Landmark Distance Impacts the Overshadowing Effect in Spatial Learning Using a Virtual Water Maze Task with Healthy Adults

Abstract

Cue competition is a key element of many associative theories of learning. Overshadowing, an important aspect of cue competition, is a phenomenon in which learning about a cue is reduced when it is accompanied by a second cue. Overshadowing has been observed across many domains, but there has been limited investigation of overshadowing in human spatial learning. This experiment explored overshadowing using two landmarks/cues (at different distances to the goal) in a virtual water maze task with young, healthy adult participants. Experiment 1 initially examined whether the cues used were equally salient. Results indicated that both gained equal control over performance. In experiment 2, overshadowing was examined using the two cues from experiment 1. Results indicated that overshadowing occurred during spatial learning and that the near cue controlled searching significantly more than the far cue. Furthermore, the far cue appeared to have been completely ignored, suggesting that learning strategies requiring the least amount of effort were employed by participants. Evidence supporting an associative account of human spatial navigation and the influence of proximal cues was discussed.

The Contribution of Internal and External Factors to Human Spatial Navigation

“…In the spatial domain, it remains unclear whether overshadowing affects proximal and distal cues similarly, as findings have been inconsistent [ 39 , 40 ]. Deery and Commings [ 41 ] employed the virtual Morris water maze paradigm to investigate this issue, revealing that proximal cues exerted greater control over navigation than distal cues, which could be disregarded entirely. Consequently, navigation demands cognitive effort, prompting individuals to streamline their search processes by prioritizing proximal cues.…”