Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 9, 2026
08:59
An Open-Source Virtual Reality System for the Measurement of Spatial Learning in Head-Restrained Mice
Published on: March 3, 2023
2.8K
Disentangling the Contribution of Spatial Reference Frames to Executive Functioning in Healthy and Pathological
Silvia Serino1,2, Francesca Morganti3, Desirée Colombo4
1Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Lab, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Via Magnasco 2, 20149 Milan, Italy. s.serino@auxologico.it.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 6, 2018
Summary
Spatial reference frame use declines with aging, impacting executive functions. This study found allocentric functions aid planning and syncing aids attention in healthy and Alzheimer
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neuropsychology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Aging is associated with declining spatial reference frame utilization for information categorization.
- Executive function deficits are a hallmark of cognitive aging, particularly in Alzheimer's Disease (AD).
- The interplay between spatial cognition and executive functions in aging requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the specific contribution of spatial reference frame abilities to executive functioning in healthy aging and probable Alzheimer's Disease (AD).
- To differentiate the roles of allocentric and egocentric spatial processing and frame syncing in executive tasks.
Main Methods:
- Employed Virtual Reality (VR) to assess the retrieval and synchronization of spatial reference frames.
- Administered standardized neuropsychological tests to evaluate executive functions, including planning and attention.
- Recruited 48 healthy elderly participants and 52 elderly individuals with probable AD.
Main Results:
- Allocentric spatial functions significantly predicted planning abilities across both groups.
- The ability to sync between different spatial reference frames was a significant predictor of attentional performance.
- These findings highlight distinct contributions of spatial processing to specific executive functions.
Conclusions:
- Spatial reference frame abilities are integral components of executive functions, with specific roles in planning and attention.
- The study provides insights into the cognitive mechanisms underlying executive deficits in healthy and pathological aging, including early AD.
- Virtual Reality offers a valuable tool for assessing complex spatial cognitive functions relevant to aging research.
Related Concept Videos
01:03Inertial Frames of Reference
8.8K
Newton’s first law is usually considered to be a statement about reference frames. It provides a method for identifying a special type of reference frame: the inertial reference frame. In principle, we can make the net force on a body zero. If its velocity relative to a given frame is constant, then that frame is said to be inertial. So, by definition, an inertial reference frame is a reference frame where Newton's first law holds valid. Newton's first law applies to objects with...
8.8K
01:27Non-inertial Frames of Reference
7.2K
A reference frame accelerating or decelerating relative to an inertial frame is a non-inertial frame. To help understand this, consider what taking off in an airplane, turning a corner in a car, riding a merry-go-round, and the circular motion of a tropical cyclone all have in common. All these systems are accelerating, decelerating, or rotating relative to the Earth; hence, they all are non-inertial frames. All these systems exhibit inertial forces, which merely seem to arise from motion,...
7.2K
03:26Framing Effects
8.0K
Information is everywhere and its presentation—such as how and when items are presented—can impact our perceptions and decisions surrounding the info. This broad concept umbrellas framing effects—influences that occur due to the way information is framed in its appearance, whether it’s purely the order or the specific wording of a message. Let’s take a look at numerous ways in which two versions of something can objectively say the same thing, yet we respond in...
8.0K
01:30Frames
848
Frames are essential components of various mechanical and structural systems used daily. These structures are known for their stability and ability to bear heavy loads. A frame is constructed using two-force and multi-force members, interconnected using pin joints. In contrast, trusses are made entirely of two-force members.
Frames are versatile and widely used in various applications such as structural supports for beams and columns, automobile chassis construction, and in the construction...
Frames are versatile and widely used in various applications such as structural supports for beams and columns, automobile chassis construction, and in the construction...
848
01:26Frames: Problem Solving II
506
Consider a hydraulic hoist supporting a load of 1 kN. Assuming a simplified schematic representation of this frame structure, the force acting on BD and BF members can be determined.
506
01:15Bioavailability Study Design: Healthy Subjects Versus Patients
161
Bioavailability studies are essential for evaluating a drug's therapeutic efficacy and understanding its absorption patterns under various physiological conditions. Conducting such studies on target patient populations provides more relevant data by simulating real-world disease states. However, practical challenges often necessitate the use of young, healthy adult volunteers as study subjects.Patients may exhibit altered drug absorption patterns due to the effects of the disease itself,...
161