To establish a proper evaluation method for spatial cognitive deficits and a form of developmental disorder, we have used an immersive virtual reality (VR) device to develop a game that involves actually walking through a VR space to search for a target object. In this paper, we presented the results of control experiment with 22 healthy elementary school students as participants. The complexity of the VR space was controlled according to the number of pillars present and whether an overall view was possible (controlled by the height of the pillars). For each set of conditions, 24 trials were performed, and the route and time taken to search for the target were recorded. The starting point was changed in each subsequent trial. Results showed that the search time decreased as the number of trials increase, suggesting a process whereby a cognitive map was formed. We also compared the present results to results from our previous experiment with university students using the same experimental conditions, and we discussed the influence of developmental stage on spatial cognition.
References
[1]
Watanabe, H., Okumura, T. and Wakamiya. E. (2015) Evaluation of Navigation Behavior by Walking Task in the Immersive Type Virtual Environment. The Japanese Journal of Ergonomics, 51, 145-149. (In Japanese)
[2]
Okumura, T., Watanabe, H. and Wakamiya, E. (2014) Relationship between Topographical Orientation and Visual Perception in Young Adults. Proceedings of COVD 44th Annual Meeting, San Diego, 22 October 2014.
[3]
Buckley, M.G. and Smith, A.D. (2013) Evidence for Spatial Navigational Impairments in Hydrocephalus Patients without Spina Bifida. Brain and Cognition, 83, 132-141. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bandc.2013.07.010
[4]
Iaria, G. and Barton, J.J.S. (2010) Developmental Topographical Disorientation: A Newly Discovered Cognitive Disorder. Experimental Brain Research, 206, 189-196. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00221-010-2256-9
[5]
Raven, J.C., Court, J.H. and Raven, J. (1995) Coloured Progressive Matrices. Oxford Psychologists Press, Oxford.
[6]
Martin, N.A. (2006) Test of Visual Perceptual Skills. 3rd Edition, Academic Therapy Publications, Novato.
[7]
Takeuchi, Y. (1992) Sense of Direction and Its Relationship with Geographical Orientation, Personality Traits and Mental Ability. Japanese Journal of Educational Psychology, 40, 47-53. http://dx.doi.org/10.5926/jjep1953.40.1_47
[8]
Golledge, R.G. (1987) Environmental Cognition. In: Stokols, D. and Altman, Eds., Handbook of Environmental Psychology, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 131-174.
[9]
Hart, R.A. and Moore, G.T. (1973) The Development of Spatial Cognition: A Review. In: Downs, R.M. and Stea, D., Eds., Image and Environment, Aldine, Chicago, 246-288.
[10]
Thorndyke, P.W. and Hayes-Roth, B. (1982) Differences in Spatial Knowledge Acquired from Maps and Navigation. Cognitive Psychology, 13, 407-433. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0010-0285(82)90019-6
[11]
Hegatry, M., Richardson, A.E., Montello, D.R., Lovelace, K. and Subbiah, I. (2002) Development of a Self-Report Measure of Environmental Spatial Ability. Intelligence, 30, 425-447. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0160-2896(02)00116-2
