Neural correlates of egocentric and allocentric frames of reference combined with metric and non-metric spatial relations

Ruotolo, A., Ruggiero, F., Raemaekers, G., Iachini, M., van der Ham, T., Fracasso, A. and Postma, A. (2019) Neural correlates of egocentric and allocentric frames of reference combined with metric and non-metric spatial relations. Neuroscience, 409, pp. 235-252. (doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.04.021) (PMID:31004694)

Abstract

Spatial relations (SRs: coordinate/metric vs categorical/non metric) and frames of reference (FoRs: egocentric/body vs allocentric/external element) represent the building blocks underlying any spatial representation. In the present 7-T fMRI study we have identified for the first time the neural correlates of the spatial representations emerging from the combination of the two dimensions. The direct comparison between the different spatial representations revealed a bilateral fronto-parietal network, mainly right sided, that was more involved in the egocentric categorical representations. A right fronto-parietal circuitry was specialized for egocentric coordinate representations. A bilateral occipital network was more involved in the allocentric categorical representations. Finally, a smaller part of this bilateral network (i.e. Calcarine Sulcus and Lingual Gyrus), along with the right Supramarginal and Inferior Frontal gyri, supported the allocentric coordinate representations. The fact that some areas were more involved in a spatial representation than in others reveals how our brain builds adaptive spatial representations in order to effectively react to specific environmental needs and task demands.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was supported by the European Commission: FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF (Marie Curie-IEF, Intra-European Fellowships; Proposal No. 625788; Acronym: MapSpace); and by the Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Fracasso, Dr Alessio
• Authors: Ruotolo, A., Ruggiero, F., Raemaekers, G., Iachini, M., van der Ham, T., Fracasso, A., and Postma, A.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
• Journal Name: Neuroscience
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0306-4522
• ISSN (Online): 0306-4522
• Published Online: 17 April 2019
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2019 IBRO
• First Published: First published in Neuroscience 409:235-252
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher