Video gaming, but not reliance on GPS, is associated with spatial navigation performance
Video gaming, but not reliance on GPS, is associated with spatial navigation performance
Recent evidence suggests that greater reliance on GPS-assisted devices is associated with poorer navigation ability. Studies have also shown that video gaming may be associated with navigation ability. We investigated the effect of video game 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. We tested a group of US-based participants' wayfinding performance (n = 822, 367 men, 455 women, mean age = 26.3 years, range = 18–52 years) and asked them a series of questions relating to reliance on GPS and video game experience. A multiple linear regression model found no significant association between reliance on GPS and wayfinding performance. There was a significant association between weekly hours of video gaming and wayfinding performance. These findings provide a platform for future intervention-based research studies investigating whether daily activities may causally enhance or disrupt specific cognitive abilities.
Yavuz, Emre
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He, Chuanxiuyue
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Goodroe, Sarah
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Ganstrom, Chris J.
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Coutrot, Antoine
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Hornberger, Michael
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Hegarty, Mary
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Spiers, Hugo J.
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27 April 2024
Yavuz, Emre
6cfd8f32-cf8a-42a1-82ed-31ad23f20134
He, Chuanxiuyue
7935bbd4-e675-4cd2-bd52-968cea414a29
Goodroe, Sarah
a55d7413-55f0-4dcd-82b8-10fb88376260
Ganstrom, Chris J.
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Coutrot, Antoine
54489887-62d2-47a6-8dd8-23e46d746f2d
Hornberger, Michael
a48c1c63-422a-4c11-9a51-c7be0aa3026d
Hegarty, Mary
12c7ca8f-d35d-4453-87e3-52918b35d5e5
Spiers, Hugo J.
44296f56-9f8e-4de0-a0ca-98189c2c3beb
Yavuz, Emre, He, Chuanxiuyue, Goodroe, Sarah, Ganstrom, Chris J., Coutrot, Antoine, Hornberger, Michael, Hegarty, Mary and Spiers, Hugo J.
(2024)
Video gaming, but not reliance on GPS, is associated with spatial navigation performance.
Journal of Environmental Psychology, 96, [102296].
(doi:10.1101/2023.08.10.552365).
Abstract
Recent evidence suggests that greater reliance on GPS-assisted devices is associated with poorer navigation ability. Studies have also shown that video gaming may be associated with navigation ability. We investigated the effect of video game 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. We tested a group of US-based participants' wayfinding performance (n = 822, 367 men, 455 women, mean age = 26.3 years, range = 18–52 years) and asked them a series of questions relating to reliance on GPS and video game experience. A multiple linear regression model found no significant association between reliance on GPS and wayfinding performance. There was a significant association between weekly hours of video gaming and wayfinding performance. These findings provide a platform for future intervention-based research studies investigating whether daily activities may causally enhance or disrupt specific cognitive abilities.
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Accepted/In Press date: 16 April 2024
e-pub ahead of print date: 22 April 2024
Published date: 27 April 2024
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Local EPrints ID: 505880
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/505880
ISSN: 1522-9610
PURE UUID: 625307ae-d728-45f9-a2d7-3b44a3b0bbac
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Date deposited: 22 Oct 2025 16:38
Last modified: 23 Oct 2025 02:29
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Contributors
Author:
Emre Yavuz
Author:
Chuanxiuyue He
Author:
Sarah Goodroe
Author:
Chris J. Ganstrom
Author:
Antoine Coutrot
Author:
Michael Hornberger
Author:
Mary Hegarty
Author:
Hugo J. Spiers
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