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From peripersonal space to cognitive maps: An evolutionary perspective.

Summbla Anjum1, Maria J Sosa1, Andrea Serino2

  • 1Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, MN, USA.

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The brain evolved two spatial systems: peripersonal space (PPS) for immediate threats and cognitive maps for navigation. These systems likely co-evolved, forming a predictive architecture for flexible behavior.

Keywords:
Bodily Self-ConsciousnessComputational NeuroscienceEvolutionNavigationSpaceSuccessor Representation

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • The brain utilizes distinct spatial representations: egocentric peripersonal space (PPS) for short-range interactions and allocentric cognitive maps for long-range navigation.
  • Understanding the evolutionary relationship between these systems is crucial for deciphering the development of complex spatial cognition.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the evolutionary trajectory and interconnectedness of peripersonal space (PPS) and cognitive map systems.
  • To propose a framework for how these spatial representations evolved from basic survival mechanisms to sophisticated cognitive functions.

Main Methods:

  • This study is a theoretical perspective, synthesizing existing research from evolutionary biology, neuroscience, and cognitive science.
  • It speculates on the evolutionary emergence and functional divergence/convergence of spatial representation systems.

Main Results:

  • An ancient proto-PPS system likely evolved for threat management, supported by midbrain circuits.
  • Terrestrial adaptation spurred the evolution of hippocampal systems for allocentric mapping, while cortical PPS emerged for fine-grained sensorimotor control.
  • Both systems may share computational principles, operating across different scales and reference frames.

Conclusions:

  • Spatial cognition evolved through a scaffolded trajectory, from near-body threat detection to a multiscale predictive architecture.
  • This architecture supports flexible, goal-directed behavior across diverse spatial and temporal contexts.
  • The interplay between PPS and cognitive maps provides a foundation for complex cognitive functions, including tool use and abstract thought.