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Cited by 143Spatial Cognition and NavigationMemory and Neural MechanismsTactile and Sensory Interactions

Modality-independent coding of spatial layout in the human brain

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Wolbers, Thomas, Klatzky, Roberta L., Loomis, Jack M., Wutte, Magdalena G., Giudice, Nicholas A.·2011·Current Biology
DOI 10.1016/j.cub.2011.04.038PMC PMC3119034
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Abstract

In many nonhuman species, neural computations of navigational information such as position and orientation are not tied to a specific sensory modality [1, 2]. Rather, spatial signals are integrated from multiple input sources, likely leading to abstract representations of space. In contrast, the potential for abstract spatial representations in humans is not known, because most neuroscientific experiments on human navigation have focused exclusively on visual cues. Here, we tested the modality independence hypothesis with two functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiments that characterized computations in regions implicated in processing spatial layout [3]. According to the hypothesis, such regions should be recruited for spatial computation of 3D geometric configuration, independent of a specific sensory modality. In support of this view, sighted participants showed strong activation of the parahippocampal place area (PPA) and the retrosplenial cortex (RSC) for visual and haptic exploration of information-matched scenes but not objects. Functional connectivity analyses suggested that these effects were not related to visual recoding, which was further supported by a similar preference for haptic scenes found with blind participants. Taken together, these findings establish the PPA/RSC network as critical in modality-independent spatial computations and provide important evidence for a theory of high-level abstract spatial information processing in the human brain.

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Authors
Wolbers, T., Klatzky, R. L., Loomis, J. M., Wutte, M. G., & Giudice, N. A.
Affiliations
  • University of Edinburgh (GB)
  • Carnegie Mellon University (US)
  • University of California, Santa Barbara (US)
  • Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (DE)
  • University of Maine (US)
Corresponding author
  • Wolbers, Thomas
  • Giudice, Nicholas A.
ORCID
Venue
Current Biology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2011-06
Volume
21
Issue
11
Pages
984-989
ISSN
0960-9822 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.cub.2011.04.038
PMC
PMC3119034
OpenAlex
W2150225858
Cited by
143
References
4
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 5
FWCI
18.34
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Current Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Edinburgh Research Explorer (University of Edinburgh) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • KiltHub Repository
Funders
  • National Science Foundation (0745328)
  • National Institutes of Health
  • University of California, Santa Barbara
  • National Eye Institute (R01EY016817)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Automotive Engineering › Spatial Cognition and Navigation
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Tactile and Sensory Interactions
Keywords
modality independence, spatial configuration, parahippocampal place area, retrosplenial cortex, haptic exploration, visual exploration, functional connectivity, spatial navigation, multisensory integration
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Blindness, Brain Mapping, Cerebral Cortex, Cues, Female, Form Perception, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Middle Aged, Photic Stimulation, Space Perception, Visual Perception, Visually Impaired Persons, Persons with Visual Disabilities, Feedback, Sensory

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