Sun, age and test location affect spatial orientation in human foragers in rainforests

Area of Science:

• Human behavioral ecology
• Environmental psychology
• Neuroscience of navigation

Background:

• Foraging success in dense rainforests relies on directional orientation.
• Human navigation is influenced by age, experience, and environmental cues like the sun.
• The extent of human reliance on the sun for orientation remains largely unquantified.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the orientation abilities of the Mbendjele BaYaka people in the Republic of Congo.
• To determine the influence of sun visibility on human spatial orientation.
• To provide behavioral evidence for sun compass use in humans.

Main Methods:

• Conducted pointing tests with 54 Mbendjele BaYaka participants (ages 6-76).
• Assessed pointing accuracy to out-of-sight targets in various rainforest locations.
• Correlated pointing accuracy with age, sex, and sun visibility.

Main Results:

• Participants demonstrated high overall pointing accuracy (median error: 6°).
• Pointing accuracy improved with age, unaffected by sex.
• Sun visibility enhanced young participants' accuracy, particularly when distant from their camp.

Conclusions:

• Human foragers exhibit sophisticated orientation skills in challenging environments.
• Younger individuals benefit from sun visibility for navigation, suggesting sun compass use.
• Older individuals possess robust orientation abilities, potentially independent of immediate solar cues.