Map learning and the alignment effect in young and older adults: how do they gain from having a map available while performing pointing tasks?

Abstract

Two studies were conducted to investigate age-related differences between young and older adults in the impact of a map being available or not while performing aligned and counter-aligned pointing tasks. In the first study, 19 young adults (aged 20-30) and 19 young-old adults (aged 65-74) studied a map and performed a pointing task. In the second, three groups of adults, 19 of them young (aged 20-30), 19 young-old (aged 65-74), and 19 old-old (aged 75-84), studied a map and performed a pointing task, first with the map available, and then without it. The results of both studies showed that young and older adults' performance was similar in aligned pointing, while the young performed better than the older adults in counter-aligned pointing. Analyzing the types of error, results showed that older adults made more counter-aligned pointing errors than young adults, both with and without the map. Having the map available improved all participants' performance, however. Finally, visuo-spatial working memory was found to sustain pointing performance in all age groups and map conditions. Overall, these findings suggest that older adults are specifically susceptible to the alignment effect-making more counter-aligned errors-regardless of whether or not they have a map available while performing pointing tasks.

Age and gender differences in spatial perspective taking

“…As Jansen and Heil [33] have determined, in the aging process, important cognitive functions, such as visuo-spatial abilities and working memory may be impaired. On the other hand, in contrast to Borella et al, [21] we did not find significant differences between age groups in the number of opposite responses. Opposite responses (four points of deviation in our scoring) were not frequent answers in any age group.…”

“…Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that the group 9 gender interaction did not show significant differences. Other recent studies, using the PPT, have also indicated similar gender differences across age groups [21,30].…”

“…For example, Meneghetti et al [30] showed that both young and older groups made similar errors in the more demanding items of the PPT. In the same line, Borella et al [21] found a significant interaction between age and type of pointing judgment (aligned vs. contra-aligned) in pointing error, such that the age groups did not differ for aligned judgments but older adults performed worse than younger adults on contra-aligned judgments. This interaction appeared to occur because older adults made more opposite-quadrant pointing responses than younger adults for contra-aligned but not aligned judgments.…”

“…Due to the importance of spatial orientation abilities in our daily life, several studies have tested the impact of age and gender on this cognitive function [14,16,21,22]. Agerelated declines have been widely described in several studies on different spatial tasks, partly due to impairments in several cognitive processes, such as memory, reasoning, attention and speed processing [23][24][25][26].…”

Spatial updating of multiple targets: Comparison of younger and older adults

“…Mixed results have been found for age effects when learning locations from maps and small-scale arrays not requiring physical movement to explore. While some have found clear evidence of spatial decline (Iachini et al, 2009; Kirasic, 2000; Moffat & Resnick, 2002), others have shown preservation when memory prompts are present (Yamamoto & DeGirolamo, 2015) or a mix of preservation and decline depending on alignment of perspective (Borella, Meneghetti, Muffato, & De Beni, 2015). The encoding and retention of spatial layouts by older adults clearly merits further examination, as in the present studies.…”