Thornberry, Conor (2024) The Neural Correlates of Spatial Learning and Memory During Human Navigation. PhD thesis, National University of Ireland Maynooth.

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Abstract

Spatial navigation is an essential skill for animals and humans alike. It helps us get to a desired place and remember how to get back there in the future. Despite the fact that this process in humans has been well researched, there is still little known about the neural activity underlying spatial navigation processes in humans. Therefore, we aimed to contribute to the current human navigation literature by exploring a number of cognitive factors known to be involved, namely learning and memory. This thesis aims to address gaps in the literature by exploring spatial learning as a dynamic and flexible behavioural process, as well as spatial memory retrieval following recent (24-hours) and remote (1 month) retention intervals. Furthermore, we examined age-related changes in these behavioural and neural underpinnings. Spatial navigation ability was assessed using a virtual water maze task: NavWell (Commins et al., 2020). We also examined brain oscillations, which are rhythmic patterns of neural activity proposed to reflect cognition. We investigated these rhythms at different frequencies using electroencephalography (EEG) in healthy younger and older adults whilst they navigated. Our results suggest that successful spatial learning coincides with the reduction of theta (4-8 Hz) and alpha (8-12 Hz) oscillations. Successful spatial memory retrieval promotes delta (2-4 Hz) and theta (5-7 Hz) increases. When navigation strategies are unsuccessful, these oscillations at frontal areas become enhanced. Recent and remote spatial memory retrieval requires recruitment of the same frequency bands, but greater oscillatory power. However, older adults show reduced power throughout all frequency bands compared to younger adults. They further demonstrated beta (15-29 Hz) and gamma (30-40 Hz) decreases during recent memory retrieval, with delta increases and theta decreases during remote retrieval. Our findings support theories of low-frequency oscillations possessing a mnemonic role, and further contribute to theoretical debates regarding memory consolidation and ageing from the unique perspective of human spatial cognition.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Keywords:	Neural Correlates; Spatial Learning; Memory; Human Navigation;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > Psychology
Item ID:	18859
Depositing User:	IR eTheses
Date Deposited:	10 Sep 2024 15:26
URI:
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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