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

Abstract

Recent evidence suggests that greater reliance on GPS-assisted devices is associated with poorer navigation ability. Contrastingly, studies have shown that video gaming can enhance navigation ability. While gender differences in navigation ability in favour of men are well-reported, it remains unclear if the effects of reliance on GPS and video gaming on navigation performance are influenced by gender. We investigated whether gender would influence the effect of gaming experience and reliance on GPS on navigation ability using the mobile app Sea Hero Quest, which has been shown to predict real-world wayfinding performance. Alongside navigation performance assessment we asked a series of self-report questions relating to reliance on GPS, navigation strategies and gaming experience with a group of US-based participants (n = 822, 280 men, 542 women, mean age = 26.3 years, range = 18-52 years). A multivariate linear regression model found no significant association between reliance on GPS and navigation performance for either gender. There was a significant association between weekly hours of video gaming and navigation performance which was not moderated by gender. After accounting for video game experience, gender was no longer significantly associated with navigation performance. These findings have implications for which daily activities may enhance or disrupt specific cognitive abilities. Future studies applying an interventional design and real-world navigation testing would be useful to determine whether video games playing increases navigation skill, or whether those who are good at navigating tend to play more video games.