Development and plasticity of human topographical orientation

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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.