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“Where am I?” A snapshot of the developmental topographical disorientation among young Italian adults. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0271334. [PMID: 35857777 PMCID: PMC9299294 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last decade, several cases affected by Developmental Topographical Disorientation (DTD) have been described. DTD consists of a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting the ability to orient in the environment despite well-preserved cognitive functions, and in the absence of a brain lesion or other neurological or psychiatric conditions. Described cases showed different impairments in navigational skills ranging from topographic memory deficits to landmark agnosia. All cases lacked a mental representation of the environment that would allow them to use high-order spatial orientation strategies. In addition to the single case studies, a group study performed in Canada showed that the disorder is more widespread than imagined. The present work intends to investigate the occurrence of the disorder in 1,698 young Italian participants. The sample is deliberately composed of individuals aged between 18 and 35 years to exclude people who could manifest the loss of the ability to navigate as a result of an onset of cognitive decline. The sample was collected between 2016 and 2019 using the Qualtrics platform, by which the Familiarity and Spatial Cognitive Style Scale and anamnestic interview were administered. The data showed that the disorder is present in 3% of the sample and that the sense of direction is closely related to town knowledge, navigational strategies adopted, and gender. In general, males use more complex navigational strategies than females, although DTD is more prevalent in males than in females, in line with the already described cases. Finally, the paper discusses which protective factors can reduce DTD onset and which intervention measures should be implemented to prevent the spread of navigational disorders, which severely impact individuals’ autonomy and social relationships.
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Ruginski I, Giudice N, Creem-Regehr S, Ishikawa T. Designing mobile spatial navigation systems from the user’s perspective: an interdisciplinary review. SPATIAL COGNITION AND COMPUTATION 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/13875868.2022.2053382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ian Ruginski
- Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nicholas Giudice
- Spatial Computing program, School of Computing and Information Science, University of Maine, Orono, ME USA
| | | | - Toru Ishikawa
- Department of Information Networking for Innovation and Design (INIAD), Toyo University, Tokyo, Japan
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McDonald BZ, Gee CC, Kievit FM. The Nanotheranostic Researcher’s Guide for Use of Animal Models of Traumatic Brain Injury. JOURNAL OF NANOTHERANOSTICS 2021; 2:224-268. [PMID: 35655793 PMCID: PMC9159501 DOI: 10.3390/jnt2040014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is currently the leading cause of injury-related morbidity and mortality worldwide, with an estimated global cost of USD 400 billion annually. Both clinical and preclinical behavioral outcomes associated with TBI are heterogeneous in nature and influenced by the mechanism and frequency of injury. Previous literature has investigated this relationship through the development of animal models and behavioral tasks. However, recent advancements in these methods may provide insight into the translation of therapeutics into a clinical setting. In this review, we characterize various animal models and behavioral tasks to provide guidelines for evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of treatment options in TBI. We provide a brief review into the systems utilized in TBI classification and provide comparisons to the animal models that have been developed. In addition, we discuss the role of behavioral tasks in evaluating outcomes associated with TBI. Our goal is to provide those in the nanotheranostic field a guide for selecting an adequate TBI animal model and behavioral task for assessment of outcomes to increase research in this field.
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Giancola M, Verde P, Cacciapuoti L, Angelino G, Piccardi L, Bocchi A, Palmiero M, Nori R. Do Advanced Spatial Strategies Depend on the Number of Flight Hours? The Case of Military Pilots. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11070851. [PMID: 34202312 PMCID: PMC8301766 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11070851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Military pilots show advanced visuospatial skills. Previous studies demonstrate that they are better at mentally rotating a target, taking different perspectives, estimating distances and planning travel and have a topographic memory. Here, we compared navigational cognitive styles between military pilots and people without flight experience. Pilots were expected to be more survey-style users than nonpilots, showing more advanced navigational strategies. METHOD A total of 106 military jet pilots from the Italian Air Force and 92 nonpilots from the general population matched for education with the pilots were enrolled to investigate group differences in navigational styles. The participants were asked to perform a reduced version of the Spatial Cognitive Style Test (SCST), consisting of six tasks that allow us to distinguish individuals in terms of landmark (people orient themselves by using a figurative memory for environmental objects), route (people use an egocentric representation of the space) and survey (people have a map-like representation of the space) user styles. RESULTS In line with our hypothesis, military pilots mainly adopt the survey style, whereas nonpilots mainly adopt the route style. In addition, pilots outperformed nonpilots in both the 3D Rotation Task and Map Description Task. CONCLUSIONS Military flight expertise influences some aspects of spatial ability, leading to enhanced human navigation. However, it must be considered that they are a population whose navigational skills were already high at the time of selection at the academy before formal training began.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Giancola
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (M.G.); (M.P.)
| | - Paola Verde
- Aerospace Medicine Department, Aerospace Test Division, Italian Air Force, 00071 Pomezia, Italy; (L.C.); (G.A.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Luigi Cacciapuoti
- Aerospace Medicine Department, Aerospace Test Division, Italian Air Force, 00071 Pomezia, Italy; (L.C.); (G.A.)
| | - Gregorio Angelino
- Aerospace Medicine Department, Aerospace Test Division, Italian Air Force, 00071 Pomezia, Italy; (L.C.); (G.A.)
| | - Laura Piccardi
- Department of Psychology “Sapienza”, University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (L.P.); (A.B.)
- Cognitive and Motor Rehabilitation and Neuroimaging Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessia Bocchi
- Department of Psychology “Sapienza”, University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (L.P.); (A.B.)
| | - Massimiliano Palmiero
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (M.G.); (M.P.)
| | - Raffaella Nori
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy;
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Ambrase A, Lewis CA, Barth C, Derntl B. Influence of ovarian hormones on value-based decision-making systems: Contribution to sexual dimorphisms in mental disorders. Front Neuroendocrinol 2021; 60:100873. [PMID: 32987043 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2020.100873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Women and men exhibit differences in behavior when making value-based decisions. Various hypotheses have been proposed to explain these findings, stressing differences in functional lateralization of the brain, functional activation, neurotransmitter involvement and more recently, sex hormones. While a significant interaction of neurotransmitter systems and sex hormones has been shown for both sexes, decision-making in women might be particularly affected by variations of ovarian hormones. In this review we have gathered information from animal and human studies on how ovarian hormones affect decision-making processes in females by interacting with neurotransmitter systems at functionally relevant brain locations and thus modify the computation of decision aspects. We also review previous findings on impaired decision-making in animals and clinical populations with substance use disorder and depression, emphasizing how little we know about the role of ovarian hormones in aberrant decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aiste Ambrase
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tuebingen, Tübingen, Germany; International Max Planck Research School for Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience, University of Tübingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Carolin A Lewis
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tuebingen, Tübingen, Germany; Emotion Neuroimaging Lab, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany; International Max Planck Research School on Neuroscience of Communication: Function, Structure, and Plasticity, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Claudia Barth
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Birgit Derntl
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tuebingen, Tübingen, Germany; International Max Planck Research School for Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience, University of Tübingen, Tuebingen, Germany; TübingenNeuroCampus, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; LEAD Research School and Graduate Network, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
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Vieites V, Pruden SM, Reeb-Sutherland BC. Childhood wayfinding experience explains sex and individual differences in adult wayfinding strategy and anxiety. COGNITIVE RESEARCH-PRINCIPLES AND IMPLICATIONS 2020; 5:12. [PMID: 32185533 PMCID: PMC7078395 DOI: 10.1186/s41235-020-00220-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anyone who has ever found themselves lost while driving in an unfamiliar neighborhood or forgotten where they parked their car can appreciate the importance of being able to navigate their environment. Navigation, or wayfinding, is a large-scale spatial ability that involves keeping track of the relative positions of objects and features in space, which allows for determining the path to a goal location. Early experiences shape spatial skill development, and research finds sex differences in spatial behaviors from preschool through adulthood, with males consistently outperforming females. The basis for sex differences in spatial aptitude is still debated, but explanations include differences in childhood spatial experience, the use of strategies for solving large-scale spatial problems, and spatial anxiety. The current study seeks to understand childhood wayfinding factors that may influence sex and individual differences in wayfinding strategies and wayfinding anxiety in adulthood. METHOD One hundred fifty-nine undergraduate psychology students reported their childhood wayfinding experience (i.e., time spent outside, distance traveled), current use of wayfinding strategies (i.e., route strategy, orientation strategy), and current wayfinding anxiety and general anxiety levels. RESULTS Independent samples t tests revealed that, compared with females, males reported spending more time outside and traveling farther distances as children, having less current wayfinding anxiety and route strategy use, and having more current orientation strategy use. Mediation analyses found that distance traveled, but not time spent outdoors, during childhood mediated sex differences in route strategy use and wayfinding anxiety in adults, even when controlling for general anxiety. Furthermore, when controlling for participant sex and general anxiety, current wayfinding anxiety mediated the relationship between distance traveled during childhood and route strategy use in adults. CONCLUSION The current findings provide potential environmental explanations for sex and individual differences in large-scale spatial behaviors, including wayfinding. Specifically, sex differences in early wayfinding experience may explain why males and females develop different strategies for navigating and different levels of wayfinding anxiety. Furthermore, regardless of sex, allowing children to explore and navigate their outdoor environments away from home may help lessen their fears about navigating and, in turn, improve the strategies they choose to traverse unfamiliar territories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Vieites
- Department of Psychology, Florida International University, 11200 S.W. 8th Street, Miami, FL, 33199, USA.
| | - Shannon M Pruden
- Department of Psychology, Florida International University, 11200 S.W. 8th Street, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Bethany C Reeb-Sutherland
- Department of Psychology, Florida International University, 11200 S.W. 8th Street, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
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Muffato V, Meneghetti C, De Beni R. The role of visuo-spatial abilities in environment learning from maps and navigation over the adult lifespan. Br J Psychol 2019; 111:70-91. [PMID: 30927263 DOI: 10.1111/bjop.12384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Revised: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Visuo-spatial abilities have an important role in environment learning. The aim of the present study was to explore whether these abilities relate to spatial recall after learning an environment from a map or a video, and irrespective of the learner's age (from youth to old age). The study involved 431 participants from 25 to 84 years old, who were assessed for their visuo-spatial working memory, object-based mental rotation, and perspective-taking abilities. Then, they learned environments from a map and a video, and performed pointing, map drawing, and route repetition tasks after learning from each type of input. The resulting path models showed that age related to visuo-spatial abilities and (in some cases) to spatial accuracy, too. After accounting for age, visuo-spatial abilities also related to spatial recall performance, whatever the type of learning input, especially in pointing tasks and, to a lesser degree, in map drawing and route repetition tasks. Overall, the relationship between individual visuo-spatial abilities and environment learning relates to the learning input and the type of task used to assess recall. This relationship was found in a large and diverse sample of participants ranging from youth to old age.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rossana De Beni
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Italy
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Weisberg SM, Newcombe NS. Cognitive Maps: Some People Make Them, Some People Struggle. CURRENT DIRECTIONS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2018; 27:220-226. [PMID: 30122809 PMCID: PMC6095672 DOI: 10.1177/0963721417744521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The proposal that humans can develop cognitive maps of their environment has a long and controversial history. We suggest an individual-differences approach to this question instead of a normative one. Specifically, there is evidence that some people derive flexible map-like representations from information acquired during navigation whereas others store much less accurate information. Our research uses a virtual-reality paradigm in which two routes are learned and must be related to each other. It defines 3 groups: Integrators, Non-integrators, and Imprecise Navigators. These groups show distinctive patterns of spatial skills and working memory, as well as personality. We contrast our approach with research challenging the cognitive map hypothesis, and offer directions for rapprochement between the two views.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven M. Weisberg
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Nora S. Newcombe
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19122
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When young and older adults learn a map: The influence of individual visuo-spatial factors. LEARNING AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lindif.2016.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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