Cortical dynamics are differentially associated with decision-making strategies in human wayfinding: An EEG study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Urban Navigation Studies

Background:

• Urban navigation relies on directional decisions at intersections.
• Cognitive strategies guide these decisions, potentially linked to distinct brain activity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if different cognitive navigation strategies correlate with specific spatiotemporal brain activity patterns.
• To understand how cognitive processes underlying navigation strategies are reflected in brain activity using electroencephalography (EEG).

Main Methods:

• Thirty-two participants navigated virtual mazes requiring different cognitive strategies.
• Source-localized scalp electroencephalography (EEG) recorded brain activity during directional decisions.
• Behavioral data (accuracy, reaction time) were collected alongside EEG.

Main Results:

• Higher memory load strategies reduced accuracy; complex visual processing increased reaction times.
• Increased theta activity correlated with cognitive demands, cue-piloting, memory retrieval, and spatial updating.
• Alpha activity linked to visual processing; beta activity related to memory and predictive processing.
• Theta, alpha, and beta activity increased with cognitive demand before and after decisions.
• Distinct spatiotemporal theta patterns emerged based on visual cue availability.

Conclusions:

• Cortical dynamics vary with cognitive strategy, visual cue type, and spatial judgment.
• Findings support a framework classifying cognitive strategies based on processing demands during navigation.