Navigating Social Space

Abstract

Cognitive maps are encoded in the hippocampal formation and related regions and range from the spatial to the purely conceptual. Neural mechanisms that encode information into relational structures, up to an arbitrary level of abstraction, may explain such a broad range of representation. Research now indicates that social life can also be mapped by these mechanisms: others' spatial locations, social memory, and even a two-dimensional social space framed by social power and affiliation. The systematic mapping of social life onto a relational social space facilitates adaptive social decision making, akin to social navigation. This emerging line of research has implications for cognitive mapping research, clinical disorders that feature hippocampal dysfunction, and the field of social cognitive neuroscience.

Figure 1:. Increasing abstraction in cognitive mapping.

Cognitive mapping occurs at various levels of abstraction. Physical space: An individual’s location (represented by the black stick figure) and the environmental context can be mapped. Social information in physical space: Abstract information within physical environments, such as the locations of conspecifics (represented in grey), can also be cognitively mapped. Other kinds of abstract information, such as reward, are also mapped in this manner. Social space: The social map is fully removed from the sensory details of the environment, and as such is purely abstract. The social space (relative power and affiliation of others, the grey stick figures) is referenced to the individual (black stick figure), in contrast to physical space mapping, which is referenced to the environment (see Box 1 for a brief discussion on reference frames). Evidence shows that other fully abstract spaces, such as reward and concepts are mapped as well.

Figure 2:. Navigating through space.

Facilitating navigation through physical space (left panel) is a key function of the spatial cognitive map. Information within the map can be used to simulate trajectories and their consequences, leading to an individual animal (represented by the black dot) navigating adaptively (black trajectory from A to B). Social navigation (right panel) may occur by the same mechanisms, albeit in a more abstract manner. As interactions occur, an individual (grey dot) within the social context will change in power and affiliation (grey trajectory) relative to the observer (black dot). An accurate social map facilitates adaptive social decision making as the interactions accumulate.

Figure 3:. Visual summary of the current evidence on the neural systems mediating navigational computations in spatial, non-spatial and abstract domains.

Key regions in cognitive mapping and some of their relevant functions are highlighted. Colors indicate approximate functional distinctions.

Figure 3:. Visual summary of the current evidence on the neural systems mediating navigational computations in spatial, non-spatial and abstract domains.

Key regions in cognitive mapping and some of their relevant functions are highlighted. Colors indicate approximate functional distinctions.