Less spatial exploration is associated with poorer spatial memory in midlife adults.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Despite its importance for navigation, very little is known about how the normal aging process affects spatial exploration behavior. We aimed to investigate: (1) how spatial exploration behavior may be altered early in the aging process, (2) the relationship between exploration behavior and subsequent spatial memory, and (3) whether exploration behavior can classify participants according to age.

Methods

Fifty healthy young (aged 18-28) and 87 healthy midlife adults (aged 43-61) freely explored a desktop virtual maze, learning the locations of nine target objects. Various exploration behaviors (object visits, distance traveled, turns made, etc.) were measured. In the test phase, participants navigated from one target object to another without feedback, and their

SUBMITTER: Puthusseryppady V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11196421 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature