Sensory information and geographical orientation in healthy subjects

The effect of sensory input on the performance of a geographical orientation task of children at two different ages (kindergartners and fourth graders) and adults was determined. I investigated the ability of subjects to point accurately to the starting position after experiencing identical routes under three sensory conditions. In Condition 1, subjects were led walking through routes and could see the walls and ceiling of the test room (visual, somatosensory, and vestibular information). In Condition 2, subjects were led walking with vision occluded (somatosensory and vestibular information). In Condition 3, subjects were pushed in a wheelchair with vision occluded (primarily vestibular information). As more sensory information was available, subjects maintained their orientation better to their starting position, and accuracy improved with age. This quantitative analysis of geographical orientation may be appropriate for future clinical studies of neurologically impaired adults and children.