Preference for directional responding in a virtual Morris water task is associated with increased precuneus activation in adolescent humans.

Spatial navigation is a fundamental skill that has been extensively studied in relation to the neurobiology of learning and memory. The Morris water task (MWT) for rodents and the virtual MWT (VMWT) for humans have been utilized to investigate the neural bases of spatial navigation, learning, and memory. While performance in these tasks is often conceptualized in terms of place navigation, several studies have illustrated that rodents and humans display a clear preference for directional responding, in which individuals navigate based on orientation within the environment rather than navigate to absolute spatial locations. The present study examined the neural correlates of directional responding in adolescent humans using fMRI in a VMWT. Participants who exhibited a clear preference for directional responding, assessed during a test trial that put place and directional navigation in conflict, displayed increased activation in the left precuneus, cuneal cortex, and superior lateral occipital cortex. These findings align with previous research linking the parietal cortex to spatial navigation. Notably, hippocampal activation in the VMWT was observed and previously reported by Sneider et al. [1]. However, hippocampal activity in the present study did not differ based on navigational preference. These observations support the conclusion that directional responding engages distinct cortical regions and provide insight into individual differences in spatial navigation strategies.