Spatial, not temporal cues drive predictive orienting movements during navigation: a virtual reality study

A fundamental property of the human brain is the ability to make prediction s of future sensory and motor events. We have recently found that steering manoeuvres when walking along curvilinear trajectories are controlled by an anticipatory guidance of the direction of head (and eyes). However it is u nclear whether a time-related or space-related signal triggers such anticip atory head orienting movements. By simulating navigation along a multi-legg ed virtual corridor we show that anticipatory orienting movements are trigg ered (in standing subjects) by reaching specific locations rather than by t he time to the approaching corridor's bend. Similar to what happens in car driving, specific spatial features of the route rather than time to collisi on seem to drive steering. NeuroReport 11:775-778 (C) 2000 Lippincott Willi ams & Wilkins.