Geometry as a Guide: Enclosure Effects on Spatial Mapping (Commentary on Xu et al. 2024)

2025/03/01 by Luca Sarramone, José A. Fernández-León · 1 voice
Engineering · Neuroscience · Computer Science · #Spatial Cognition and Navigation #Memory and Neural Mechanisms #Cognitive Science and Mapping

paper · pdf · doi:10.1111/ejn.70059

openalex publication_date 2025/03/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31

Abstract

A recent paper by Xu et al. proposes that cognitive maps in mice emerge during spatial navigation from path integration anchored to a starting position. We challenge this understanding by arguing that enclosure geometry rather than path integration shapes cognitive maps. Our view emphasizes the context-specific formation of cognitive maps, claiming that these maps arise in response to particular task demands rather than existing as fixed, independent entities.

Citations

• Path integration in mammals

Discussions

• Interesting commentary onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.... on a paper that was published a little while ago (doi.org/10.7554/eLif...) which claimed mice were taking shortcuts based on self-motion [bsky, 4 points, 1 comments]

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