THE HIPPOCAMPAL AND PARIETAL FOUNDATIONS OF SPATIAL COGNITION.: By N. Burgess, K. J. Jeffrey and J. O'Keefe. 1999. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Price 29.50. Pp. 490. ISBN 0-19-852452-8.

Abstract

A considerable amount of work has been carried out investigating the neural mechanisms underlying spatial memory. This is a timely and well-constructed book that brings together work from influential researchers investigating the hippocampal and parietal contributions to spatial learning and memory. What is important about this book is that it attempts to integrate these fields and explore how these brain regions may interact during memory processing. The work is clearly described and presented at a level that will be appreciated both by researchers in the area and postgraduate students who are new to the field. The book is divided into three sections: the first two outline the roles of the parietal cortex and hippocampal formation in processing spatial information, respectively; the third section explores the interactions between the parietal cortex and hippocampus in spatial information processing. Damage to the human parietal cortex results in disturbances of spatial perception and action in space. The best-characterized deficit in (predominantly right) parietal lobe patients is a failure to explore the part of space located contralateral to the lesion. Different mechanisms and neural representations of space have been offered to explain parietal neglect. The first series of chapters consider two main themes in parietal research: first, characterization of parietal lobe impairments in spatial learning; and secondly, the potential neuronal mechanisms underlying the parietal representation of space. The chapters by Vallar and Karnath provide contrasting characterizations of parietal neglect. Vallar presents evidence that the parietal deficit in spatial cognition may reflect a translation in the egocentric frame of reference. In contrast, Karnath proposes that neglect may be characterized by a rotation of the egocentric reference frame. Driver discusses whether the spatial neglect shown by parietal patients extends to the processing of individual objects. This view is complemented by the chapter from Olsen et al . …