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Reviews in the neurosciences
12 20, 2021;32 (8): 887-903.

Virtual Morris water maze: opportunities and challenges.

Conor Thornberry, Jose M Cimadevilla, Sean Commins
Author Information
  1. Conor Thornberry: Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, John Hume Building, North Campus, Maynooth, Co Kildare W23 F2H6, Ireland.
  2. Jose M Cimadevilla: Department of Psychology and Health Research Center, University of Almeria, 04120 La Cañada, Almería, Spain.
  3. Sean Commins: Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, John Hume Building, North Campus, Maynooth, Co Kildare W23 F2H6, Ireland.
PMID: 33838098 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2020-0149

Abstract

The ability to accurately recall locations and navigate our environment relies on multiple cognitive mechanisms. The behavioural and neural correlates of spatial navigation have been repeatedly examined using different types of mazes and tasks with animals. Accurate performances of many of these tasks have proven to depend on specific circuits and brain structures and some have become the standard test of memory in many disease models. With the introduction of virtual reality (VR) to neuroscience research, VR tasks have become a popular method of examining human spatial memory and navigation. However, the types of VR tasks used to examine navigation across laboratories appears to greatly differ, from open arena mazes and virtual towns to driving simulators. Here, we examined over 200 VR navigation papers, and found that the most popular task used is the virtual analogue of the Morris water maze (VWM). Although we highlight the many advantages of using the VWM task, there are also some major difficulties related to the widespread use of this behavioural method. Despite the task's popularity, we demonstrate an inconsistency of use - particularly with respect to the environmental setup and procedures. Using different versions of the virtual water maze makes replication of findings and comparison of results across researchers very difficult. We suggest the need for protocol and design standardisation, alongside other difficulties that need to be addressed, if the virtual water maze is to become the 'gold standard' for human spatial research similar to its animal counterpart.

Keywords

spatial memory spatial navigation virtual maze virtual reality water maze

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MeSH Term

Animals
Humans
Maze Learning
Mental Recall
Morris Water Maze Test
Spatial Navigation
Virtual Reality
Journal Article

Word Cloud

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