The human hippocampal-entorhinal system is known to represent both spatial locations and abstract concepts in memory in the form of allocentric cognitive maps. Using fMRI, we show that the human parietal cortex evokes complementary egocentric representations in conceptual spaces during goal-directed mental search, akin to those observable during physical navigation to determine where a goal is located relative to oneself (e.g., to our left or to our right). Concurrently, the strength of the grid-like signal, a neural signature of allocentric cognitive maps in entorhinal, prefrontal, and parietal cortices, is modulated as a function of goal proximity in conceptual space. These brain mechanisms might support flexible and parallel readout of where target conceptual information is stored in memory, capitalizing on complementary reference frames.

Mental search of concepts is supported by egocentric vector representations and restructured grid maps / Viganò, Simone; Bayramova, Rena; Doeller, Christian F; Bottini, Roberto. - In: NATURE COMMUNICATIONS. - ISSN 2041-1723. - ELETTRONICO. - 14:1(2023), p. 8132. [10.1038/s41467-023-43831-w]

Mental search of concepts is supported by egocentric vector representations and restructured grid maps

Viganò, Simone;Bottini, Roberto
2023-01-01

Abstract

The human hippocampal-entorhinal system is known to represent both spatial locations and abstract concepts in memory in the form of allocentric cognitive maps. Using fMRI, we show that the human parietal cortex evokes complementary egocentric representations in conceptual spaces during goal-directed mental search, akin to those observable during physical navigation to determine where a goal is located relative to oneself (e.g., to our left or to our right). Concurrently, the strength of the grid-like signal, a neural signature of allocentric cognitive maps in entorhinal, prefrontal, and parietal cortices, is modulated as a function of goal proximity in conceptual space. These brain mechanisms might support flexible and parallel readout of where target conceptual information is stored in memory, capitalizing on complementary reference frames.
2023
1
Settore M-PSI/01 - Psicologia Generale
Viganò, Simone; Bayramova, Rena; Doeller, Christian F; Bottini, Roberto
Mental search of concepts is supported by egocentric vector representations and restructured grid maps / Viganò, Simone; Bayramova, Rena; Doeller, Christian F; Bottini, Roberto. - In: NATURE COMMUNICATIONS. - ISSN 2041-1723. - ELETTRONICO. - 14:1(2023), p. 8132. [10.1038/s41467-023-43831-w]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11572/400551
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