Editing Cognitive map (section)

== Neurological basis ==
Cognitive mapping is believed to largely be a function of the hippocampus. The hippocampus is connected to the rest of the brain in such a way that it is ideal for integrating both spatial and nonspatial information. Connections from the [[postrhinal cortex]] and the medial entorhinal cortex provide spatial information to the hippocampus. Connections from the [[perirhinal cortex]] and lateral entorhinal cortex provide nonspatial information. The integration of this information in the hippocampus makes the hippocampus a practical location for cognitive mapping, which necessarily involves combining information about an object's location and its other features.<ref name="Manns">{{cite journal |last1=Manns |first1=Joseph R. |last2=Eichenbaum |first2=Howard |author-link2=Howard Eichenbaum |date=October 2009 |title=A cognitive map for object memory in the hippocampus |journal=[[Learning & Memory]] |volume=16 |issue=10 |pages=616–624 |doi=10.1101/lm.1484509 |pmc=2769165 |pmid=19794187}}</ref>

O'Keefe and Nadel were the first to outline a relationship between the hippocampus and cognitive mapping.<ref name="O'Keefe" /> Many additional studies have shown additional evidence that supports this conclusion.<ref name="Moser">{{cite journal |last1=Moser |first1=Edvard I. |author-link1=Edvard Moser |last2=Kropff |first2=Emilio |last3=Moser |first3=May-Britt |author-link3=May-Britt Moser |date=2008 |title=Place cells, grid cells, and the brain's spatial representation system |journal=[[Annual Review of Neuroscience]] |volume=31 |pages=69–89 |doi=10.1146/annurev.neuro.31.061307.090723 |pmid=18284371}}</ref> Specifically, [[pyramidal cells]] ([[place cells]], [[boundary cell]]s, and [[grid cells]]) have been implicated as the neuronal basis for cognitive maps within the hippocampal system.

Numerous studies by O'Keefe have implicated the involvement of place cells. Individual place cells within the hippocampus correspond to separate locations in the environment with the sum of all cells contributing to a single map of an entire environment. The strength of the connections between the cells represents the distances between them in the actual environment. The same cells can be used for constructing several environments, though individual cells' relationships to each other may differ on a map by map basis.<ref name="O'Keefe" /> The possible involvement of place cells in cognitive mapping has been seen in a number of mammalian species, including rats and macaque monkeys.<ref name="Moser" /> Additionally, in a study of rats by Manns and Eichenbaum, pyramidal cells from within the hippocampus were also involved in representing object location and object identity, indicating their involvement in the creation of cognitive maps.<ref name="Manns" /> However, there has been some dispute as to whether such studies of mammalian species indicate the presence of a cognitive map and not another, simpler method of determining one's environment.<ref name="Bennet">{{cite journal |last=Bennett |first=Andrew T. D. |date=January 1996 |title=Do animals have cognitive maps? |journal=[[The Journal of Experimental Biology]] |volume=199 |issue=Pt 1 |pages=219–224 |doi=10.1242/jeb.199.1.219 |pmid=8576693|doi-access=free |bibcode=1996JExpB.199..219B }}</ref>

While not located in the hippocampus, grid cells from within the medial entorhinal cortex have also been implicated in the process of [[path integration]], actually playing the role of the path integrator while place cells display the output of the information gained through path integration.<ref name="McNaughton">{{cite journal |last1=McNaughton |first1=Bruce L. |last2=Battaglia |first2=Francesco P. |last3=Jensen |first3=Ole |last4=Moser |first4=Edvard I. |author-link4=Edvard Moser |last5=Moser |first5=May-Britt |author-link5=May-Britt Moser |date=August 2006 |title=Path integration and the neural basis of the 'cognitive map' |journal=[[Nature Reviews Neuroscience]] |volume=7 |issue=8 |pages=663–678 |doi=10.1038/nrn1932 |pmid=16858394 |s2cid=16928213}}</ref> The results of path integration are then later used by the hippocampus to generate the cognitive map.<ref name="Jacobs" /> The cognitive map likely exists on a circuit involving much more than just the hippocampus, even if it is primarily based there. Other than the medial entorhinal cortex, the presubiculum and parietal cortex have also been implicated in the generation of cognitive maps.<ref name="Moser" />

=== Parallel map theory ===
There has been some evidence for the idea that the cognitive map is represented in the [[hippocampus]] by two separate maps. The first is the bearing map, which represents the environment through self-movement cues and [[gradient]] cues. The use of these [[Vector (mathematics)|vector]]-based cues creates a rough, 2D map of the environment. The second map would be the sketch map that works off of positional cues. The second map integrates specific objects, or [[landmark]]s, and their relative locations to create a 2D map of the environment. The cognitive map is thus obtained by the integration of these two separate maps.<ref name="Jacobs" /> This leads to an understanding that it is not just one map but three that help us create this mental process. It should be clear that parallel map theory is still growing. The sketch map has foundation in previous neurobiological processes and explanations while the bearing map has very little research to support its evidence.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jacobs |first=Lucia F. |date=2003 |title=The Evolution of the Cognitive Map |url=http://mechanism.ucsd.edu/teaching/f13/cs200/jacobs.theevolutionofthecognitivemap.2003.pdf |journal=Brain, Behavior and Evolution |volume=62 |issue=2 |pages=128–139 |doi=10.1159/000072443 |pmid=12937351 |s2cid=16102408}}</ref>