Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Role of Hippocampus in Memory

Role of Hippocampus in Memory

The hippocampus, a critical brain structure, plays an essential role in memory processing, particularly in the formation and retrieval of memory. This small, seahorse-shaped region is located within the medial temporal lobe, with one hippocampus in each brain hemisphere. Experimental studies involving lesions in the hippocampi of rats have demonstrated significant impairments in tasks such as object recognition and maze navigation, indicating the hippocampus involvement in both recognition and...

Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System

Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System

The limbic system, often called the "emotional brain," is a complex set of structures located deep within the brain. The intricate network of the limbic system supports a wide range of psychological functions, from emotional regulation to memory formation and sensory processing. This functional brain region encompasses specific parts of the diencephalon and the cerebrum, integrating the higher mental functions of the cerebral cortex with the primitive emotional responses of the deep brain...

Association Areas of the Cortex

Association Areas of the Cortex

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,...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Aphantasia is associated with spatial memory and navigation difficulties in complex virtual environments.

Neuropsychologia·2026

Same author

Separable cognitive and motor decline tracked across adult life-span for goal-directed navigation.

iScience·2025

Same author

Brain Dynamics during Architectural Experience: Prefrontal and Hippocampal Regions Track Aesthetics and Spatial Complexity.

Journal of cognitive neuroscience·2025

Same author

Education Is Positively and Causally Linked With Spatial Navigation Ability Across the Lifespan.

Open mind : discoveries in cognitive science·2025

Same author

Predicting real-world navigation performance from a virtual navigation task in older adults.

PloS one·2025

Same author

Expert navigators deploy rational complexity-based decision precaching for large-scale real-world planning.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 30, 2025

Author Spotlight: Investigating the Effects of Mind-Body-Movement Practices on Brain Function

Author Spotlight: Investigating the Effects of Mind-Body-Movement Practices on Brain Function

Published on: January 26, 2024

The Hippocampal Cognitive Map: One Space or Many?

Hugo J Spiers¹

¹Institute of Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Experimental Psychology, Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, 26 Bedford Way, London WC1H 0AP, UK.

Trends in Cognitive Sciences

|January 25, 2020

Summary

New research suggests hippocampal activity reflects semantic distances, supporting a general cognitive map. However, it questions if this map is universal or if different inputs create distinct hippocampal maps.

More Related Videos

Horizontal Hippocampal Slices of the Mouse Brain

Horizontal Hippocampal Slices of the Mouse Brain

Published on: September 22, 2020

A Video Demonstration of Preserved Piloting by Scent Tracking but Impaired Dead Reckoning After Fimbria-Fornix Lesions in the Rat

A Video Demonstration of Preserved Piloting by Scent Tracking but Impaired Dead Reckoning After Fimbria-Fornix Lesions in the Rat

Published on: April 24, 2009

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 30, 2025

Author Spotlight: Investigating the Effects of Mind-Body-Movement Practices on Brain Function

Author Spotlight: Investigating the Effects of Mind-Body-Movement Practices on Brain Function

Published on: January 26, 2024

Horizontal Hippocampal Slices of the Mouse Brain

Horizontal Hippocampal Slices of the Mouse Brain

Published on: September 22, 2020

A Video Demonstration of Preserved Piloting by Scent Tracking but Impaired Dead Reckoning After Fimbria-Fornix Lesions in the Rat

A Video Demonstration of Preserved Piloting by Scent Tracking but Impaired Dead Reckoning After Fimbria-Fornix Lesions in the Rat

Published on: April 24, 2009

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cognitive Psychology

Background:

Recent evidence indicates hippocampal activity tracks semantic distance during recall.
This supports the concept of a domain-general cognitive map in the brain.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate whether the hippocampus processes all input information into a single, universal cognitive map.
To explore if input constraints, such as spatial or semantic information, lead to differentiated maps within the hippocampus.

Main Methods:

Analysis of hippocampal activity patterns during memory recall tasks.
Comparison of neural representations for different types of input (e.g., spatial vs. semantic).

Main Results:

Hippocampal activity patterns were observed to correlate with semantic distances.
Evidence suggests potential for distinct hippocampal maps based on input type.

Conclusions:

The findings contribute to the debate on the nature of the hippocampal cognitive map.
Further research is needed to determine the extent of map differentiation based on input modalities.