Common brain areas in spatial navigation and visuo-spatial planning: a meta-analysis

Planning is a fundamental function of both spatial navigation and visuo-spatial tasks, supported by overlapping and distinct neural substrates that remain partially unclear. We conducted an Activation Likelihood Estimation (ALE) meta-analysis on fMRI studies examining active, goal-directed navigation and visuo-spatial planning tasks (i.e., the Tower of London paradigm). Conjunction and contrast analyses revealed a shared network encompassing bilateral frontal regions, including the superior frontal gyrus (SFG), middle frontal gyrus (MFG), anterior insula (INS), and clusters in the left supplementary motor area (SMA) and triangular part of the inferior frontal gyrus (IFGtriang). Contrast analyses highlighted greater involvement of the hippocampus (HIP) and parahippocampal gyrus (PHG) in navigation, and posterior parietal and dorsolateral prefrontal regions in visuo-spatial planning. These findings clarify the neural mechanisms underlying these processes, emphasizing shared amodal regions contributing to both visuo-spatial planning and spatial navigation. This work provides insights on the underlying deficits associated with neurodevelopmental disorders and brain injuries.