Cognitive map formation through tactile map navigation in visually impaired and sighted persons

Abstract

The human brain can form cognitive maps of a spatial environment, which can support wayfinding. In this study, we investigated cognitive map formation of an environment presented in the tactile modality, in visually impaired and sighted persons. In addition, we assessed the acquisition of route and survey knowledge. Ten persons with a visual impairment (PVIs) and ten sighted control participants learned a tactile map of a city-like environment. The map included five marked locations associated with different items. Participants subsequently estimated distances between item pairs, performed a direction pointing task, reproduced routes between items and recalled item locations. In addition, we conducted questionnaires to assess general navigational abilities and the use of route or survey strategies. Overall, participants in both groups performed well on the spatial tasks. Our results did not show differences in performance between PVIs and sighted persons, indicating that both groups formed an equally accurate cognitive map. Furthermore, we found that the groups generally used similar navigational strategies, which correlated with performance on some of the tasks, and acquired similar and accurate route and survey knowledge. We therefore suggest that PVIs are able to employ a route as well as survey strategy if they have the opportunity to access route-like as well as map-like information such as on a tactile map.

Mental maps without vision: Neural signatures of cognitive maps based on haptic input in the hippocampal formation

“…Across all PVIs, we found no differences in distance estimation or item location recall performance between PVIs and sighted participants. This is similar to our previous research (Ottink et al, 2022a). When testing for differences between early and late PVIs, a comparison that we could not make in the previous study, however, we show that early PVIs experienced somewhat more difficulties estimating distances and recalling item locations compared to late PVIs and sighted, although their performance is still fairly good.…”

“…They do, however, perform similarly well on the spatial tasks based on haptic information as PVIs in the current study. Therefore, it could also be an issue of power, as the sighted sample size is higher in the previous study (De Haas et al, 2023), and the proposed relationships are not shown in PVIs or sighted in a study with smaller sample (Ottink et al, 2022a).…”

“…Behavioural measures include for example estimating distances between relevant locations, and recalling specific locations. Both PVIs and sighted persons have been shown to form accurate mental representations of distances on a tactile map (Afonso et al, 2010; Blanco & Travieso, 2003; Ottink, Van Raalte, Doeller, Van der Geest, & Van Wezel, 2022a; ThinusBlanc & Gaunet, 1997) and of specific locations (Gaunet et al, 1997; Iachini, Ruggiero, & Ruotolo, 2014; Papadopoulos et al, 2012; ThinusBlanc & Gaunet, 1997). Some studies indicate similar distance representations in PVIs and sighted persons (Ottink et al, 2022a; Thinus-Blanc & Gaunet, 1997).…”

“…Both PVIs and sighted persons have been shown to form accurate mental representations of distances on a tactile map (Afonso et al, 2010; Blanco & Travieso, 2003; Ottink, Van Raalte, Doeller, Van der Geest, & Van Wezel, 2022a; ThinusBlanc & Gaunet, 1997) and of specific locations (Gaunet et al, 1997; Iachini, Ruggiero, & Ruotolo, 2014; Papadopoulos et al, 2012; ThinusBlanc & Gaunet, 1997). Some studies indicate similar distance representations in PVIs and sighted persons (Ottink et al, 2022a; Thinus-Blanc & Gaunet, 1997). There is also research, however, suggesting that especially PVIs who had their visual impairment since birth (early PVIs) have slightly worse mental representations of distances compared to PVIs who acquired their visual impairment at a later age (late PVIs) and sighted persons (Afonso et al, 2010; Blanco & Travieso, 2003).…”

Diseño y construcción de mapa háptico como herramienta didáctica para el aprendizaje de personas con discapacidad visual

“…Se ha estudiado más en roedores, y posteriormente en humanos. [3] Los avances tecnológicos han introducido la impresión tridimensional (3-D) como una opción para crear mapas táctiles para personas con discapacidades visuales (es decir, invidentes o con problemas de visión), diversificando los tipos de productos de mapas disponibles. Al mismo tiempo, presenta un desafío para los creadores de mapas para implementar diseños en múltiples métodos de producción.…”