Retrosplenial cortex and its role in spatial cognition

Mitchell, A. S., Czajkowski, R., Zhang, N., Jeffery, K. and Nelson, A. J. D. (2018) Retrosplenial cortex and its role in spatial cognition. Brain and Neuroscience Advances, 2, p. 2398212818757098. (doi: 10.1177/2398212818757098) (PMID:30221204) (PMCID:PMC6095108)

Abstract

Retrosplenial cortex is a region within the posterior neocortical system, heavily interconnected with an array of brain networks, both cortical and subcortical, that is, engaged by a myriad of cognitive tasks. Although there is no consensus as to its precise function, evidence from both human and animal studies clearly points to a role in spatial cognition. However, the spatial processing impairments that follow retrosplenial cortex damage are not straightforward to characterise, leading to difficulties in defining the exact nature of its role. In this article, we review this literature and classify the types of ideas that have been put forward into three broad, somewhat overlapping classes: (1) learning of landmark location, stability and permanence; (2) integration between spatial reference frames; and (3) consolidation and retrieval of spatial knowledge (schemas). We evaluate these models and suggest ways to test them, before briefly discussing whether the spatial function may be a subset of a more general function in episodic memory.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Jeffery, Professor Kate
• Authors: Mitchell, A. S., Czajkowski, R., Zhang, N., Jeffery, K., and Nelson, A. J. D.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
• Journal Name: Brain and Neuroscience Advances
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• ISSN: 2398-2128
• ISSN (Online): 2398-2128
• Published Online: 19 March 2018
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2018 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Brain and Neuroscience Advances 2: 2398212818757098
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License