Mental navigation along memorized routes activates the hippocampus, precuneus, and insula
NeuroReport. 1997-02-01; 8(3): 739-744
DOI: 10.1097/00001756-199702100-00032
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Ghaem O(1), Mellet E, Crivello F, Tzourio N, Mazoyer B, Berthoz A, Denis M.
Author information:
(1)Groupe d’Imagerie Neurofonctionnelle, UPRES-EA Université de Caen et CEA-DRM,
France.
Positron emission tomography was used to investigate the functional anatomy of
mental simulation of routes (MSR) in five normal volunteers. Normalized regional
cerebral blood flow was measured while subjects mentally navigated between
landmarks of a route which had been previously learned by actual navigation.
This task was contrasted with both static visual imagery of landmarks (VIL) and
silent Rest. MSR appears to be subserved by two distinct networks: a
non-specific memory network including the posterior and middle parts of the
hippocampal regions, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the posterior
cingulum, and a specific mental navigation network, comprising the left
precuneus, insula and medial part of the hippocampal regions.