Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 7, 2026
05:55
Modeling the Functional Network for Spatial Navigation in the Human Brain
Published on: October 13, 2023
1.4K
A map of the cortical functional network mediating naturalistic navigation
Tianjiao Zhang1,2, Emily X Meschke2, Jack Gallant1,2
1Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|December 25, 2025
Summary
Real-world navigation involves perception, planning, and action. This study mapped the brain
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Real-world navigation integrates perception, planning, and motor actions.
- Prior studies suggest broad cortical involvement but lack detailed characterization of parietal and prefrontal regions.
- Understanding the complete navigation network is crucial for cognitive neuroscience.
Purpose of the Study:
- To map and characterize the full cortical network supporting naturalistic navigation.
- To investigate the functional properties and organization of navigation-related brain regions.
- To provide a unified description of the neural basis of active navigation.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to record brain activity during a naturalistic navigation task.
- High-dimensional encoding models were fitted using banded ridge regression to analyze 28,134 features.
- Brain activity data was analyzed to identify functionally distinct cortical regions involved in navigation.
Main Results:
- A network of 11 functionally distinct cortical regions supports naturalistic navigation.
- This network includes five prefrontal, three parietal, and three visual cortex regions.
- Encoding model analysis revealed a transformation of perceptual inputs to action outputs across these regions, organized along functional gradients.
Conclusions:
- The study identified a comprehensive cortical network for real-world navigation.
- These 11 regions are organized to process information from perception through decision-making to action.
- The findings offer a unified view of navigation network organization and provide targets for future research.
Related Concept Videos
01:14Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex
6.8K
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....
6.8K
01:23Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex
2.1K
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...
2.1K
01:21Association Areas of the Cortex
8.7K
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,...
8.7K
01:25Neural Circuits
2.6K
Neural circuits and neuronal pools are two of the main structures found in the nervous system. Neural circuits are networks of neurons that work together to carry out a specific task or process. They consist of interconnected neurons and glial cells, which provide structural and metabolic support.
Neuronal pools are collections of nerve cells with similar functions and interact through chemical and electrical signals. These pools include both interneurons (the central neural circuit nodes that...
Neuronal pools are collections of nerve cells with similar functions and interact through chemical and electrical signals. These pools include both interneurons (the central neural circuit nodes that...
2.6K
01:11Direct Motor Pathways
4.1K
The direct motor pathways, also known as the pyramidal tracts, are a group of neural pathways that originate in the brain and descend through the spinal cord. They control the voluntary movement of the body. There are two major direct motor pathways: the corticospinal and the corticobulbar tracts.
The corticospinal tract is responsible for the voluntary movement of the limbs and trunk. It originates in the cerebral cortex of the brain and descends through the cerebrum's internal capsule and...
The corticospinal tract is responsible for the voluntary movement of the limbs and trunk. It originates in the cerebral cortex of the brain and descends through the cerebrum's internal capsule and...
4.1K
01:15Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System
6.2K
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...
6.2K