Activation in brain regions associated with spatial navigation, such as the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex - a critical hub for grid cells - has also been observed during tasks such as representing a social network or abstract conceptual relations. To demonstrate a behavioral parallel between cognitive maps of abstract and physical spaces, we developed a novel task in which participants constructed spatial representations of relational statements along two dimensions, and were tested on ability to make inferences from these statements. Participants’ representations varied widely, with some using a regular, hexagonal grid pattern. The uniformity of their patterns correlated with performance on the inference task, a spatial ability measure, and a spatial habits of mind questionnaire. These findings support extant research proposing a flexible cognitive map system used for representing both physical space and conceptual relations, and suggest that this system is subject to individual differences in more general spatial processing.

There is growing evidence that spatial abilities can be improved through training, including participation in hobbies and everyday activities that involve spatial thinking. In order to better assess the contributions of everyday spatial activities to the development of spatial skills, we developed a new self-report questionnaire of spatial activities by adding updates and navigation activities to an existing questionnaire. A principal component analysis revealed five interpretable components which were compared to measures of perspective taking, mental rotation and two other self-report scales. Small but significant correlations were found between the ‘navigation’ component of the spatial activities questionnaire and a self-report measure of sense of direction, as well as self-reported childhood wayfinding experience. No sex difference was found on the ‘navigation’ component. This questionnaire is currently being used in a large study of spatial abilities.

Connections between neurons can be mapped by acquiring and analysing electron microscopic brain images. In recent years, this approach has been applied to chunks of brains to reconstruct local connectivity maps that are highly informative1-6, but nevertheless inadequate for understanding brain function more globally. Here we present a neuronal wiring diagram of a whole brain containing 5 × 107 chemical synapses7 between 139,255 neurons reconstructed from an adult female Drosophila melanogaster8,9. The resource also incorporates annotations of cell classes and types, nerves, hemilineages and predictions of neurotransmitter identities10-12. Data products are available for download, programmatic access and interactive browsing and have been made interoperable with other fly data resources. We derive a projectome-a map of projections between regions-from the connectome and report on tracing of synaptic pathways and the analysis of information flow from inputs (sensory and ascending neurons) to outputs (motor, endocrine and descending neurons) across both hemispheres and between the central brain and the optic lobes. Tracing from a subset of photoreceptors to descending motor pathways illustrates how structure can uncover putative circuit mechanisms underlying sensorimotor behaviours. The technologies and open ecosystem reported here set the stage for future large-scale connectome projects in other species.