Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Virtual Reality Experiments with Physiological Measures
07:09

Virtual Reality Experiments with Physiological Measures

Published on: August 29, 2018

Human theta oscillations exhibit task dependence during virtual maze navigation.

M J Kahana1, R Sekuler, J B Caplan

  • 1Volen Center for Complex Systems, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts 02454, USA. kahana@brandeis.edu

Nature
|July 3, 1999
PubMed
Summary

Researchers explored theta oscillations, a type of brainwave activity, in human spatial navigation for the first time. These theta oscillations were observed during maze navigation tasks, suggesting their role in how humans navigate complex environments.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Association of blood pressure with neurologic outcome at hospital discharge after pediatric cardiac arrest resuscitation.

Resuscitation·2023
Same author

Multitrial free recall for evaluating memory.

Neuropsychology·2023
Same author

EEG biomarkers of free recall.

NeuroImage·2021
Same author

Medial temporal lobe functional connectivity predicts stimulation-induced theta power.

Nature communications·2018
Same author

Widespread theta synchrony and high-frequency desynchronization underlies enhanced cognition.

Nature communications·2017
Same author

Human seizures couple across spatial scales through travelling wave dynamics.

Nature communications·2017

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Human Navigation

Background:

  • Theta oscillations (4-8 Hz electroencephalographic activity) are known to be involved in spatial navigation in rodents.
  • The role of theta oscillations in human spatial navigation remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and characteristics of theta oscillations during human spatial navigation.
  • To determine if theta oscillations are associated with task complexity and trial type in human navigation.

Main Methods:

  • Subdural electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings were obtained from epileptic patients.
  • Patients learned to navigate computer-generated mazes.
  • Spectral analysis was used to identify and quantify theta band oscillations.

More Related Videos

Assessing Human Spatial Navigation in a Virtual Space and its Sensitivity to Exercise
06:17

Assessing Human Spatial Navigation in a Virtual Space and its Sensitivity to Exercise

Published on: January 26, 2024

Behavioral Training Procedures for Head-fixed Virtual Reality in Mice
06:27

Behavioral Training Procedures for Head-fixed Virtual Reality in Mice

Published on: September 6, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Virtual Reality Experiments with Physiological Measures
07:09

Virtual Reality Experiments with Physiological Measures

Published on: August 29, 2018

Assessing Human Spatial Navigation in a Virtual Space and its Sensitivity to Exercise
06:17

Assessing Human Spatial Navigation in a Virtual Space and its Sensitivity to Exercise

Published on: January 26, 2024

Behavioral Training Procedures for Head-fixed Virtual Reality in Mice
06:27

Behavioral Training Procedures for Head-fixed Virtual Reality in Mice

Published on: September 6, 2024

Main Results:

  • High-amplitude theta oscillations were observed in cortical areas, including the temporal cortex, during maze navigation.
  • The frequency of theta oscillations increased in more complex mazes.
  • Theta activity was more prevalent during recall trials compared to learning trials.

Conclusions:

  • Theta oscillations are present and play a role in human spatial navigation.
  • The characteristics of theta oscillations are modulated by task demands, such as maze complexity and memory recall.