Orienteering experts report more proficient spatial processing and memory across adulthood

Abstract

The closest surrogate to hunter-gather activity is the sport of orienteering, which naturally and simultaneously combines high-intensity interval exercise with navigation. Although human cognition can be improved across the lifespan through exercise and cognitive training, interventions like orienteering may be especially effective because they resemble activities engaged in by prehistoric humans during evolution. The present study tested whether orienteering experts have better hippocampal-dependent cognitive function than active, non-orienteering controls. One-hundred and fifty-eight healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 87 years old with varying experience in orienteering (none, intermediate, advanced, elite) reported on their spatial processing, spatial memory and episodic memory using the Navigational Strategy Questionnaire and the Survey of Autobiographical Memory. Orienteering experts reported greater use of allocentric and egocentric spatial processing and better spatial memory than controls. In contrast, episodic memory was not associated with orienteering expertise. Notably, the significant effects of orienteering on spatial cognition remained even after controlling for age, sex, and physical activity, suggesting that orienteering may be an effective intervention to prevent age-related cognitive decline in spatial navigation and memory.

Orienteering combines vigorous-intensity exercise with navigation to improve human cognition and increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor

“…Also, those who travelled shorter distances reported greater reliance on egocentric spatial navigation. Allocentric spatial navigation was not as strongly related to course distance travelled, which was surprising given that allocentric spatial processing, like egocentric spatial processing and spatial memory, have been previously associated with expertise in the sport of orienteering [ 27 ]. The weak association between allocentric spatial processing and navigational efficiency observed here may be related to participants’ familiarity with the course terrain.…”

“…For our simultaneous exercise-cognition training, we used the sport of orienteering, which naturally and simultaneously integrates exercise with spatial navigation and, therefore, may be an optimal way to combine exercise and cognitive training to target hippocampal plasticity and function [ 27 ]. The sport of orienteering requires the athlete to navigate through a series of checkpoints across an unknown terrain as fast as possible using only a topographical map and a compass [ 28 ].…”

“…Indeed, our prior research revealed that orienteering experts aged 18–87 reported superior navigational strategies and better spatial memory than non-orienteering controls [ 27 ]. This recent observation resembles earlier research on London taxi drivers who, compared to controls, had a higher degree of navigational competency [ 39 ].…”

“…However, not all parts of their hippocampus were larger; the anterior hippocampus, historically understood for its role in mediating episodic memory, was smaller in taxi drivers compared to controls, suggesting a trade-off between spatial and episodic memory that may be dependent on the training experience. Notably, the same trade-off was not seen with orienteering in that expert orienteers reported better spatial memory but not worse episodic memory to controls [ 27 ]. The simultaneous integration of exercise with navigation may be preventing the trade-off [ 27 ].…”

“…Notably, the same trade-off was not seen with orienteering in that expert orienteers reported better spatial memory but not worse episodic memory to controls [ 27 ]. The simultaneous integration of exercise with navigation may be preventing the trade-off [ 27 ]. To date, only a handful of studies have examined the effect of orienteering training on cognition [ 42 – 44 ]; most have examined spatial cognition, and none have manipulated its intensity or examined lactate and BDNF.…”