Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2019 Jan 10:12:1021.
doi: 10.3389/fnins.2018.01021. eCollection 2018.

Shared and Distinct Neural Bases of Large- and Small-Scale Spatial Ability: A Coordinate-Based Activation Likelihood Estimation Meta-Analysis

Yuan Li  1   2 , Feng Kong  1   2 , Ming Ji  1   2 , Yangmei Luo  1   2 , Jijun Lan  1   2 , Xuqun You  1   2
Affiliations

Shared and Distinct Neural Bases of Large- and Small-Scale Spatial Ability: A Coordinate-Based Activation Likelihood Estimation Meta-Analysis

Yuan Li et al. Front Neurosci. .

Abstract

Background: Spatial ability is vital for human survival and development. However, the relationship between large-scale and small-scale spatial ability remains poorly understood. To address this issue from a novel perspective, we performed an activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies to determine the shared and distinct neural bases of these two forms of spatial ability. Methods: We searched Web of Science, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar for studies regarding "spatial ability" published within the last 20 years (January 1988 through June 2018). A final total of 103 studies (Table 1) involving 2,085 participants (male = 1,116) and 2,586 foci were incorporated into the meta-analysis. Results: Large-scale spatial ability was associated with activation in the limbic lobe, posterior lobe, occipital lobe, parietal lobe, right anterior lobe, frontal lobe, and right sub-lobar area. Small-scale spatial ability was associated with activation in the parietal lobe, occipital lobe, frontal lobe, right posterior lobe, and left sub-lobar area. Furthermore, conjunction analysis revealed overlapping regions in the sub-gyrus, right superior frontal gyrus, right superior parietal lobule, right middle occipital gyrus, right superior occipital gyrus, left inferior occipital gyrus, and precuneus. The contrast analysis demonstrated that the parahippocampal gyrus, left lingual gyrus, culmen, right middle temporal gyrus, left declive, left superior occipital gyrus, and right lentiform nucleus were more strongly activated during large-scale spatial tasks. In contrast, the precuneus, right inferior frontal gyrus, right precentral gyrus, left inferior parietal lobule, left supramarginal gyrus, left superior parietal lobule, right inferior occipital gyrus, and left middle frontal gyrus were more strongly activated during small-scale spatial tasks. Our results further indicated that there is no absolute difference in the cognitive strategies associated with the two forms of spatial ability (egocentric/allocentric). Conclusion: The results of the present study verify and expand upon the theoretical model of spatial ability proposed by Hegarty et al. Our analysis revealed a shared neural basis between large- and small-scale spatial abilities, as well as specific yet independent neural bases underlying each. Based on these findings, we proposed a more comprehensive version of the behavioral model.

Keywords: activation likelihood estimation; behavioral model; large-scale spatial ability; meta-analysis; small-scale spatial ability.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Model characterizing the relationship between large- and small-scale spatial abilities, as proposed by Hegarty et al. (2006).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Procedure of data selection (PRISMA 2009 Flow Diagram).
Figure 3
Figure 3
ALE meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies regarding large-scale spatial ability (A) and small-scale spatial ability (B). Coordinates are presented in millimeters (mm). ALE, activation likelihood estimation.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Results of conjunction and contrast analyses. (A) The common regions associated with large- and small-scale spatial ability. (B) Brain regions exhibiting greater activation for large-scale spatial ability than for small-scale spatial ability. (C) Brain regions exhibiting greater activation for small-scale spatial ability than for large-scale spatial ability. Coordinates are presented in millimeters (mm).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Model of the relationship between large- and small-scale spatial ability based on the current findings.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Akhlaghi H., Corben L., Georgioukaristianis N., Bradshaw J., Delatycki M. B., Storey E., et al. . (2012). A functional mri study of motor dysfunction in friedreich's ataxia. Brain Res. 1471, 138–154. 10.1016/j.brainres.2012.06.035 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Alloway T. P., Bibile V., Lau G. (2013). Computerized working memory training: Can it lead to gains in cognitive skills in students? Comput. Hum. Behav. 29, 632–638. 10.1016/j.chb.2012.10.023 - DOI
    1. Assaf M., Rivkin P. R., Kuzu C. H., Calhoun V. D., Kraut M. A., Groth K. M., et al. . (2005). Abnormal object recall and anterior cingulate overactivation correlate with formal thought disorder in schizophrenia. Biol. Psychiatr. 59, 452–459. 10.1016/j.biopsych.2005.07.039 - DOI - PubMed
    1. *. Baumann O., Chan E., Mattingley J. B. (2010). Dissociable neural circuits for encoding and retrieval of object locations during active navigation in humans. Neuroimage 49, 2816–2825. 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.10.021 - DOI - PubMed
    1. *. Baumann O., Chan E., Mattingley J. B. (2012). Distinct neural networks underlie encoding of categorical versus coordinate spatial relations during active navigation. Neuroimage 60, 1630–1637. 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.01.089 - DOI - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources