Iaria et al. (2003)

Question 1

Abstract?

Answer 1

• used FMRI
• Subjects used two different strategies to solve a place-learning task in a computer-generated virtual environment

Question 2

Introduction - aim of the study?

Answer 2

to investigate the modulation of brain activity while humans spontaneously adopt different navigational strategies in a place-learning task

Question 3

Methods?

Answer 3

• One-half of the subjects used spatial landmarks to navigate in the early phase of training, and these subjects showed increased activation of the right hippocampus
• The other half used a nonspatial strategy and showed, with practice, sustained increased activity within the caudate nucleus during navigation

Question 4

Results?

Answer 4

• the subjects who used spatial memory took longer to perform the task than those who used the nonspatial strategy
• in the spatial memory group, the number of errors was negatively correlated with bold signal increases in the right caudate nucleus and positively correlated with bold signal increase in the hippocampus bilaterally

Question 5

Discussion?

Answer 5

• provides strong evidence that the hippocampus is critically involved when the cognitive strategy requires spatial memory