Electroencephalographic Correlates of Spatial Navigation in 3D Virtual Worlds

Abstract

Human navigation heavily relies on the uptake and processing of spatial information. Here we present results from a high-density electroencephalography (EEG) study showing that subjects demonstrate stable proclivities for coding space based on distinct reference frames (egocentric or allocentric) even though the visual input is identical. Participants traversed virtual tunnels constructed from sparse visual flow and accomplished a homing task (‘point-to-origin’). Despite identical visual stimulation subjects displayed individually stable proclivities for an egocentric or an allocentric reference frame, which was also reflected in groupspecific EEG dynamics. The results implicate that individual differences should be considered for the development of navigational aids in real and virtual environments.