This study investigates the distinct cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying path integration and spatial updating in humans using behavioral and fMRI experiments.

bioRxiv · Apr 14, 2026 · PreprintNeuroscience

The relationship between object-based spatial ability and virtual navigation performance

Tanya Garg, Pablo Fernández Velasco, Eva Zita Patai, Charlotte P. Malcolm, Victor Kovalets, Véronique D. Bohbot, Antoine Coutrot, Mary Hegarty, Michael Hornberger, Hugo J. Spiers

The paper examines the relationship between object-based spatial abilities and virtual navigation performance using a mobile game, finding limited correlations between navigation tasks and visuospatial tests.

PLoS ONE · May 9, 2024Peer-reviewedNeuroscience

Video gaming, but not reliance on GPS, is associated with spatial navigation performance

Emre Yavuz, Chuanxiuyue He, Christoffer J. Gahnstrom, Sarah C. Goodroe, Antoine Coutrot, Michael Hornberger, Mary Hegarty, Hugo J. Spiers

This study finds that video gaming is linked to better spatial navigation performance, while GPS reliance is not, and gender differences in navigation are reduced after accounting for gaming experience.

Journal of Environmental Psychology · Apr 22, 2024Peer-reviewedNeuroscience

Cultural determinants of the gap between self-estimated navigation ability and wayfinding performance: evidence from 46 countries.

Szymon Walkowiak, Antoine Coutrot, Mary Hegarty, Pablo Fernández Velasco, Jan Malte Wiener, Ruth Dalton, Christoph Hölscher, Michael Hornberger, Hugo J. Spiers, Ed Manley

The paper examines cultural influences on self-estimated navigation ability versus actual performance across 46 countries using a large sample.

Scientific Reports · Jul 5, 2023Peer-reviewedNeuroscience