In this article, I discuss the process of navigation through reviewing the function of the primate parahippocampal cortex based on recent studies in humans and monkeys. Studies of brain damaged patients and of functional brain imaging suggest that the human parahippocampal cortex is involved in the scene recognition process. The parahippocampal cortex widely connects with other brain areas, including areas in the dorsal pathway as well as those in the ventral pathway. Monkeys damaged with the parahippocampal cortex are impaired on complex spatial memory tasks but on object recognition tasks. Neurons in the parahippocampal cortex respond to visual stimuli, and a few neuronal studies suggest the spatial function of the parahippocampal cortex. These studies suggest that the parahippocampal cortex is involved in the visuo-spatial processing. Further studies as to the role of the parahippocampal cortex will elucidate the scene recognition and navigation processes.
