Landmark-dependent Navigation Strategy Declines across the Human Life-Span: Evidence from Over 37,000 Participants

Abstract

Humans show a remarkable capacity to navigate various environments using different navigation strategies, and we know that strategy changes across the life span. However, this observation has been based on studies of small sample sizes. To this end, we used a mobile app-based video game (Sea Hero Quest) to test virtual navigation strategies and memory performance within a distinct radial arm maze level in over 37,000 participants. Players were presented with 6 pathways (3 open and 3 closed) and were required to navigate to the 3 open pathways to collect a target. Next, all 6 pathways were made available and the player was required to visit the pathways that were previously unavailable. Both reference memory and working memory errors were calculated. Crucially, at the end of the level, the player was asked a multiple-choice question about how they found the targets (i.e., a counting-dependent strategy vs. a landmark-dependent strategy). As predicted from previous laboratory studies, we found the use of landmarks declined linearly with age. Those using landmark-based strategies also performed better on reference memory than those using a counting-based strategy. These results extend previous observations in the laboratory showing a decreased use of landmark-dependent strategies with age.

The relationship between object-based spatial ability and virtual navigation performance

“…By combining the NSQ with the RAM tests for this study we reveal, for this population, that landmark-counting strategies appear to be orthogonal to the survey-route dimension captured by the NSQ. Notably, the lack of a correlation between wayfinding inefficiency and the RAM measures in this small lab sample matches our recent report of an absence of correlation between these in an online sample of over 37,000 participants (West et al, 2023). The absence of a correlation of the PI measure and the other navigation tasks is notable in light of recent evidence that PI, rather than other spatial tests, might be particularly important for early detection of AD (Kunz et al, 2015; Bierbrauer et al, 2020; Newton et al, 2023).…”

“…We found that those that used the landmark strategy on RAM levels performed significantly better on both RAM and wayfinding levels than those who used the counting strategy. This mirrors recent evidence from the large participant group of over 37,000 participants (West et al, 2023). By combining the NSQ with the RAM tests for this study we reveal, for this population, that landmark-counting strategies appear to be orthogonal to the survey-route dimension captured by the NSQ.…”

“…Based on the results of Table 6, which are consistent with previous findings of West et al 2023, additional correlational analyses were conducted to check the association between both types of RAM errors and all SHQ and neuropsychological measures for RAM landmark strategy users only. We found a significant positive association between RAM RM errors and RAM SWM errors.…”

“…This result is consistent with the view that ‘spatial working memory’ is not a unitary cognitive function, but depends on the context (e.g., 2D screen space versus VR rendered 3D environment). Theoretically, it seems plausible that the D-Corsi is supported mainly via frontoparietal circuits, and the RAM additionally draws on hippocampal circuits to support the representation of the large-scale environment (Iaria et al, 2003; West et al, 2023). The absence of a correlation between the RAM and other navigation tasks further indicates that different cognitive demands between the tasks are involved.…”

“…Note. The predictions shown are based on the existing literature and (in bold) on previous findings from SHQ (Coutrot et al, 2018;Hegarty et al, 2002;Hegarty et al, 2006;Lawton et al, 1994;West et al, 2023), and, in the cases where there was no prior research on which we could rely, on general assumptions about the relationships between measures.…”