Spatial Navigation & Cognitive Maps

Spatial Navigation & Cognitive MapsFebruary 2nd, 2010Psychology 4851OutlineIntroduction & Comparative ApproachDetermining DirectionWhat is learned?How is direction represented?Determining LocationWhat is learned?How is space represented?Algorithmic Cognitive MapsImplementational Hippocampus2Shettleworths areas of study3 main areas:Basic processesAssociative learningPhysical cognitionSocial cognition3Human navigation

4Animals, too (and more!)

5Comparative Approach

6Spatial Navigation in the LabMazesComplex vs SimpleMorris Water MazeReference or Working memoryRadial Arm MazeStudy of errorsOpen fieldLimited or open space

7Determining Direction8Getting OrientedDirectional frame of reference can be based on:celestial cues (sun, stars)landmarksgeometry (rivers, mountains, walls)Cheng (1986)9A Geometric ModuleCheng (1986) studied rats in a rectangular enclosureGeometry alone leads to an ambiguous situationFeatural information is needed to disambiguateRats relied almost exclusively on geometry to solve the taskCheng (1986) proposed that rats have a geometric modulefeatural information gets pasted on to the geometric frame

10How is geometry learned?Primary Axes?Symmetry axes or medial axes?

11What does it mean to be modular?

12Determining Location13Now where?Path integrationBeaconingPilotinglandmarkssurfaces

G14Use of MetricsDistance and direction informationNon-metric navigationBeaconsTrailsList routesMetric informationG15What is learned?Transformational approachWhat features of the landmarks are learned?How are distance and direction learned?Distance and direction used separatelyG16What is learned?Absolute vs RelationalGTrainTestgerbilspigeonshumans17Use of geometry to navigateLourenco & Huttenlocher, 2006, 2007Viewer vs Space disorientation proceduresPre-existing orientation cues may interfere with geometryMargules & Gallistel, 1988Oriented rats do not make rotational errorsPerformance decreases when apparatus is rotated

18Batty, Hoban, Spetch & Dickson (2009)Do oriented and disoriented rats learn about features and geometry differently?

Use of feature?Will oriented rats still learn geometry?Preference for orientation or geometric cues?19MethodsTesting:cues systematically placed in conflict or removedOriented-trainingDisoriented-trainingFeature-presentN = 4N = 4Geometry-onlyN = 4N = 4

OCGCGC20ResultsFeature:Neither oriented or disoriented rats showed control by featureOrientation vs Geometry:Oriented-trained rats split choicesDisoriented-trained preferred geometry21Main FindingsOriented-trained group used both geometric and orientation cues to guide searchSlight preference for orientation cues when chance is accounted forDisoriented-trained group preferred geometryMere presence of orientation cues doesnt affect search

22Associative Learning & Spatial CogntiionHow does spatial learning compare to other forms of learning?Classical ConditioningOperant ConditioningDo associative learning mechanisms alone allow for what animals can learn spatially?23Blocking Roberts & PearceWater mazeTraining with both landmarks and distal cuesLittle help from distal cues if landmarks learned first

24OvershadowingGoodyear & Kamil (2004)Trained with 4 landmarks at different distancesMost overshadowing with closest LMs

25Associative Learning & Spatial CogntiionBut... Lack of competition between geometry and landmarks (usually)e.g. Beacons do not block learning of shapeFeatural information doesnt overshadow geometry26Cognitive MapsTerm coined by Tolman (1948)Used to explain:Latent learningNovel detours27Tolman & Honzig (1930)day 11Average ErrorsDaysNo foodFood rewardNo food reward until day 1128Maze blockagesStart BoxGoal29Modern Theory Jacobs & Schenk

30ImplementationWhat part of the brain implements spatial cognition?Cognitive maps?Avian Hippocampal formationFull lesion to HF results in deficits learning geometry, but not featural informationHighly lateralizedLeft = LocalRight = Global31Place CellsHippocampal place cells map out the environmentCell fires when rat is in specific locationNot related to viewpointCells remap when environment changesdirectionalgeometriccomplex/contextual

32Role of ContextPlace cell firing seem to be highly affected by contextual/featural informationHow does this compare with behavioural data?e.g. Geometric Module?

33Does the map rule behaviour?Jeffrey, Gilbert, Burton & Strudwick (2003)Rats forage in black boxEstablish place cell mapTrain tone food available in one cornerTest in white boxContext change, place cells remapWill rats still know the correct corner? 34Discussion35Cognitive MapsTolman suggests cognitive maps as way of thinking about learning in general?Is the map a good analogy for the brain and cognitive functioning? Are other analogies better (like the computer, information processing views)?

Are place cells a good model for understanding cognitive maps?Do they prove or disprove the existence of cognitive maps?

Is the concept of maps necessary (or useful) to the study of spatial cognition?How do maps fit in with modern lines of research (such as in Spetch & Kelly)?36