This session puts together research works that are central to understanding spatial navigation and its neural underpinnings. The talks will introduce the neural basis of spatial navigation in animal and human research along with new insights from studies coupling mobile brain imaging with virtual reality (VR) and real-world tasks as well as works on
geometric representations of space and the impact of aging on navigation abilities. Different navigation strategies such as path integration and landmark-based navigation are supported by neural populations in the medial temporal lobe [1]. Electrophysiology recorded in animals can be used to establish, validate, and refine computational models that are linked with testable behavioral predictions on how space is represented and remembered. Methodological advances such as immersive VR and mobile brain imaging enable the translation of key findings from animal research on the aforementioned brain regions to humans. The use of VR in spatial navigation research allows for flexible manipulation of space in a way that is not possible in physical space, while providing participants with rich, naturalistic stimuli [2,3]. By enabling participants to make use of a natural mode of locomotion (e.g., walking through physical space), mobile brain imaging methods such as mobile EEG [2,5] afford the investigation of how body-based information influences navigation strategies. A better understanding of how humans navigate through space is of great applied value as they inform us about the nature of cognitive decline in older adults [4] and support development of effecient navigation aids [5].