Age-related impairment of navigation and strategy in virtual star maze.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Although it is well known that aging impairs navigation performance, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Egocentric strategy requires navigators to remember a series of body-turns without relying on the relationship between environmental cues. Previous study suggested that the egocentric strategy, compared with non-egocentric strategy, was relatively unimpaired during aging. In this study, we aimed to examine strategy use during virtual navigation task and the underlying cognitive supporting mechanisms in older adults.

Methods

Thirty young adults and thirty-one older adults were recruited from the local community. This study adapted star maze paradigm using non-immersive virtual environment. Participants moved freely in a star maze with adequate land

SUBMITTER: Zhang JX 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7866711 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature