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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Modeling the Functional Network for Spatial Navigation in the Human Brain

Modeling the Functional Network for Spatial Navigation in the Human Brain

Published on: October 13, 2023

A navigational guidance system in the human brain.

Hugo J Spiers¹, Eleanor A Maguire

¹Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom. h.spiers@fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk

|May 12, 2007

Summary

The human brain uses specific regions to guide navigation toward goals. Medial prefrontal cortex tracks goal proximity, while posterior parietal cortex processes direction, revealing a neural guidance system.

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

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Published on: January 26, 2024

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Last Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Modeling the Functional Network for Spatial Navigation in the Human Brain

Modeling the Functional Network for Spatial Navigation in the Human Brain

Published on: October 13, 2023

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

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

Published on: January 26, 2024

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cognitive Science
Spatial Navigation

Background:

Understanding the neural basis of human navigation is crucial for explaining goal-directed behavior.
While current position is well-studied, how the brain guides navigation to a destination remains unclear.
Computational models propose specific brain regions for goal-directed navigation, but empirical validation is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the neural mechanisms underlying goal-directed navigation in humans.
To identify brain regions involved in coding goal proximity and direction.
To provide empirical evidence for computational theories of navigational guidance.

Main Methods:

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to scan participants navigating in a realistic virtual city.
Individual subject coordinates were tracked second-by-second to derive metric measures of proximity and direction to goals.
Brain activity was correlated with these navigational parameters.

Main Results:

Medial prefrontal cortex activity positively correlated with proximity to the goal.
Right subicular/entorhinal cortex activity negatively correlated with goal proximity.
Bilateral posterior parietal cortex activity correlated with the egocentric direction to the goal.

Conclusions:

The study provides empirical evidence for a neural system guiding human navigation.
Specific brain regions contribute distinctly to coding goal proximity (medial prefrontal cortex, subicular/entorhinal cortex) and direction (posterior parietal cortex).
Findings enhance understanding of how the brain integrates information for goal-directed behaviors.