Goodroe, Sarah, Fernandez Velasco, Pablo, Gahnstrom, Christoffer J et al. (4 more authors) (2025) Predicting real-world navigation performance from a virtual navigation task in older adults. PLOS ONE. e0317026. ISSN 1932-6203
Abstract
Virtual reality environments presented on tablets and smartphones offer a novel way of measuring navigation skill and predicting real-world navigation problems. The extent to which such virtual tests are effective at predicting navigation in older populations remains unclear. We compared the performance of 20 older participants (54-74 years old) in wayfinding tasks in a real-world environment in London, UK, and in similar tasks designed in a mobile app-based test of navigation (Sea Hero Quest). In a previous study with young participants (18-35 years old), we were able to predict navigation performance in real-world tasks in London and Paris using this mobile app. We find that for the older cohort, virtual navigation performance predicts real-world performance for medium difficulty, but not for the easy or difficult environments. Overall, our study supports the utility of using digital tests of spatial cognition in older age groups, while carefully adapting the task difficulty to the population.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2025 Goodroe et al |
Keywords: | Humans,Middle Aged,Aged,Male,Female,Spatial Navigation/physiology,Virtual Reality,Adult,Mobile Applications,Young Adult,Adolescent,Task Performance and Analysis,London,Cognition/physiology |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Arts and Humanities (York) > Philosophy (York) |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 05 Feb 2025 09:20 |
Last Modified: | 05 Feb 2025 09:30 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0317026 |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1371/journal.pone.0317026 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:222913 |
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Filename: journal.pone.0317026.pdf
Description: Predicting real-world navigation performance from a virtual navigation task in older adults
Licence: CC-BY 2.5