Preliminary Study: The Test Technique for the Evaluation on Spatial Navigation in the Absence of Visual Data in Healthy Individuals


Yılmaz O., Kurtuluş C., Ersin K., Gündoğdu O., Eti S., Şerbetçioğlu M. B.

Auditory and Vestibular Research, cilt.33, sa.2, ss.162-171, 2024 (Scopus)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 33 Sayı: 2
  • Basım Tarihi: 2024
  • Doi Numarası: 10.18502/avr.v33i2.14819
  • Dergi Adı: Auditory and Vestibular Research
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.162-171
  • İstanbul Medipol Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

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