Development and plasticity of human topographical orientation

地形定位是在环境中定位的复杂能力。在导航过程中可用的各种策略中，形成认知地图的能力对定位至关重要，因为一旦形成，它们允许个体沿着环境中可用的任何路线到达任何目标位置，包括以前没有走过的路线。尽管与人类形成认知地图的能力相关的行为和神经机制是众所周知的，但迄今为止，与这种基本认知技能的发展和可塑性相关的机制仍然未知。这项提议的主要目的是从行为和神经学的角度来研究(1)儿童形成认知地图的能力的发展，以及(2)如何在儿童和成人中提高这种特定的能力。为了实现这些目标，我们将首先利用一个新开发的虚拟（视频游戏）环境中的空间定位任务来评估儿童形成认知地图的能力。然后，我们将评估与儿童形成认知地图能力相关的神经机制，从功能连接（即，在休息时自发活动的特定大脑区域之间的神经相互作用）的角度来评估。最后，我们将进行一系列研究，以评估在视频游戏般的虚拟环境中进行认知训练的行为和神经学益处，重点是提高个体形成认知地图的能力。此外，在一组成人（非儿童）中，我们将致力于通过使用经颅直流电刺激（tDCS）来提高形成认知地图的能力，这种方法已被证明在提高不同认知领域的表现方面是安全有效的。***我们的发现将具有双重意义：首先，它们将提供第一个证据，阐明人类最复杂行为之一的认知和神经发育（即形成和利用认知地图进行定位和导航的能力）；其次，他们将提供第一个行为和神经学证据，证明认知训练和tDCS在通过认知地图提高人类定位能力方面的有效性。

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. ***The significance of our findings will be twofold: first, they will provide the very first evidence shedding light on the cognitive and neural development of one of our most complex behaviours, (i.e. the ability to form and make use of cognitive maps for orientation and navigation); and second, they will provide the very first behavioural and neurological evidence showing the effectiveness of cognitive training and tDCS in improving the human ability to orient by means of cognitive maps.