Hippocampal spatial view cells for memory and navigation, and their underlying connectivity in humans

Abstract

Hippocampal and parahippocampal gyrus spatial view neurons in primates respond to the spatial location being looked at. The representation is allocentric, in that the responses are to locations "out there" in the world, and are relatively invariant with respect to retinal position, eye position, head direction, and the place where the individual is located. The underlying connectivity in humans is from ventromedial

The human posterior cingulate, retrosplenial, and medial parietal cortex effective connectome, and implications for memory and navigation

“…Consistent with the above evidence that Group 2 is involved in navigation, area 31 which receives from POS1 and POS2 is implicated by neuroimaging in representing heading direction (Baumann & Mattingley, 2021 ). Consistent with the concept that navigation and executive function are performed to achieve goals, this part of the posterior cingulate and medial parietal cortex (31a, 23d, and PCV) receives from the reward‐related medial orbitofrontal cortex and pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (Figure 2 ; Grabenhorst & Rolls, 2011 ; Rolls, 2022a , 2022b ; Rolls et al, 2020 , 2022e ).…”

“…Further, POS1 and POS2 also have effective connectivity to the medial parahippocampal gyrus PHA1‐3 regions (corresponding to TH) where scenes are represented (Epstein, 2005 , 2008 ; Epstein & Baker, 2019 ; Epstein & Julian, 2013 ; Epstein & Kanwisher, 1998 ; Kamps et al, 2016 ; Natu et al, 2021 ; Rolls, 2022b ; Sulpizio et al, 2020 ), and with the hippocampal system (Figure 2 ). POS1 and POS2 may thus be involved in scene representations reaching the hippocampal system, and are likely to contribute to the activation of hippocampal spatial view cells, and thereby be involved in providing information important in episodic memory and navigation (Rolls, 2022b ; Rolls & Wirth, 2018 ). POS1 and POS2 are also likely to be involved in memory and navigation by providing inputs to other members of the Group 2 regions as follows.…”

“…Buckner & DiNicola, 2019 ; Dastjerdi et al, 2011 ; Foster et al, 2012 , 2013 ; Fox et al, 2018 ). Spatial roles for this part of the PCC are emphasized too by the connectivity with superior parietal areas 7Am and 7Pm, parts of dorsal stream processing which are implicated in visuo‐motor spatial functions (Orban et al, 2021 ; Rolls et al, 2022a , 2022d ; Snyder et al, 1998 ) and coordinate transforms from egocentric eye‐based frames to allocentric world‐based frames suitable for idiothetic update of hippocampal spatial representations (Rolls, 2020 , 2021b , 2022b ; Snyder et al, 1998 ). Consistent with this, a cingulate sulcus visual area has been described that responds selectively to visual and vestibular cues to self‐motion (Smith et al, 2018 ), and this may be according to Figure S1 in or near 23d.…”

“…The Group 3 regions thus appear to be involved in relatively low‐level visual processing, with connectivity with the superior parietal cortex area 7 which suggests that the Group 3 regions are involved in visuo‐motor control appropriate for motor actions in visual space (Andersen, 1995 ; Huang & Sereno, 2018 ; Orban et al, 2021 ; Rolls et al, 2022a , 2022d ; Urgen & Orban, 2021 ), and perhaps in the necessary spatial coordinate transforms (Rolls, 2020 ; Salinas & Sejnowski, 2001 ). Indeed, spatial coordinate transforms are also necessary for idiothetic update of spatial representations useful for hippocampal function including navigation when the spatial view is obscured (Dean & Platt, 2006 ; Rolls, 2020 , 2021b , 2022b ; Snyder et al, 1998 ; Vedder et al, 2017 ).…”

Lower gestational age is associated with lower cortical volume and cognitive and educational performance in adolescence

“…The postcentral gyrus and connected insula and inferior and medial parietal cortex regions are involved in somatosensory processing and representing actions in space [69][70][71]. The hippocampal regions are involved in memory [72][73][74]. The orbitofrontal and anterior cingulate cortex are involved in emotion [75,76].…”