Abstract: Spatial navigation is vital for the survival and reproduction of humans and other animals living in complex environments. Effective spatial representations, also known as cognitive maps, are the basis of efficient spatial navigation. Prototypical properties of cognitive maps include selectivity, flexibility, and hierarchy. Several brain regions such as the hippocampus, the scene-selective areas and the prefrontal cortex are involved in the construction of cognitive maps. There are two theoretical disputes in the representational formats of cognitive maps, namely Euclidean map and topological graph, neither of which can fully account for the navigational behavior. Therefore, several hybrid theories have been put forward in order to reconcile this controversy such as the labeled graph hypothesis, the reference frame network theory, etc. Future researchers are suggested to focus on dynamic changes of hierarchical organization during the process of constructing cognitive maps, expansion of spatial dimensions and categories, and limitations in the concept of cognitive maps.

空间导航对于人和动物的生存而言都十分重要,有效的空间表征或认知地图是空间导航的基础。认知地图的典型属性包括选择性、灵活性以及层级性,海马、场景选择区域以及前额叶等多个脑区都参与认知地图的构建。认知地图的表征形式存在欧式地图和拓扑图两种理论,但各自单独都不能全面解释实际导航中的行为表现,因此有研究者提出了标签图等理论试图调和二者间的矛盾。未来研究还需要关注在认知地图构建过程中层级性的变化,空间范畴的扩展,以及认知地图假说的局限。

国家自然科学基金(32020103009);; 科技创新2030(2022ZD0205000);; 中国科学院心理研究所自主部署项目(E2CX4215CX)