Dynamic changes in orbitofrontal-hippocampal connectivity linked to cognitive map formation in humans
How the brain coordinates to represent cognitive maps? Although extensive evidence shows the roles of the hippocampus (HIP), parahippocampal cortex (PHC), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and retrosplenial cortex (RSC) in spatial navigation, the specific mechanisms by which these brain regions interact t...
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| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | NeuroImage |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811925004185 |
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| author | Yidan Qiu Huakang Li Yuanyuan Yang Shuting Lin Xiaoyu Zheng Shuxin Jia Ruiwang Huang |
| author_facet | Yidan Qiu Huakang Li Yuanyuan Yang Shuting Lin Xiaoyu Zheng Shuxin Jia Ruiwang Huang |
| author_sort | Yidan Qiu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | How the brain coordinates to represent cognitive maps? Although extensive evidence shows the roles of the hippocampus (HIP), parahippocampal cortex (PHC), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and retrosplenial cortex (RSC) in spatial navigation, the specific mechanisms by which these brain regions interact to form and use cognitive maps remain unclear. Thus, we employed a task-fMRI during a navigation task in multidimensional abstract spaces to study how navigational complexity, assessed by navigation stages, spatial dimensions, and target distance, affects behavioral performance and brain activation. Our results revealed that the lateral OFC (lOFC) and medial OFC (mOFC) responded differently to navigation stages, and regions of the medial temporal lobe (MTL), including the HIP, PHC, and RSC, were involved in processing target distance. Generalized psychophysiological interaction (gPPI) analysis showed increased connectivity between the lOFC and MTL regions during navigation, and decreased connectivity between the mOFC and MTL regions. These results showed functional divisions within the OFC, with distinct roles for the lateral and medial parts in both activation and connectivity during navigation. Dynamic causal modeling (DCM) further revealed the effective connectivity patterns between these regions, showing that the self-connectivity of the mOFC and HIP contributed to individual differences in behavior. In addition, the self-connectivity of the mOFC and the connectivity from PHC to HIP were predictive of individual navigation strategy preferences. These findings advance our understanding of the neural dynamics underlying abstract spatial cognition, offering new perspectives on how the brain supports adaptive behavior in complex environments. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-225f636ca708436fa7c262bd2ed2e6a4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1095-9572 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | NeuroImage |
| spelling | doaj-art-225f636ca708436fa7c262bd2ed2e6a42025-08-20T03:41:52ZengElsevierNeuroImage1095-95722025-09-0131812141510.1016/j.neuroimage.2025.121415Dynamic changes in orbitofrontal-hippocampal connectivity linked to cognitive map formation in humansYidan Qiu0Huakang Li1Yuanyuan Yang2Shuting Lin3Xiaoyu Zheng4Shuxin Jia5Ruiwang Huang6School of Psychology; Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences (South China Normal University), Ministry of Education; Center for the Study of Applied Psychology; Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science of Guangdong Province, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, ChinaSchool of Computer Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, ChinaSchool of Psychology; Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences (South China Normal University), Ministry of Education; Center for the Study of Applied Psychology; Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science of Guangdong Province, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, ChinaSchool of Psychology; Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences (South China Normal University), Ministry of Education; Center for the Study of Applied Psychology; Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science of Guangdong Province, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, ChinaSchool of Psychology; Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences (South China Normal University), Ministry of Education; Center for the Study of Applied Psychology; Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science of Guangdong Province, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, ChinaSchool of Psychology; Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences (South China Normal University), Ministry of Education; Center for the Study of Applied Psychology; Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science of Guangdong Province, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, ChinaSchool of Psychology; Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences (South China Normal University), Ministry of Education; Center for the Study of Applied Psychology; Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science of Guangdong Province, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China; Corresponding author at: School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China.How the brain coordinates to represent cognitive maps? Although extensive evidence shows the roles of the hippocampus (HIP), parahippocampal cortex (PHC), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and retrosplenial cortex (RSC) in spatial navigation, the specific mechanisms by which these brain regions interact to form and use cognitive maps remain unclear. Thus, we employed a task-fMRI during a navigation task in multidimensional abstract spaces to study how navigational complexity, assessed by navigation stages, spatial dimensions, and target distance, affects behavioral performance and brain activation. Our results revealed that the lateral OFC (lOFC) and medial OFC (mOFC) responded differently to navigation stages, and regions of the medial temporal lobe (MTL), including the HIP, PHC, and RSC, were involved in processing target distance. Generalized psychophysiological interaction (gPPI) analysis showed increased connectivity between the lOFC and MTL regions during navigation, and decreased connectivity between the mOFC and MTL regions. These results showed functional divisions within the OFC, with distinct roles for the lateral and medial parts in both activation and connectivity during navigation. Dynamic causal modeling (DCM) further revealed the effective connectivity patterns between these regions, showing that the self-connectivity of the mOFC and HIP contributed to individual differences in behavior. In addition, the self-connectivity of the mOFC and the connectivity from PHC to HIP were predictive of individual navigation strategy preferences. These findings advance our understanding of the neural dynamics underlying abstract spatial cognition, offering new perspectives on how the brain supports adaptive behavior in complex environments.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811925004185Cognitive mapSpatial cognitionFunctional connectivityOrbitofrontal cortexHippocampus |
| spellingShingle | Yidan Qiu Huakang Li Yuanyuan Yang Shuting Lin Xiaoyu Zheng Shuxin Jia Ruiwang Huang Dynamic changes in orbitofrontal-hippocampal connectivity linked to cognitive map formation in humans NeuroImage Cognitive map Spatial cognition Functional connectivity Orbitofrontal cortex Hippocampus |
| title | Dynamic changes in orbitofrontal-hippocampal connectivity linked to cognitive map formation in humans |
| title_full | Dynamic changes in orbitofrontal-hippocampal connectivity linked to cognitive map formation in humans |
| title_fullStr | Dynamic changes in orbitofrontal-hippocampal connectivity linked to cognitive map formation in humans |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dynamic changes in orbitofrontal-hippocampal connectivity linked to cognitive map formation in humans |
| title_short | Dynamic changes in orbitofrontal-hippocampal connectivity linked to cognitive map formation in humans |
| title_sort | dynamic changes in orbitofrontal hippocampal connectivity linked to cognitive map formation in humans |
| topic | Cognitive map Spatial cognition Functional connectivity Orbitofrontal cortex Hippocampus |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811925004185 |
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