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: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=687641
• 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. ***The significance of our findings will be twofold: first, they will provide the very first evidence shedding light on the cognitive and neural development of one of our most complex behaviours, (i.e. the ability to form and make use of cognitive maps for orientation and navigation); and second, they will provide the very first behavioural and neurological evidence showing the effectiveness of cognitive training and tDCS in improving the human ability to orient by means of cognitive maps.

地形定向是在环境中定向的复杂能力。在导航过程中可用的各种策略中，形成认知地图的能力对于定向至关重要，因为一旦形成，它们就允许个体通过遵循环境中可用的任何路线（包括以前未走过的路线）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。该提案的主要目标是从行为和神经学角度检查（1）儿童形成认知图能力的发展，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，我们将首先在虚拟（类似视频游戏）环境中利用新开发的空间定向任务来评估儿童形成认知图的能力。然后，我们将根据功能连接（即休息期间自发活动的特定大脑区域之间的神经相互作用）评估与儿童形成认知图的能力相关的神经机制。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，重点是提高个人形成认知图的能力。此外，我们的目标是通过使用经颅直流电刺激 (tDCS) 来提高成人群体（而非儿童）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表现在不同的认知领域。 ***我们的研究结果具有双重意义：首先，它们将提供第一个证据，阐明我们最复杂的行为之一的认知和神经发展（即形成和利用认知图来进行行为的能力）定向和导航）；其次，他们将提供第一个行为和神经学证据，证明认知训练和 tDCS 在提高人类通过认知地图定向的能力方面的有效性。