Invasive electrophysiological recordings from humans during navigation
Finding our way and navigating through novel and familiar environments are important functions in our daily lives. Rare invasive electrophysiological recordings of human brain activity have enabled critical insights into how the brain supports these cognitive and behavioral functions. When combined with immersive virtual reality technologies, human intracranial electrophysiology studies are able to investigate the formation and function of neural representations of space, and the neural underpinnings of spatial navigation abilities. Moreover, recent technological developments in mobile intracranial recording systems enable studies in freely moving patients with permanently implanted electrodes. Such recording systems open up novel opportunities for studying the neural mechanisms underlying spatial navigation during ambulatory exploration of real-world environments. Together, these invasive electrophysiological recording methods provide a unique window into the workings of the human brain and point to an exciting future in human navigation research.
