Spatial cognitive maps in animals: New hypotheses on their structure and neural mechanisms.

Abstract

This article provides a hierarchical model of animal spatial cognitive maps. Such maps include both topological information, which affords loose, yet operational, representations of the connectivity of space and its overall arrangement, and metric information, which provides information about angles and distances. The model holds that maps can be initially described as a set of location-dependent reference frameworks providing directional information about other locations. The addition of an overall directional reference allows for the buildup of more complete (allocentric) representations. A survey of recent neurobiological data provides some hints about the brain structures involved in these processes and suggests that the hippocampal formation and the posterior parietal cortex would act differently by handling topological and metric information, respectively.

Human place learning in a virtual Morris water task: some important constraints on the flexibility of place navigation

“…The range of possible explanations, however, need not be limited to this type of associative account. For example, the present data can be explained by Poucet's theory of spatial map formation in which animals must navigate through and experience multiple views of an environment in order to gradually construct a cognitive map [25], thus, our findings and those of Sutherland et al may reflect the imperfect formation of a cognitive map as a result of the restrictions imposed during training. Future studies employing computerized and real-world spatial tasks will be needed to further clarify the types of representations and learning principles involved in human place learning.…”

“…Cognitive mapping theory was originally described by Tolman [37] and more recent formulations have been extremely influential in guiding research on spatial learning and navigation [23,25]. According to O'Keefe and Nadel [23] a spatial mapping system localized in the hippocampus constructs and routinely updates a unitary topographical representation of the environment (a cognitive map) in which the available cues are represented.…”

Brain and cognitive evolution: Forms of modularity and functions of mind.

“…Anthropological research indicates that it takes many years of engaging in these forms of play and early work to learn the skills and knowledge (e.g., how to shoot a bow and arrow) needed for successful hunting and foraging (Hill & Hurtado, 1996;Kaplan, Hill, Lancaster, & Hurtado, 2000). As another example, the development of maplike representations of the large-scale environment occurs more or less automatically as organisms explore this environment (Gallistel, 1990;Poucet, 1993).…”

Processing of above/below categorical spatial relations by baboons (Papio papio)

“…Gallistel, 1990;Poucet, 1993;Thinus-Blanc, 1996, for reviews). However, very few studies, are available on the mastery by animals of categorical spatial relations, such as the 'above/below' or 'inside/outside' relations, in a purely perceptual discrimination task.…”