Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Modeling the Functional Network for Spatial Navigation in the Human Brain
Published on: October 13, 2023
Functional Logic of a Cognitive Brain System for Navigation
1Laboratory of Integrative Brain Function, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and Kavli Neural Systems Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA;
None:
It is unusual for cognitive neuroscientists to reach consensus around which computations a brain region implements, what algorithms are used to achieve those computations and how the algorithms are implemented by cells and circuits (i.e., Marr's three levels of analysis). Over the past decade, there has been notable progress in delineating such a unified functional understanding in the Drosophila central complex. In this review, we summarize how the central complex operates as a computational device that calculates the values of angles and two-dimensional vectors important for navigational behavior. Appreciating how these insights were made in Drosophila suggests a roadmap for reaching a similar level of understanding in larger brains.
Related Concept Videos
Organization of the Brain
Hindbrain
The hindbrain, located at the base of the brain, plays a vital role in regulating automatic processes that sustain life. It includes the medulla oblongata, which is essential for...
Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System
Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex
Lobes of the Cerebrum
Frontal lobe
The frontal lobes, located behind the forehead, are the command center of our brain, controlling personality, intelligence, and voluntary muscle movements.
Motor and Sensory Areas of the 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.
Functional Brain Systems: Reticular Formation
Within the reticular formation, there are several distinct nuclei that can be classified into three broad categories. The Raphe nuclei are located along the midline of the brainstem. They are primarily known for their role in synthesizing and releasing serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in regulating mood, appetite, sleep, and circadian rhythms. The...

