The Influence Of Map Learning On Spatial Navigation Ability Based On Representation And Its Gender Differences

Spatial navigation ability is vital to help individuals move from the current location to the target location.Specially,the navigation ability based on allocentric representation is one of the important component of navigation ability.By mastering allocentric representation,individuals can organize spatial knowledge like maps,and flexibly respond to complex spatial environments.Therefore,the lack of spatial navigation ability based on allocentric representation makes individuals unable to adapt to more demanding spatial environments.So,it is an important question to improve the individuals’ spatial navigation ability based on allocentric representation.Previous studies have shown that map learning can indeed provide the information of allocentric representation.However,no empirical study has proved the effect of map learning on spatial navigation ability based on allocentric representation,and no study has explored the different effects of different map learning methods.In addition,there were still various deficits on how to measure the spatial navigation ability based on allocentric representation.In consideration of the deficits of previous studies,the Study 1 aims to update the measuring method of spatial navigation based on allocentric representation.In Study 1,a maze learn and recall experimental paradigm was designed.In this experiment,specifically,participants were asked to firstly learn the location of objects in a virtual maze,and then perform the place following test and changing angle test to measure their spatial navigation ability based on allocentric representation.Thus,58 participants(30males)were finally recruited in this study.They were firstly asked to complete the Santa Barbara Sense of Direction Scale and then perform a series of learn and recall tasks.Based on the correspondence between allocentric representation and map knowledge,we analyzed the correlation between the results of the place following test and changing angle test in the experiment,as well as the scores of the questions reflecting cognitive map ability in the Santa Barbara Direction Sense Questionnaire.The results showed that there were significant correlations between these three measures above.Thus,there’s a validity in measuring the spatial navigation ability based on allocentric representation by the place following test and the change angle test.Based on the experimental paradigm of Study 1,Study 2 further explored the influence of different map learning methods on spatial navigation ability based on allocentric representation.In study 2,the same participants from study 1 were recruited again to join this experiment.They were randomly assigned to 3 groups,map reading learning group,map drawing learning group and direct navigation learning group,with20 people in map reading learning group(10 males),19 people in map drawing learning group(10 males),19 people in direct navigation learning group(10 males).The participants were also required to conduct the place following test and changing angle test after finishing different ways of map learning.Their performances in this experiment were recorded as the second round result(the results of study 1 were recorded as the first round),and the difference between study 2 and study 1 was recorded as the improvement value of spatial navigation ability based on allocentric representation.Then,we can further compare the differences of these three groups in the improvement value.The results showed that the two map learning groups improved the spatial navigation ability based on allocentric representation significantly much more than the direct navigation learning group.In detail,the map reading learning group had the best improvement value on the place following test,while the map drawing learning group had the best improvement value on the changing angle test.The results showed that the map reading learning is good at improving the ability of distance judgement,while the map drawing is good at improving the ability of angle judgement.Last,we compared the effect of gender on map learning.The results showed that there were differences between males and females in the spatial navigation ability based on allocentric representation,however,there was no difference in the improvement after map learning.In conclusion,this study first designed a new experimental paradigm to measure the spatial navigation ability based on allocentric representation by integrating location,route,distance and angle information and improving ecological validity of paradigm.Secondly,this study explored the different effects of different map learning methods on the spatial navigation ability based on allocentric representation,as well as further explored the gender effect in map learning.The results suggested that we should pay more attention to measuring the spatial navigation ability based on allocentric representation,and use different map learning flexibly to improve the spatial navigation ability based on allocentric representation.