Map Learning in Aging Individuals: The Role of Cognitive Functioning and Visuospatial Factors

Abstract

Aging coincides with a decline in map learning ability, but it is unclear to what extent different aspects of the mental representation are susceptible. The present study aimed to investigate knowledge about landmarks, their positions and distances (categorical and distance relations, respectively) in relation to aging as well as cognitive functioning (measured with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment [MoCA]), visuospatial abilities, and self-reported wayfinding inclinations. Thirty young adults and 60 older adults (30 aged 63–74 and 30 aged 75–86) learned a map, freely recalled the landmarks and performed a map drawing task (considering the number of landmarks missing, position accuracy and distance accuracy). Before that, older participants were also assessed regarding their general cognitive functioning (MoCA) and a series of visuospatial measures. The results show age-related differences among adults in recalling landmarks and in both categorical and distance relations, with a worsening of performance of old-olds only in the former. Older adults’ MoCA score related to accuracy in the three measures, and an additional role of spatial anxiety was found for distance accuracy. Above and beyond the age-related decline, the quality of older people’s spatial mental representation is related to higher general cognitive level and lower spatial anxiety.

Orientation Experiences and Navigation Aid Use: A Self-Report Lifespan Study on the Role of Age and Visuospatial Factors

“…On the other hand, having negative wayfinding inclinations, such as a higher level of spatial anxiety, was found to be related to a lower tendency to go out, fewer experiences of reaching unfamiliar destinations, more experiences of getting lost, and greater map use. These results expand the current knowledge about spatial anxiety implied in decreasing spatial knowledge recall in young [30] and older adults [74], also suggesting its detrimental role in people's spatial behaviors and experiences in daily life. They also call upon the need to consider this aspect as for its applied and clinical value.…”

Getting LOST: A conceptual framework for supporting and enhancing spatial navigation in aging

“…In experiments with younger adults, similar to GPS findings, providing maps and verbal directions can improve spatial navigation (Muffato et al, 2021), however, resulting benefits may not be greater than when allowing the person to follow the route for themselves in the environment multiple times (Jaeger et al, 2022).…”

Getting LOST: A conceptual framework for supporting and enhancing spatial navigation in aging

“…Verbal directions, in contrast, specify a set of instructions, but do not explicitly show the spatial layout. In experiments with younger adults, similar to GPS findings, providing maps and verbal directions can improve spatial navigation (Muffato et al, 2021). However, resulting benefits may not be greater than when allowing the person to follow the route for themselves in the environment multiple times (Jaeger et al, 2023).…”

“…Providing too much information on maps may overwhelm the memory system of an older adult, however. Muffato et al (2021) for example showed that older adults were not only less accurate in recalling the positions of landmarks on a map, but recalled fewer of them overall. Older adults were also worse at learning locations by viewing them on a map (i.e., allocentrically) compared to navigating through an environment from a first-person perspective (i.e., egocentrically; Yamamoto & DeGirolamo, 2012).…”