Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2025
06:17
Author Spotlight: Investigating the Effects of Mind-Body-Movement Practices on Brain Function
Published on: January 26, 2024
2.0K
Dissociable Cognitive Systems for Recognizing Places and Navigating through Them: Developmental and
Frederik S Kamps1,2, Rebecca J Rennert1, Samaher F Radwan1
1Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322.
Summary
Visually guided navigation develops later than scene categorization. Adults with Williams syndrome show navigation deficits but not scene recognition issues, supporting distinct brain systems for place recognition and navigation.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Neuropsychology
Background:
- Neural evidence suggests separate brain systems for scene categorization (recognizing a place) and visually guided navigation (moving through a place).
- Behavioral data is needed to support the two-scene-systems hypothesis regarding differential development and breakdown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the two-scene-systems hypothesis by examining scene categorization and visually guided navigation in children and adults with Williams syndrome.
- To provide converging behavioral evidence for dissociable cognitive systems for place recognition and navigation.
Main Methods:
- Tested 131 typically developing children (4-9 years) and 46 adults with Williams syndrome on scene categorization and visually guided navigation tasks.
- Compared performance between age groups and within the Williams syndrome group relative to mental age-matched controls.
Main Results:
- Visually guided navigation abilities develop later than scene categorization abilities.
- Adults with Williams syndrome exhibited impairments in visually guided navigation but not scene categorization compared to mental age-matched children.
Conclusions:
- Findings provide the first developmental and neuropsychological evidence for distinct cognitive systems for recognizing places and navigating through them.
- Supports the general principle of a division of labor between perception and action systems in visual processing.
Related Concept Videos
01:14Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex
4.0K
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....
4.0K
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood
157
Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...
157
01:24Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex
552
The somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobes is crucial for interpreting sensory data such as touch, temperature, and proprioception. The somatosensory cortex, situated in the parietal lobes, plays a vital role in interpreting sensory information like touch, temperature, and proprioception—awareness of body position. This specialized brain region features an organized structure wherein neurons at the top primarily process sensations originating from the lower body. In contrast, those at...
552
01:31What is a Sensory System?
93.6K
Sensory systems detect stimuli—such as light and sound waves—and transduce them into neural signals that can be interpreted by the nervous system. In addition to external stimuli detected by the senses, some sensory systems detect internal stimuli—such as the proprioceptors in muscles and tendons that send feedback about limb position.
93.6K
01:27Dissociative Disorders
150
Dissociative disorders represent complex psychological conditions characterized by disruptions in consciousness, memory, identity, or perception. These disruptions cause individuals to experience a disconnection from their thoughts, emotions, and memories. The phenomenon is not merely an occasional lapse in attention but a profound alteration in mental functioning that can severely impact daily life.
Dissociative Fugue
A hallmark feature of dissociative disorders is the dissociative fugue...
Dissociative Fugue
A hallmark feature of dissociative disorders is the dissociative fugue...
150
01:19Role of Hippocampus in Memory
315
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...
315