Landmark Distance Impacts the Overshadowing Effect in Spatial Learning Using a Virtual Water Maze Task with Healthy Adults
Cue competition is a key element of many associative theories of learning. Overshadowing, an important aspect of cue competition, is a phenomenon in which learning about a cue is reduced when it is accompanied by a second cue. Overshadowing has been observed across many domains, but there has been l...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Brain Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/13/9/1287 |
| _version_ | 1797581002492608512 |
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| author | Róisín Deery Seán Commins |
| author_facet | Róisín Deery Seán Commins |
| author_sort | Róisín Deery |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cue competition is a key element of many associative theories of learning. Overshadowing, an important aspect of cue competition, is a phenomenon in which learning about a cue is reduced when it is accompanied by a second cue. Overshadowing has been observed across many domains, but there has been limited investigation of overshadowing in human spatial learning. This experiment explored overshadowing using two landmarks/cues (at different distances to the goal) in a virtual water maze task with young, healthy adult participants. Experiment 1 initially examined whether the cues used were equally salient. Results indicated that both gained equal control over performance. In experiment 2, overshadowing was examined using the two cues from experiment 1. Results indicated that overshadowing occurred during spatial learning and that the near cue controlled searching significantly more than the far cue. Furthermore, the far cue appeared to have been completely ignored, suggesting that learning strategies requiring the least amount of effort were employed by participants. Evidence supporting an associative account of human spatial navigation and the influence of proximal cues was discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:57:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-01423cfcbd0842a695018e5e20ba31b5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:57:53Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-01423cfcbd0842a695018e5e20ba31b52023-11-19T09:48:49ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252023-09-01139128710.3390/brainsci13091287Landmark Distance Impacts the Overshadowing Effect in Spatial Learning Using a Virtual Water Maze Task with Healthy AdultsRóisín Deery0Seán Commins1Psychology Department, Maynooth University, W23 F2K8 Kildare, IrelandPsychology Department, Maynooth University, W23 F2K8 Kildare, IrelandCue competition is a key element of many associative theories of learning. Overshadowing, an important aspect of cue competition, is a phenomenon in which learning about a cue is reduced when it is accompanied by a second cue. Overshadowing has been observed across many domains, but there has been limited investigation of overshadowing in human spatial learning. This experiment explored overshadowing using two landmarks/cues (at different distances to the goal) in a virtual water maze task with young, healthy adult participants. Experiment 1 initially examined whether the cues used were equally salient. Results indicated that both gained equal control over performance. In experiment 2, overshadowing was examined using the two cues from experiment 1. Results indicated that overshadowing occurred during spatial learning and that the near cue controlled searching significantly more than the far cue. Furthermore, the far cue appeared to have been completely ignored, suggesting that learning strategies requiring the least amount of effort were employed by participants. Evidence supporting an associative account of human spatial navigation and the influence of proximal cues was discussed.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/13/9/1287cue competitionovershadowingspatial learningmemoryvirtual water maze |
| spellingShingle | Róisín Deery Seán Commins Landmark Distance Impacts the Overshadowing Effect in Spatial Learning Using a Virtual Water Maze Task with Healthy Adults Brain Sciences cue competition overshadowing spatial learning memory virtual water maze |
| title | Landmark Distance Impacts the Overshadowing Effect in Spatial Learning Using a Virtual Water Maze Task with Healthy Adults |
| title_full | Landmark Distance Impacts the Overshadowing Effect in Spatial Learning Using a Virtual Water Maze Task with Healthy Adults |
| title_fullStr | Landmark Distance Impacts the Overshadowing Effect in Spatial Learning Using a Virtual Water Maze Task with Healthy Adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Landmark Distance Impacts the Overshadowing Effect in Spatial Learning Using a Virtual Water Maze Task with Healthy Adults |
| title_short | Landmark Distance Impacts the Overshadowing Effect in Spatial Learning Using a Virtual Water Maze Task with Healthy Adults |
| title_sort | landmark distance impacts the overshadowing effect in spatial learning using a virtual water maze task with healthy adults |
| topic | cue competition overshadowing spatial learning memory virtual water maze |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/13/9/1287 |
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