Laura Piccardi

Although many cases of topographical disorientation are described in the literature , very few attempts have been made to rehabilitate this deficit, most likely because it is a multi-faceted syndrome in which different patients are affected by different topographical deficits. Therefore, it is not easy to develop a single rehabilitation programme to improve all types of topographical disorders. We describe the rehabilitation of a young woman with selective and pervasive topographical disorientation who never developed navigational skills due to a cerebral malformation bilaterally involving the retrorolandic regions. During treatment, the patient was trained to explore her surroundings carefully, to orient herself and then to move in the environment using a language-based strategy. At the end of the treatment, the patient was able to navigate in the environment by adopting several cognitive strategies useful for orientation. This result was maintained at the one-year follow-up, at which time the patient was also able to reach locations she had never been to alone. These results suggest that even patients who have never developed the ability to orient themselves in the Correspondence should be sent to Chiara Incoccia, IRCCS, environment can still achieve very good functional recovery if they are accurately assessed and submitted to a specific rehabilitation intervention.

OBJECTIVE:
Body representation is a complex process involving different sources of top-down and bottom-up information. Processing the position and the relations among different body parts is necessary to build up a specific body representation, that is, the visuospatial body map (or topological map of the body). Here we aimed to investigate how the loss of peripheral or central information affects this representation by testing amputee and brain-damaged patients.
METHOD:
Thirty-two unilateral brain-damaged patients (i.e., left-brain-damaged patients and right-brain-damaged patients who were or were not affected by personal neglect), 18 lower limb amputees and 15 healthy controls took part in the study. The topological body map was assessed by means of the "Frontal body-evocation subtest" (Daurat-Hmeljiak, Stambak, & Berges, 1978), in which participants have to put tiles (each representing a body part) on a small wooden board on which a head is depicted.
RESULTS:
Group statistical analysis showed that in amputee patients the loss of peripheral information about the right lower limb affects the ability to represent relations among different body parts as much as the loss of top-down information in brain-damaged patients with personal neglect. Single case analysis of brain-damaged patients without personal neglect showed that the topological map of the body was deficient in 1 right-brain-damaged and 2 left-brain-damaged patients.
CONCLUSIONS:
Studying amputee and brain-damaged patients together allowed us to highlight the importance of visuospatial information about one's own limbs and the role of both hemispheres (not only the left one) in creating an efficient topological body representation.

In the present study we investigated the role of spatial locative comprehension in learning and retrieving pathways when landmarks were available and when they were absent in a sample of typically developing 6- to 11-year-old children. Our results show that the more proficient children are in understanding spatial locatives the more they are able to learn pathways, retrieve them after a delay and represent them on a map when landmarks are present in the environment. These findings suggest that spatial language is crucial when individuals rely on sequences of landmarks to drive their navigation towards a given goal but that it is not involved when navigational representations based on the geometrical shape of the environment or the coding of body movements are sufficient for memorizing and recalling short pathways.

Il programma che permette di eseguire un training computerizzato di coordinazione visuo-motoria (TCCVM) è stato creato dal Servizio di Riabilitazione Infantile della Fondazione Santa Lucia — IRCCS di Roma in collaborazione con il Dipartimento di Psicologia,Università La Sapienza di Roma, e con il Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute,Università degli Studi di L’Aquila. Esso si avvale del software Game Maker, uno

ABSTRACT Il programma che permette di eseguire un training computerizzato di coordinazione visuo-motoria (TCCVM) è stato creato dal Servizio di Riabilitazione Infantile della Fondazione Santa Lucia — IRCCS di Roma in collaborazione con il Dipartimento di Psicologia,Università La Sapienza di Roma, e con il Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute,Università degli Studi di L’Aquila. Esso si avvale del software Game Maker, uno strumento per lo sviluppo di videogiochi con un potente sistema di scripting, che usa un linguaggio simile al Pascal, il Game Maker Language (GML; Game Maker è stato creato dal Professor Mark H. Overmars, docente della facoltà di informatica dell’Università di Utrecht, Olanda).

Sex differences in visuospatial abilities are long
debated. Men generally outperform women, especially
in wayfinding or learning a route or a sequence of places.
These differences might depend on women’s disadvantage
in underlying spatial competences, such as mental rotation,
and on the strategies used, as well as on emotions and on
self-belief about navigational skills, not related to actual
skill-levels. In the present study, sex differences in visuospatial
and navigational working memory in emotional contexts
were investigated. Participants’ mood was manipulated
by background music (positive, negative or neutral)
while performing on the Corsi Block-tapping Task (CBT)
and Walking Corsi (WalCT) test. In order to assess the
effectiveness of mood manipulation, participants filled in
the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule before and after
carrying out the visuospatial tasks. Firstly, results showed
that after mood induction, only the positive affect changed,
whereas the negative affect remained unconfounded by
mood and by sex. This finding is in line with the main
effect of ‘group’ on all tests used: the positive music group
scored significantly higher than other groups. Secondly,
although men outperformed women in the CBT forward
condition and in the WalCT forward and backward conditions,
they scored higher than women only in the WalCT with the negative background music. This means that mood
cannot fully explain sex differences in visuospatial and
navigational working memory. Our results suggest that sex
differences in the CBT and WalCT can be better explained
by differences in spatial competences rather than by emotional contexts.

• The role of the cognitive style (Visualization/Verbalization) on visual creativity was explored. • The Visualization/Verbalization questionnaire (VVQ) and the creative synthesis task were used. • The VVQ score predicted originality of inventions. a b s t r a c t In the last two decades, interest towards creativity has increased significantly since it was recognized as a skill and as a cognitive reserve and is now always more frequently used in ageing training. Here, the relationships between visual creativity and Visualization–Verbalization cognitive style were investigated. Fifty college students were administered the Creative Synthesis Task aimed at measuring the ability to construct creative objects and the Visualization–Verbalization Questionnaire (VVQ) aimed at measuring the attitude to preferentially use either imagery or verbal strategy while processing information. Analyses showed that only the originality score of inventions was positively predicted by the VVQ score: higher VVQ score (indicating the preference to use imagery) predicted originality of inventions. These results showed that the visualization strategy is involved especially in the originality dimension of creative objects production. In light of neuroimaging results, the possibility that different strategies, such those that involve motor processes, affect visual creativity is also discussed.

Creativity refers to the capability to catch original and valuable ideas and solutions. It involves different processes. In this study the extent to which visual creativity is related
to cognitive processes underlying visual mental imagery was investigated. Fifty college students (25 women) carried out: the Creative Synthesis Task, which measures the ability
to produce creative objects belonging to a given category (originality, synthesis and transformation scores of pre-inventive forms, and originality and practicality scores of
inventions were computed); an adaptation of Clark’s Drawing Ability Test, which measures the ability to produce actual creative artworks (graphic ability, esthetic, and creativity
scores of drawings were assessed) and three mental imagery tasks that investigate the three main cognitive processes involved in visual mental imagery: generation, inspection
and transformation. Vividness of imagery and verbalizer–visualizer cognitive style were also measured using questionnaires. Correlation analysis revealed that all measures of the creativity tasks positively correlated with the image transformation imagery ability; practicality of inventions negatively correlated with vividness of imagery; originality of inventions positively correlated with the visualization cognitive style. However, regression analysis confirmed the predictive role of the transformation imagery ability only for the originality score of inventions and for the graphic ability and esthetic scores of artistic drawings; on the other hand, the visualization cognitive style predicted the originality of inventions, whereas the vividness of imagery predicted practicality of inventions. These results are consistent with the notion that visual creativity is domain- and taskspecific.

Many studies have assessed the neural underpinnings of creativity, failing to find a clear anatomical localization. We aimed to provide evidence for a multi-componential neural system for creativity. We applied a general activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis to 45 fMRI studies. Three individual ALE analyses were performed to assess creativity in different cognitive domains (Musical, Verbal and Visuo-spatial). The general ALE revealed that creativity relies on clusters of activations in the bilateral occipital, parietal, frontal and temporal lobes. The individual ALE revealed different maximal activation in different domains. Musical creativity yields activations in the bilateral medial frontal gyrus, in the left cingulate gyrus, middle frontal gyrus and inferior parietal lobule and in the right postcentral and fusiform gyri. Verbal creativity yields activations mainly located in the left hemisphere, in the prefrontal cortex, middle and superior temporal gyri, inferior parietal lobule, postcentral and supramarginal gyri, middle occipital gyrus and insula. The right inferior frontal gyrus and the lingual gyrus were also activated. Visuo-spatial creativity activates the right middle and inferior frontal gyri, the bilateral thalamus and the left precentral gyrus. This evidence suggests that creativity relies on multi-componential neural networks and that different creativity domains depend on different brain regions

The perspective of situated cognition assumes that cognition is not separated from the context. In the present study, the issue if visuospatial memory and navigational working memory are situated was explored by manipulating participants’ mood (positive, negative and neutral) while performing two different tasks. College students were randomly assigned to the group of positive, negative or neutral music. Participants filled out the positive and negative affect schedule (PANAS) before and after carrying out the Corsi Test and the Walking Corsi Test. Both tasks were performed forward and backward. Music was played throughout the memory tasks. Firstly, comparing pre-mood induction PANAS scores to post-mood induction PANAS scores, results showed that only positive affects were manipulated: After mood induction, the Positive Music Group produced higher scores, whereas the Negative Music Group produced lower scores than before mood induction; the Neutral Music Group produced no effect. Secondly, the Positive Music Group produced higher scores than Negative and Neutral Music Groups both at the Corsi Test and at the Walking Corsi Test. These results show that situational contexts that induce a specific mood can affect visuospatial memory and navigational working memory, and open to the idea that positive emotions may play a crucial role in enhancing navigational strategies.

Over the past decade mind and body practices, such as yoga and meditation, have raised interest in different scientific fields; in particular, the physiological mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects observed in meditators have been investigated. Neuroimaging studies have studied the effects of meditation on brain structure and function and findings have helped clarify the biological underpinnings of the positive effects of meditation practice and the possible integration of this technique in standard therapy. The large amount of data collected thus far allows drawing some conclusions about the neural effects of meditation practice. In the present study we used activation likelihood estimation (ALE) analysis to make a coordinate-based meta-analysis of neuroimaging data on the effects of meditation on brain structure and function. Results indicate that meditation leads to activation in brain areas involved in processing self-relevant information, self-regulation, focused problem-solving, adaptive behavior, and interoception. Results also show that meditation practice induces functional and structural brain modifications in expert meditators, especially in areas involved in self-referential processes such as self-awareness and self-regulation. These results demonstrate that a biological substrate underlies the positive pervasive effect of meditation practice and suggest that meditation techniques could be adopted in clinical populations and to prevent disease.

Depression and cognitive impairment are both common disorders in elderly people and frequently occur together. Due to the presence of a common set of behavioral and cognitive symptoms, differential diagnosis may become arduous. Neuroimaging may offer a good tool during diagnosis. We performed a coordinate-based meta-analysis to compare gray matter changes in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and late-life depression (LLD). AD and LLD led to brain atrophy in networks only partially overlapping. Both conditions are linked to a reduction of the bilateral hippocampal volume, but AD is correlated with great atrophy in the left anterior hippocampus and bilateral posterior cingulate cortex, while LLD is correlated with great atrophy in the precuneus, superior frontal gyrus, and ventromedial frontal. Present results shed some light on neural underpinnings of AD and LLD and provide new useful evidence for differential diagnosis.

The study of gender differences in prospective memory (i.e., remembering to remember) has received modest attention in the literature. The few reported studies investigating either subjective or objective evaluations of prospective memory have shown inconsistent data. In this study, we aimed to verify the presence of gender differences during the performance of an objective prospective memory test by considering the weight of specific variables such as length of delay, type of response, and type of cue. We submitted a sample of 100 healthy Italian participants (50 men and 50 women) to a test expressly developed to assess prospective memory: The Memory for Intentions Screening Test. Women performed better than men in remembering to do an event-based task (i.e., prompted by an external event) and when the task required a physical response modality. We discuss the behavioural differences that emerged by considering the possible role of sociological, biological, neuroanatomical, and methodological variables.

Visual mental imagery is a complex process that may be influenced by the content of mental images. Neuropsychological evidence from patients with hemineglect suggests that in the imagery domain environments and objects may be represented separately and may be selectively affected by brain lesions. In the present study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to assess the possibility of neural segregation among mental images depicting parts of an object, of an environment (imagined from a first-person perspective), and of a geographical map, using both a mass univariate and a multivariate approach. Data show that different brain areas are involved in different types of mental images. Imagining an environment relies mainly on regions known to be involved in navigational skills, such as the retrosplenial complex and parahippocampal gyrus, whereas imagining a geographical map mainly requires activation of the left angular gyrus, known to be involved in the representation o...

Il CD-ROM allegato a questo libro è realizzato con lo scopo di fornire un sussidio virtuale che possa fungere, al tempo stesso, sia da gioco stimolante sia da palestra per lo sviluppo delle abilità navigazionali dei bambini per la fascia di età che va dai 5 ai 10 anni.

I numerosi studi condotti sulla memoria visuo-spaziale nell’arco di vita hanno evidenziato che esistono diversi meccanismi per codificare e memorizzare i differenti tipi di informazioni spaziali (Rauchs et al., 2008; Janzen, van Turennout, 2004; Janzen, Weststeijn, 2007; Postma et al., 2004; Postma et al., 2008; Kessels et al., 2001; Piccardi et al., 2008; Cestari et al., 2007; Mammarella et al., 2006; Pazzaglia, Cornoldi, 1999; Lecerf, de Ribaupierre, 2005).

Quando un individuo trova un ostacolo lungo un percorso, o deve trovare una scorciatoia, o nel caso in cui debba riprodurre al contrario un tragitto precedentemente effettuato, per orientarsi con successo deve essere in grado di riconoscere i landmark precedentemente incontrati, anche se questi vengono visualizzati secondo una prospettiva differente. La capacità di riconoscere una stessa immagine presentata da punti di vista diversi è quindi fondamentale per il buon esito della navigazione.

Per mantenere l’orientamento nell’ambiente circostante, l’uomo deve aggiornare le proprie relazioni spaziali egocentriche (vale a dire le informazioni che provengono da se stesso in relazione con l’ambiente) al cambiare della sua posizione nello spazio. Tali aggiornamenti avvengono tramite l’integrazione di diverse fonti di informazioni (visiva, vestibolare, propriocettiva). In particolar modo l’informazione visiva gioca un ruolo fondamentale nell’aggiornamento sia della propria posizione sia di eventuali modifiche subite dall’ambiente (Farrell, Robertson, 2000). Inoltre, attraverso l’esperienza che deriva dal suo movimento nello spazio, l’individuo è in grado di elaborare un’informazione sia propriocettiva (cioè un’informazione sul senso di posizione e movimento degli arti e del corpo, che si ha indipendentemente dalle informazioni visive) sia locomotoria (un’informazione derivante dal proprio movimento indipendentemente dall’informazione visiva). Inoltre, gli studi condotti sui non vedenti ci insegnano che gli individui sono effettivamente in grado di aggiornare la propria posizione anche in assenza dell’informazione visiva (Rieser et al., 1986; Rieser 1989; Seemungal et al., 2007). Quando una persona si muove al buio ricava le informazioni sulla propria posizione basandosi su un processo definito path integration nel quale la posizione viene dedotta sulla base delle informazioni che derivano da segnali inerziali inviati dal sistema vestibolare e da informazioni tattili, attraverso un complicatissimo processo di integrazione che si avvale anche di veri e propri calcoli matematici per addizionare le informazioni vettoriali di movimento (Mittlestaedt, Mittlestaedt, 1980; Glasauer et al., 2002).

La memoria di posizione si riferisce all’abilità di ricordare la collocazione di elementi nell’ambiente. Su questa capacità facciamo affidamento, per esempio, ogniqualvolta desideriamo ritrovare un particolare oggetto riposto all’interno di una stanza. A partire dai 13 anni di età, a differenza di altre abilità visuo-spaziali, la capacità di ricordare la posizione di oggetti risulta essere migliore nei soggetti di sesso femminile, perciò una serie di esercizi mirati al potenziamento di tale abilità può essere di aiuto per migliorare anche nei soggetti di sesso maschile un’abilità importante per la propria autonomia.