to a destination (e.g., a hotel, a room, etc.). However, not much is known about how humans gain spatial knowledge from seeing a map and direct navigation together. In the present experiments, participants learned a simple multiple corridor space either from a map only, only from walking through the virtual environment, first...