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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 7, 2025

Author Spotlight: Investigating the Effects of Mind-Body-Movement Practices on Brain Function

Author Spotlight: Investigating the Effects of Mind-Body-Movement Practices on Brain Function

Published on: January 26, 2024

Landmark-based spatial navigation across the human lifespan.

Marcia Bécu^1,2,3, Denis Sheynikhovich¹, Stephen Ramanoël¹

¹Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France.

|March 13, 2023

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Spatial navigation relies on both body-centered and world-centered (allocentric) cues. This study shows that age-related navigation difficulties stem from landmark processing, not geometric cues, suggesting new strategies for lifelong navigation.

Keywords:

geometry human human aging landmark neuroscience spatial cognition spatial navigation

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Area of Science:

Cognitive Psychology
Neuroscience
Human Spatial Cognition

Background:

Human spatial cognition is often described by egocentric (body-centered) and allocentric (world-centered) navigation behaviors.
It is hypothesized that allocentric spatial coding develops later and declines earlier than egocentric coding across the lifespan.

Purpose of the Study:

To challenge the hypothesis that allocentric spatial coding declines with age.
To investigate the differential use of landmarks versus geometric cues in spatial navigation across the lifespan.

Main Methods:

96 participants across different age groups navigated an equiangular Y maze.
Navigation was tested using either surrounding landmarks or an anisotropic (geometric) environment.
The use of landmark versus geometric cues was analyzed.

Main Results:

Children and older adults showed an apparent allocentric deficit, specifically when using landmarks.
When geometric cues polarized the space, these age groups performed as efficiently as young adults.
Landmark processing showed an inverted-U relationship with age, while geometric processing remained stable.

Conclusions:

The apparent allocentric deficit in younger and older individuals is due to difficulties with landmark processing, not a general decline in allocentric ability.
Allocentric navigation involves dissociable sensory systems differentially impacted by aging.
Spatial geometry processing is preserved across the lifespan, offering potential for navigation enhancement.