Effect of reference frames and number of cues available on the spatial orientation of males and females in a virtual memory task

Behavioural Brain Research
Rosa CánovasJosé Manuel Cimadevilla

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the influence of the number of cues and cue location in human spatial learning. To assess their importance, subjects performed variants of a virtual task called "The Boxes Room". Participants were trained to locate, in a computer-generated environment with 16 boxes, the rewarded boxes through 8 trials. In experiment I, the number of distal cues available was zero, one, two or the standard arrangement (seven cues). In experiment II, place navigation was compared based on distal landmarks (extra-maze cues placed on the walls) and proximal landmarks (proximal cues placed between the boxes). The results of experiment I demonstrated that one cue in the room is enough to obtain a good performance in the task. Experiment II showed that groups using proximal cues were slower and less accurate than groups using distal cues. In addition, our data suggest that men are better navigators than women, as they found the rewarded boxes sooner and committed fewer errors in both studies. These results indicate that performance can change depending on the number and location of available cues.

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Citations

Jul 31, 2012·Attention, Perception & Psychophysics·Liana PalermoCecilia Guariglia
Jun 19, 2013·Epilepsy & Behavior : E&B·Katiuska RosasJosé Manuel Cimadevilla
Mar 25, 2014·Cognitive Neuropsychiatry·José Manuel García-MontesJosé Manuel Cimadevilla Redondo
Apr 25, 2016·Behavioural Brain Research·Robert S AsturEtan J Markus
Dec 2, 2014·PloS One·M-Carmen JuanSergio Albiol-Perez
Sep 2, 2015·Archives of Osteoporosis·Mika MatsuzakiSanjay Kinra
Oct 9, 2019·Memory·Laura TascónJosé Manuel Cimadevilla
Mar 21, 2020·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Carmen NogueraJosé Manuel Cimadevilla
Jul 5, 2019·Psychonomic Bulletin & Review·Alina NazarethNora Newcombe
Aug 14, 2019·Journal of Neuroscience Methods·M L MachadoS Besnard

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