Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 28, 2026
06:17
Author Spotlight: Investigating the Effects of Mind-Body-Movement Practices on Brain Function
Published on: January 26, 2024
2.7K
Human Navigation: Occipital Place Area Detects Potential Paths in a Scene
1Institute of Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Experimental Psychology, Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, 26 Bedford Way, London, WC1H 0AP, UK.
Current Biology : CB
|June 21, 2017
Summary
Navigation is crucial for animal survival. A new neuroimaging study shows the human occipital place area identifies the number of potential paths within a visual scene.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- Navigation is essential for survival in motile animals.
- Understanding the neural basis of navigation is a key research area.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of specific brain regions in human navigation.
- To determine how the brain processes information about potential routes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized neuroimaging techniques to study brain activity.
- Presented participants with visual scenes (vistas).
Main Results:
- The occipital place area was identified as a key region.
- This area showed activity correlating with the number of detectable paths in a vista.
Conclusions:
- The occipital place area plays a role in path detection during navigation.
- This finding sheds light on the neural mechanisms underlying spatial orientation.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Vision
60.8K
Vision is the result of light being detected and transduced into neural signals by the retina of the eye. This information is then further analyzed and interpreted by the brain. First, light enters the front of the eye and is focused by the cornea and lens onto the retina—a thin sheet of neural tissue lining the back of the eye. Because of refraction through the convex lens of the eye, images are projected onto the retina upside-down and reversed.
60.8K
01:14Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex
8.3K
The cerebral cortex, the brain's outermost layer, is pivotal in processing complex cognitive tasks, emotions, and various sensory inputs and executing voluntary motor activities. This intricate structure is divided into three primary functional areas: the motor areas, sensory areas, and association areas.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex....
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex....
8.3K
01:21Association Areas of the Cortex
10.0K
Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
10.0K
01:26Visual System
2.1K
Light enters the eye through the cornea, a transparent, dome-shaped surface covering the surface of the eyeball that helps to direct and focus incoming light. This light is then channeled toward the pupil, an adjustable opening whose size is controlled by the iris. The iris, a pigmented muscle, regulates the amount of light entering the eye by contracting or dilating the pupil, thereby ensuring optimal light levels for clear vision.
Once through the pupil, the light passes through the lens, a...
Once through the pupil, the light passes through the lens, a...
2.1K
01:15Depth Perception and Spatial Vision
2.3K
Depth perception is the ability to perceive objects three-dimensionally. It relies on two types of cues: binocular and monocular. Binocular cues depend on the combination of images from both eyes and how the eyes work together. Since the eyes are in slightly different positions, each eye captures a slightly different image. This disparity between images, known as binocular disparity, helps the brain interpret depth. When the brain compares these images, it determines the distance to an object.
2.3K
01:20Anatomy of the Eyeball
10.3K
The eye is a spherical, hollow structure composed of three tissue layers. The outer layer — the fibrous tunic, comprises the sclera — a white structure — and the cornea, which is transparent. The sclera encompasses some of the ocular surface, most of which is not visible. However, the 'white of the eye' is distinctively visible in humans compared to other species. The cornea, a clear covering at the front of the eye, enables light penetration. The eye's middle...
10.3K