The Effects of Attentional Engagement on Route Learning Performance in a Virtual Environment: An Aging Study
Route learning is a common navigation task affected by cognitive aging. Here we present a novel experimental paradigm to investigate whether age-related declines in executive control of attention contributes to route learning deficits. A young and an older participant group was repeatedly presented...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2017-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnagi.2017.00235/full |
| _version_ | 1817996511204605952 |
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| author | Steffen Hartmeyer Ramona Grzeschik Ramona Grzeschik Thomas Wolbers Jan M. Wiener Jan M. Wiener |
| author_facet | Steffen Hartmeyer Ramona Grzeschik Ramona Grzeschik Thomas Wolbers Jan M. Wiener Jan M. Wiener |
| author_sort | Steffen Hartmeyer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Route learning is a common navigation task affected by cognitive aging. Here we present a novel experimental paradigm to investigate whether age-related declines in executive control of attention contributes to route learning deficits. A young and an older participant group was repeatedly presented with a route through a virtual maze comprised of 12 decision points (DP) and non-decision points (non-DP). To investigate attentional engagement with the route learning task, participants had to respond to auditory probes at both DP and non-DP. Route knowledge was assessed by showing participants screenshots or landmarks from DPs and non-DPs and asking them to indicate the movement direction required to continue the route. Results demonstrate better performance for DPs than for non-DPs and slower responses to auditory probes at DPs compared to non-DPs. As expected we found slower route learning and slower responses to the auditory probes in the older participant group. Interestingly, differences in response times to the auditory probes between DPs and non-DPs can predict the success of route learning in both age groups and may explain slower knowledge acquisition in the older participant group. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T02:23:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-95163459bf85494e829033524375c5f2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1663-4365 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T02:23:13Z |
| publishDate | 2017-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-95163459bf85494e829033524375c5f22022-12-22T02:17:57ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience1663-43652017-07-01910.3389/fnagi.2017.00235244899The Effects of Attentional Engagement on Route Learning Performance in a Virtual Environment: An Aging StudySteffen Hartmeyer0Ramona Grzeschik1Ramona Grzeschik2Thomas Wolbers3Jan M. Wiener4Jan M. Wiener5Department of Psychology, Bournemouth UniversityPoole, United KingdomDepartment of Psychology, Bournemouth UniversityPoole, United KingdomAgeing and Dementia Research Centre, Bournemouth UniversityPoole, United KingdomGerman Centre for Neurodegenerative DiseasesMagdeburg, GermanyDepartment of Psychology, Bournemouth UniversityPoole, United KingdomAgeing and Dementia Research Centre, Bournemouth UniversityPoole, United KingdomRoute learning is a common navigation task affected by cognitive aging. Here we present a novel experimental paradigm to investigate whether age-related declines in executive control of attention contributes to route learning deficits. A young and an older participant group was repeatedly presented with a route through a virtual maze comprised of 12 decision points (DP) and non-decision points (non-DP). To investigate attentional engagement with the route learning task, participants had to respond to auditory probes at both DP and non-DP. Route knowledge was assessed by showing participants screenshots or landmarks from DPs and non-DPs and asking them to indicate the movement direction required to continue the route. Results demonstrate better performance for DPs than for non-DPs and slower responses to auditory probes at DPs compared to non-DPs. As expected we found slower route learning and slower responses to the auditory probes in the older participant group. Interestingly, differences in response times to the auditory probes between DPs and non-DPs can predict the success of route learning in both age groups and may explain slower knowledge acquisition in the older participant group.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnagi.2017.00235/fullagingnavigationattentionroute learningattentional engagementdecision points |
| spellingShingle | Steffen Hartmeyer Ramona Grzeschik Ramona Grzeschik Thomas Wolbers Jan M. Wiener Jan M. Wiener The Effects of Attentional Engagement on Route Learning Performance in a Virtual Environment: An Aging Study Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience aging navigation attention route learning attentional engagement decision points |
| title | The Effects of Attentional Engagement on Route Learning Performance in a Virtual Environment: An Aging Study |
| title_full | The Effects of Attentional Engagement on Route Learning Performance in a Virtual Environment: An Aging Study |
| title_fullStr | The Effects of Attentional Engagement on Route Learning Performance in a Virtual Environment: An Aging Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effects of Attentional Engagement on Route Learning Performance in a Virtual Environment: An Aging Study |
| title_short | The Effects of Attentional Engagement on Route Learning Performance in a Virtual Environment: An Aging Study |
| title_sort | effects of attentional engagement on route learning performance in a virtual environment an aging study |
| topic | aging navigation attention route learning attentional engagement decision points |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnagi.2017.00235/full |
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