A novel training program for improving spatial orientation: A pilot study

McLaren-Gradinaru, Michael

A novel training program for improving spatial orientation: A pilot study

dc.contributor.advisor	Iaria, Giuseppe
dc.contributor.author	McLaren-Gradinaru, Michael
dc.contributor.committeemember	Callahan, Brandy L.
dc.contributor.committeemember	Lévy, Richard M.
dc.date	2020-02
dc.date.accessioned	2019-10-28T21:23:02Z
dc.date.available	2019-10-28T21:23:02Z
dc.date.issued	2019-10-15
dc.description.abstract	The ability to form and use a mental representation of the surrounding is a critical skill for efficient spatial navigation and orientation in humans. Such a mental representation, more commonly known as a “cognitive map”, provides detailed information about landmarks and their relationships with each other in space. The inability to effectively form or use cognitive maps is typically compensated by using lower-level, less efficient approaches to navigation and orientation such as memorizing a series of turns and distances that leads to struggles with navigating the environment, making day-to-day activities more difficult. This study aims to examine the potential to train the ability to form cognitive maps by using a computerized program in a virtual environment designed appositely to simulate the acquisition of this important skill as occurring in children during development. Fifteen healthy adults completed a 12-day training and were administered a comprehensive spatial behavioral assessment before and after the training program. The results showed that the training program significantly improved the participants’ general ability to form cognitive maps. The training program did not significantly improve more specific cognitive functions such as mental rotation and perspective taking, suggesting that the program targets specifically the higher cognitive ability to form a mental representation of the surrounding. These findings provide the very first evidence that the ability to form cognitive map for orientation and navigation is a trainable skill. The use of the novel training program developed for this study could have a significant positive impact in the lives of the many individuals affected by topographical disorientation as a result of a neurological condition or a cognitive decline in the aging population.	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	McLaren-Gradinaru, M. (2019). A novel training program for improving spatial orientation: A pilot study (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.	en_US
dc.identifier.doi	http://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/37220
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/1880/111182
dc.language.iso	eng	en_US
dc.publisher.faculty	Cumming School of Medicine	en_US
dc.publisher.institution	University of Calgary	en
dc.rights	University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.	en_US
dc.subject	Brain	en_US
dc.subject	Behaviour	en_US
dc.subject	Spatial	en_US
dc.subject	Navigation	en_US
dc.subject	Orientation	en_US
dc.subject	Wayfinding	en_US
dc.subject	Cognitive	en_US
dc.subject	Map	en_US
dc.subject	Training	en_US
dc.subject	Virtual	en_US
dc.subject	Development	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Neuroscience	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Psychology--Cognitive	en_US
dc.title	A novel training program for improving spatial orientation: A pilot study	en_US
dc.type	master thesis	en_US
thesis.degree.discipline	Medicine – Neuroscience	en_US
thesis.degree.grantor	University of Calgary	en_US
thesis.degree.name	Master of Science (MSc)	en_US
ucalgary.item.requestcopy	true	en_US