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The Road More Travelled: The Differential Effects of Spatial Experience in Young and Elderly Participants

Author

Listed:
  • Antonella Lopez

    (Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy)

  • Alessandro Germani

    (Department of Philosophy, Social Sciences and Education, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy)

  • Luigi Tinella

    (Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy)

  • Alessandro Oronzo Caffò

    (Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy)

  • Albert Postma

    (Helmholtz Institute, Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands)

  • Andrea Bosco

    (Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy)

Abstract

Our spatial mental representations allow us to give refined descriptions of the environment in terms of the relative locations and distances between objects and landmarks. In this study, we investigated the effects of familiarity with the everyday environment, in terms of frequency of exploration and mode of transportation, on categorical and coordinate spatial relations, on young and elderly participants, controlling for socio-demographic factors. Participants were tested with a general anamnesis, a neuropsychological assessment, measures of explorations and the Landmark Positioning on a Map task. The results showed: (a) a modest difference in performance with categorical spatial relations; (b) a larger difference in coordinate spatial relations; (c) a significant moderating effect of age on the relationship between familiarity and spatial relations, with a stronger relation among the elderly than the young. Ceteris paribus, the role of direct experience with exploring their hometown on spatial mental representations appeared to be more important in the elderly than in the young. This advantage appears to make the elderly wiser and likely protects them from the detrimental effects of aging on spatial mental representations.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonella Lopez & Alessandro Germani & Luigi Tinella & Alessandro Oronzo Caffò & Albert Postma & Andrea Bosco, 2021. "The Road More Travelled: The Differential Effects of Spatial Experience in Young and Elderly Participants," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-20, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:2:p:709-:d:480952
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Baldwin Hess, Daniel, 2009. "Access to Public Transit and Its Influence on Ridership for Older Adults in Two U.S. Cities," The Journal of Transport and Land Use, Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, vol. 2(1), pages 3-27.
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    3. Richards, Marcus & Hardy, Rebecca & Wadsworth, Michael E. J., 2003. "Does active leisure protect cognition? Evidence from a national birth cohort," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 56(4), pages 785-792, February.
    4. Mondschein, Andrew & Blumenberg, Evelyn & Taylor, Brian D, 2008. "Accessibility and Cognition: The Effect of Transportation Mode on Spatial Knowledge," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt8kz7722k, University of California Transportation Center.
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    Cited by:

    1. Elisabetta Ricciardi & Giuseppina Spano & Antonella Lopez & Luigi Tinella & Carmine Clemente & Giuseppe Elia & Payam Dadvand & Giovanni Sanesi & Andrea Bosco & Alessandro Oronzo Caffò, 2022. "Long-Term Exposure to Greenspace and Cognitive Function during the Lifespan: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-24, September.
    2. Alessandro Oronzo Caffò & Giuseppina Spano & Luigi Tinella & Antonella Lopez & Elisabetta Ricciardi & Fabrizio Stasolla & Andrea Bosco, 2022. "The Prevalence of Amnestic and Non-Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment and Its Association with Different Lifestyle Factors in a South Italian Elderly Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-16, March.

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