Executive and memory correlates of age-related differences in wayfinding performances using a virtual reality application

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate in large-scale spaces wayfinding and spatial learning difficulties for older adults in relation to the executive and memory decline associated with aging. We compared virtual reality (VR)-based wayfinding and spatial memory performances between young and older adults. Wayfinding and spatial memory performances were correlated with classical measures of executive and visuo-spatial memory functions, but also with self-reported estimates of wayfinding difficulties. We obtained a significant effect of age on wayfinding performances but not on spatial memory performances. The overall correlations showed significant correlations between the wayfinding performances and the classical measures of both executive and visuo-spatial memory, but only when the age factor was not partialled out. Also, older adults underestimated their wayfinding difficulties. A significant relationship between the wayfinding performances and self-reported wayfinding difficulty estimates is found, but only when the age effect was partialled out. These results show that, even when older adults have an equivalent spatial knowledge to young adults, they had greater difficulties with the wayfinding task, supporting an executive decline view in age-related wayfinding difficulties. However, the correlation results are in favor of both the memory and executive decline views as mediators of age-related differences in wayfinding performances. This is discussed in terms of the relationships between memory and executive functioning in wayfinding task orchestration. Our results also favor the use of objective assessments of everyday navigation difficulties in virtual applications, instead of self-reported questionnaires, since older adults showed difficulties in estimating their everyday wayfinding problems.

Visuo-spatial ability in individuals with Down syndrome: Is it really a strength?

“…Wayfinding is a process of determining and following a route or path from an origin to a destination and is an outcome of a collection of skills such as route memory, landmark use, and survey knowledge (Wiener, Büchner, & Hölscher, 2009). Correlational studies have shown that wayfinding performance is positively, albeit somewhat weakly, associated with spatial memory (Nori, Grandicelli, & Giusberti, 2009; Taillade et al, 2013), mental rotation (Kozhevnikov, Motes, Rasch, & Blajenkova, 2006; Malinowski, 2001), and closure (Hegarty, Montello, Richardson, Ishikawa, & Lovelace, 2006; Kirasic, 2000; Meneghetti, Fiore, Borella, & De Beni, 2011). On the other hand, wayfinding, as a task on geographic large-scale environment, is also unique in its own form and distinguished from the four spatial abilities as reviewed here, which are mostly measured by psychometric tasks (for a review and discussion, see Allen, 1999; but see Hegarty et al, 2006).…”

Review of safety and mobility issues among older pedestrians

“…Older adults have been shown to place priority on motor control during dual-task walking, so as to avoid falling but at the expense of walking speed (Hollman et al, 2007) or talking (for a review, see Beurskens and Bock, 2012;Sparrow et al, 2002). In this line, the greater declines of executive functions in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease (da Costa et al, 2013) may be why these medical conditions are strongly associated with a higher risk of falling (Delbaere et al, 2012;Sheridan and Hausdorff, 2007), a higher risk of being injured during street crossing (Gorrie et al, 2008) and navigation difficulties in real-life or simulator studies (e.g., Kliegel et al, 2007;Salthouse and Siedlecki, 2007;Taillade et al, 2013).…”

Age-Related Wayfinding Differences in Real Large-Scale Environments: Detrimental Motor Control Effects during Spatial Learning Are Mediated by Executive Decline?

“…Interestingly, studies using transfer tasks reported an age-related effect on the wayfinding performances [21], [30], [31], but failed to find this effect on the spatial memory performances (route and survey knowledge measures) [21], [30]. Taillade et al [21] and Foreman et al [30] showed differences on wayfinding performances between younger and older adults but no difference for spatial memory tasks. Foreman et al [30] studied the transfer of spatial knowledge from a virtual shopping mall to its real version.…”

“…Wayfinding is classically described as a purposeful, directed, and motivated movement from an origin to a specific distant destination, which cannot be directly perceived by the traveler [19], [20] and is likely dependent on executive functioning, such as planning abilities and decision making [1], [21]. Indeed, prefrontal cortex activations are found in relation with goal proximity [22], or with the planning and monitoring processes during navigation [7].…”

“…Among the already published studies based on a realistic environment, most have investigated age-related differences in navigation tasks within a virtual environment (learning and recall phases in the VE [24], [25], [26], [27], [28], [29], while very few have investigated age differences in navigation tasks that require the use and transfer of spatial knowledge acquired in a VE to subsequently perform a navigation task under real conditions [21], [30], [31]. Interestingly, studies using transfer tasks reported an age-related effect on the wayfinding performances [21], [30], [31], but failed to find this effect on the spatial memory performances (route and survey knowledge measures) [21], [30]. Taillade et al [21] and Foreman et al [30] showed differences on wayfinding performances between younger and older adults but no difference for spatial memory tasks.…”