Research Information System
Auditory and Vestibular Research, vol.33, no.2, pp.162-171, 2024 (Scopus)
A B S T R A C T
Background and Aim: Path integration refers to the capability of utilizing self-motion
information produced by one’s own bodily movements to accurately determine and
maintain one’s position in space. Typically, path integration mechanisms come into play
when visual information is limited or absent. The objective of this study was to develop a
path integration test that relies solely on self-motion cues derived from body movements,
without the involvement of visual cues.
Methods: The study involved 157 volunteers (86 females and 71 males) aged between 18
and 70 years. Participants were asked to walk on a coordinated ground with their closed
eyes and follow the six different commands. They were, after that, requested to return their
initial position. Movement time was manually measured by the stopwatch. The distance
between the original reference point and estimated starting point was recorded.
Results: The second command that showed the lowest standard deviation out of the six
commands given to the participants was observed as the more reliable test among the
other commands (47.51±33.75). In addition, the completion time of the second command
increased with increasing age (p<0.001).
Conclusion: This study introduces an innovative spatial navigation approach utilizing the
second command set. As an