Human intracranial recordings during spatial exploration of a 3D virtual environment

Abstract

Intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) recorded electrical activity of populations of neurons in humans performing a spatial navigation task in a virtual reality. The task involved navigation in a virtual room and interaction with fixed objects located in that room. The θ (4-10Hz) frequency range of the recorded iEEG deep in the brain showed increased activity during virtual movement. The central part of that range showed a cluster of spatially dependent activity over the anterior temporal lobe (ATL), indicating that ATL may play an important, previously unrecognized, role in spatial processing.