Development and plasticity of human topographical orientation

人类地形取向的发展与可塑性

• 批准号: RGPIN-2015-06748
• 负责人: Iaria, Giuseppe
• 金额: $ 2.91万
• 依托单位: University of Calgary
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2015-01-01 至 2016-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=591260
• 关键词: Development; plasticity; human; topographical; orientation

Topographical orientation is the complex ability to orient in an environment. Among the variety of strategies available during navigation, the ability to form cognitive maps is critical for orientation since, once formed, they allow individuals to reach any target location by following any route available within the environment including ones not previously travelled. Although the behavioural and neural mechanisms related to the human ability to form cognitive maps are well known, to date, the mechanisms related to the development and malleability of such a fundamental cognitive skill remain unknown. The main objective of this proposal is to examine from a behavioural and neurological perspective (1) the development in children of the ability to form cognitive maps, and (2) how this specific ability can be improved in both children and adults. To achieve these goals, we will first make use of a newly developed spatial orientation task in virtual (video game-like) environment to assess the ability to form cognitive maps in children. Then, we will evaluate the neurological mechanisms, in terms of functional connectivity (i.e., the neural interactions between specific brain regions from spontaneous activity during rest), related to the children’s ability to form cognitive maps. Finally, we will perform a series of studies to evaluate the behavioural and neurological benefits of undergoing cognitive training, in video game-like virtual environments, focusing on improving the ability of individuals to form cognitive maps. In addition, in a group of adults (not in children), we will aim to improve the ability to form cognitive maps by using transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), a methodological approach that has been shown to be safe and effective in improving performance in different cognitive domains.

地形定向是在导航过程中可用的各种策略中的复杂定向能力，形成认知地图的能力对于定向至关重要，因为一旦形成，它们允许个体通过遵循任何可用路线到达任何目标位置。尽管与人类形成认知地图的能力相关的行为和神经机制是众所周知的，但迄今为止，与这种基本认知技能的发展和可塑性相关的机制仍然未知。该提案的目的是从行为角度进行审查和神经学角度（1）儿童形成认知地图的能力的发展，以及（2）如何提高儿童和成人的这种特定能力为了实现这些目标，我们将首先利用新开发的空间。然后，我们将在功能连接方面评估神经机制（即，自发活动期间特定大脑区域之间的神经相互作用）。休息），与孩子形成认知地图的能力有关。最后，我们将进行一系列研究来评估在类似视频游戏的虚拟环境中接受认知训练的行为和神经学益处，重点是提高个体形成认知地图的能力此外，在一组成年人中（ （不是儿童），我们的目标是通过使用经颅直流电刺激 (tDCS) 来提高形成认知图的能力，这种方法已被证明可以安全有效地提高不同认知领域的表现。