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Mental search of concepts is supported by egocentric vector representations and restructured grid maps

Author

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  • Simone Viganò

    (Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences
    University of Trento)

  • Rena Bayramova

    (Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences)

  • Christian F. Doeller

    (Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences
    Norwegian University of Science and Technology
    Leipzig University)

  • Roberto Bottini

    (University of Trento)

Abstract

The human hippocampal-entorhinal system is known to represent both spatial locations and abstract concepts in memory in the form of allocentric cognitive maps. Using fMRI, we show that the human parietal cortex evokes complementary egocentric representations in conceptual spaces during goal-directed mental search, akin to those observable during physical navigation to determine where a goal is located relative to oneself (e.g., to our left or to our right). Concurrently, the strength of the grid-like signal, a neural signature of allocentric cognitive maps in entorhinal, prefrontal, and parietal cortices, is modulated as a function of goal proximity in conceptual space. These brain mechanisms might support flexible and parallel readout of where target conceptual information is stored in memory, capitalizing on complementary reference frames.

Suggested Citation

  • Simone Viganò & Rena Bayramova & Christian F. Doeller & Roberto Bottini, 2023. "Mental search of concepts is supported by egocentric vector representations and restructured grid maps," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-43831-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43831-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Christian F. Doeller & Caswell Barry & Neil Burgess, 2010. "Evidence for grid cells in a human memory network," Nature, Nature, vol. 463(7281), pages 657-661, February.
    4. James R. Hinman & G. William Chapman & Michael E. Hasselmo, 2019. "Neuronal representation of environmental boundaries in egocentric coordinates," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, December.
    5. Torkel Hafting & Marianne Fyhn & Sturla Molden & May-Britt Moser & Edvard I. Moser, 2005. "Microstructure of a spatial map in the entorhinal cortex," Nature, Nature, vol. 436(7052), pages 801-806, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Federica Sigismondi & Yangwen Xu & Mattia Silvestri & Roberto Bottini, 2024. "Altered grid-like coding in early blind people," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.

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