Sense Of Direction Research Articles

Sense of direction in vestibular disorders.

Our sense of direction (SOD) ability relies on the sensory integration of both visual information and self-motion cues from the proprioceptive and vestibular systems. Here, we assess how dysfunction of the vestibular system impacts perceived SOD in varying vestibular disorders, and secondly, we explore the effects of dizziness, migraine and psychological symptoms on SOD ability in patient and control groups. 87 patients with vestibular disorder and 69 control subjects were assessed with validated symptom and SOD questionnaires (Santa Barbara Sense of Direction scale and the Object Perspective test). While patients with vestibular disorders performed significantly worse than controls at the group level, only central and functional disorders (vestibular migraine and persistent postural perceptual dizziness), not peripheral disorders (benign-paroxysmal positional vertigo, bilateral vestibular failure and Meniere's disease) showed significant differences compared to controls on the level of individual vestibular groups. Additionally, orientational abilities associated strongly with spatial anxiety and showed clear separation from general dizziness and psychological factors in both patient and control groups. SOD appears to be less affected by peripheral vestibular dysfunction than by functional and/or central diagnoses, indicating that higher level disruptions to central vestibular processing networks may impact SOD more than reductions in sensory peripheral inputs. Additionally, spatial anxiety is highly associated with orientational abilities in both patients and control subjects.

“I Am Here”: Investigating the Relationship Between Sense ofDirection and Communication of Spatial Information

Navigation is critical for everyday tasks but is especially important for urban search and rescue (USAR) contexts. Aside from successful navigation, individuals must also be able to effectively communicate spatial information. This study investigates how differences in spatial ability affected overall performance in a USAR task in a simulated Minecraft environment and the effectiveness of an individual’s ability to communicate their location verbally. Randomly selected participants were asked to rescue as many victims as possible in three 10-minute missions. Results showed that sense of direction may not predict the ability to communicate spatial information, and that the skill of processing spatial information may be distinct from the ability to communicate spatial information to others. We discuss the implications of these findings for teaming contexts that involve both processes.

Congenital lack and extraordinary ability in object and spatial imagery: An investigation on sub-types of aphantasia and hyperphantasia

Studies that have shown a distinction between object and spatial imagery suggest more than one type of aphantasia and hyperphantasia, yet this has not been systematically investigated in studies on imagery ability extremes. Also, if the involuntary imagery is preserved in aphantasia and how this condition affects other skills is not fully clear.We collected data on spatial and object imagery, retrospective, and prospective memory, face recognition, and sense of direction (SOD), suggesting a distinction between two subtypes of aphantasia/hyperphantasia. Spatial aphantasia is associated with difficulties in visuo-spatial mental imagery and SOD. Instead, in object aphantasia there are difficulties in imaging single items and events — with no mental visualization of objects, out-of-focus, and black-and-white mental images more frequent than expected — in SOD and face recognition. Furthermore, associative involuntary imagery can be spared in aphantasia. The opposite pattern of performance was found in spatial and object hyperphantasia.

Vestibulo-spatial navigation: Pathways and sense of direction

1) Identifying how age, global positioning systems (GPS) use and vestibular navigation influence sense of direction (SOD). 2) Investigating vestibular navigation in patients with downbeat nystagmus (DBN; floculo-nodular damage) to see if vestibulo-cerebellar ascending pathways carry orientation/position signals.

Mikel Maron A life spent digitizing the sense of direction

No abstract available.

Benjamin Ferencz

Well, I appreciate this. Let me say, first of all—first of all, I want to express appreciation for that very big sign, “Benjamin Ferenczpad.” I have a terrible sense of direction, and this will help me when I get to The Hague to find my way.

I believe I'm good at orienting myself… But is that true?

The present study aimed to analyse beliefs that men and women have with respect to their sense of direction (SOD) and whether they correlate with spatial environmental task performance. Eighty-four students filled in the short version of the Familiarity and Spatial Cognitive Style Scale to evaluate beliefs on their SOD, knowledge of the city (TK), spatial ability (SA) and wayfinding (WA) and performed three spatial environmental tasks. Results showed that gender did not predict the performance on the spatial environmental tasks, whereas it can be predicted by participants' beliefs related to their SOD and TK. The findings point out the need to identify specific training aimed at improving women's metacognitive skills in order to delete or reduce gender differences in SA.

On the relation between math and spatial ability: The case of math anxiety

Engaging with math can be especially difficult for individuals who experience math anxiety. Interestingly, recent research has demonstrated a negative association between math anxiety and small-scale spatial ability (i.e., mental rotation). The aim of the present study is to better understand this fundamental link between individual differences in math and space in three ways. First, we investigated the relation between math anxiety and self-reported sense-of direction, a critical index of large-scale spatial ability thought to be distinct from small-scale spatial ability. Next, we investigated the relation between math anxiety and spatial anxiety (i.e., anxiety about environmental navigation). Then, we used behavioral measures of small- and large-scale spatial skills to further explore these abilities as a function of math anxiety. Results demonstrate that individuals high in math anxiety report a worse sense-of-direction, more spatial anxiety and general anxiety, and perform worse on behavioral tests of small- and large-scale spatial skills. Regression analyses suggest that spatial anxiety, general anxiety, and small-scale spatial skill are the most robust of the tested predictors of math anxiety. Implications for understanding math anxiety are discussed.

Conceptual Design of Haptic-Feedback Navigation Device for Individuals with Alzheimer's Disease.

Wayfinding ability in older adults with Alzheimer's disease (AD) is progressively impaired due to ageing and deterioration of cognitive domains. Usually, the sense of direction is deteriorated as visuospatial and spatial cognition are associated with the sensory acuity. Therefore, navigation systems that support only visual interactions may not be appropriate in case of AD. This paper presents a concept of wearable navigation device that integrates the haptic-feedback technology to facilitate the wayfinding of individuals with AD. The system provides the simplest instructions; left/right using haptic signals, as to avoid users' distraction during navigation. The advantages of haptic/tactile modality for wayfinding purpose based on several significant studies are presented. As preliminary assessment, a survey is conducted to understand the potential of this design concept in terms of (1) acceptability, (2) practicality, (3) wearability, and (4) environmental settings. Results indicate that the concept is highly acceptable and commercially implementable. A working prototype will be developed based on the results of the preliminary assessment. Introducing a new method of navigation should be followed by continuous practices for familiarization purpose. Improved navigability allows the good performance of activities of daily living (ADLs) hence maintain the good quality of life in older adults with AD.

Standardization of method for determining the production of movies picture projective situations

Productivity of a projective situation was defined as its capacity to elicit from subjects, stories which would reveal: (i)Identification,(ii)Variation (in plot)and (iii)Imagination. Stories written by 21 subjects to five movies picture projective situation, were evaluated by two judges working independently, in a quantitative from by answering questions devised to know the presence or otherwise of the above-mentioned three criteria in a story. Data obtained were treated statistically to find out which of the situations obtained over 60% scores from the two judges and showed inter-judges and inter-criteria reliabilities. Four situations met the stipulations. Failure of one, a dream sequence, suggests that a movie picture projective situation, is to have a 'sense of direction' too about it, in addition to the criteria suggested by Symonds for selecting static projective pictures.

Towards Understanding the Muslim Historiography and Muslim Historians

Islam is a revealed religion and its principles are universal and permanent. These principles provide guidance and fashion life at all ages and all times. Islamic history and historiography is the science which informs us about our heritage, makes us conscious of links with the past, makes us aware of our origin, and provides us with a sense ofdirection for the future. The present paper highlights the very concept of history in Islam. It also highlights the history-consciousness of the Muslims by highlighting their contributions to historiography.

Let’s get back to basics and regain our sense of direction

Let’s get back to basics and regain our sense of direction

A sense of direction

Lattice surface plasmons enable large-area unidirectional emission of coherent light generated at deep subwavelength scales.

Gender Effects on Mental Rotation in Pilots vs. Nonpilots

Mental rotation ability has an important role in human navigation and, together with other cognitive abilities such as processing speed, working memory, and attention, is crucial for aircraft navigation. In the human performance literature, mental rotation tasks have consistently yielded reports of gender differences favoring men. The aim of this study was to compare the gender difference measured in a specialized population of aviators vs. a matched population of nonpilots. : Studied were 41 pilots (20 men and 21 women) and 38 nonpilots (20 men and 18 women) matched for age and education. Pilots were stratified for flying hours. Participants performed a mental rotation task (MRT) in which accuracy and response time were recorded, and also completed sense-of-direction (SOD) and spatial cognitive styles self-evaluation scales. Men had significantly smaller response time in the MRT (men 279.6 +/- 147.0 s, women 401.6 +/- 361.3) and greater SOD (men's score 49.1 +/- 8.6, women's score 46.6 +/- 7.8), but these differences were absent among pilots. A positive relationship was also identified between pilots' response times and their flight hours. These data suggest that the effect of gender on the speed of cognitive spatial processing is absent in a population with aviation experience. Gender effects may be associated with a low spatial cognitive style, whereas in groups such as aviators, who are expected to have high spatial cognitive style, other factors such as experience may come into play.

Individual Differences in the Encoding Processes of Egocentric and Allocentric Survey Knowledge

This study examined how different components of working memory are involved in the acquisition of egocentric and allocentric survey knowledge by people with a good and poor sense of direction (SOD). We employed a dual-task method and asked participants to learn routes from videos with verbal, visual, and spatial interference tasks and without any interference. Results showed that people with a good SOD encoded and integrated knowledge about landmarks and routes into egocentric survey knowledge in verbal and spatial working memory, which is then transformed into allocentric survey knowledge with the support of all three components, distances being processed in verbal and spatial working memory and directions in visual and spatial working memory. In contrast, people with a poor SOD relied on verbal working memory and lacked spatial processing, thus failing to acquire accurate survey knowledge. Based on the results, a possible model for explaining individual differences in spatial knowledge acquisition is proposed.

Impact of Meditation on Stress and Coping Levels of Media Employees

Stress is a Sudden Biological Change. It has become the curse of 21st century and is silent killer in the modem world. Stress is the greatest danger to the information era. Stress is the priceless poison for human life in the universe. It can disturb any one's physical, mental, emotional and behavioral balance. Stress can damage different parts of human body from muscles from tissues to organs and blood vessels. It can speed up pulse rate and respiration. It can raise blood pressure and body temperature. It can also interfere with the body metabolism, digestion, appetite, sleep, sexuality and even fertility.Journalists' and Media persons professional work routines often place them in disturbing and /or dangerous situations where they must confront their own vulnerability and especially in the case of war correspondents and news photographers their own mortality. Inevitably they must deal with the psychological impact of the grieving and sometimes even the shock and disorientation of the human subjects of their stories. Ironically, journalists in such situations are often the ones ignored in terms of the emotional impact of what they are witnessing. How do journalists cope in the face of profound human tragedy and personal risk? Drawing on Sigmund Freud's conceptual model concerning the nature and working of the human mental apparatus, and subsequent major contributions by others who elaborated on and expanded the understanding of ego functions, this essay examines successful journalists' mental activities that aid them in coping with stress in the course of their work. The seasoned journalists interviewed offer introspective accounts of their professional experiences, revealing the broad range of conscious choices they make in their work which allow them to function at a high level in maximally challenging situations.What are the causes of Media Persons stress ?* Excessively high workloads, with unrealistic deadlines making people feel rushed, under pressure and overwhelmed.* Insufficient workloads, making people feel that their skills are being underused.* A lack of control over work activities.* 24 hours Job (No Time Job)* A lack of interpersonal support or poor working relationships leading to a sense of isolation.* People being asked to do a job for which they have insufficient experience or training.* Difficulty settling into a new promotion, both in terms of meeting the new role's requirements and adapting to possible changes in relationships with colleagues.* Concerns about job security, lack of career opportunities, or level of pay.* A blame culture within your Duites where people are afraid to get things wrong orto admit to making mistakes.* Weak or ineffective management which leaves employees feeling they don't have a sense of direction, or over-management, which can leave employees feeling undervalued and affect their selfesteem.* Multiple reporting lines for employees, with each manager asking for their work to be prioritized.* Failure to keep employees informed about significant changes to thejob, causing them uncertainty about their future.* A poor physical working environment, eg excessive heat, cold or noise, inadequate lighting, uncomfortable seating, malfunctioning equipment, etc* Individuals suffering from stress often display a range of signs that may be noticed by colleagues and other managers.* Major life changes* Relationship difficulties* Political Presure* Financial problems* Being too busy less attachment of Children and family* Changes to duties.* Tight deadlines.* Haras sments* Changes within the organization* Insufficient skills for thejob* Poor relationships with bosses or colleagues* Discrimination* Long hours* Poor knowledge of Technology* Personal or Family Problems* LOW Salaries,Financial Struggles* Suffering fro maintain Family RelationsThese signs include:* Tiredness and irritability* Reduced quality of work* Indecisiveness and poor judgment* Loss of sense of humour* Physical illness such as headaches, nausea, aches and pains* Seeming jumpy or ill-at-ease, or admitting to sleeping badly* Increased sick leave* Poor timekeeping* Changes in working day patterns - perhaps by staying late or taking work homeYou should also look for signs of more widespread problems among groups of employees, for example:* Arguments and disputes between staff* General absenteeism* An increase in grievances and complaints* Greater staff tumo verHow does stress affect you? …

Coping with suffering: A thematic analysis of the lifelong illness of cancer patients

'Cancer' is a painful experience that severally affects the life of its victim and his family often forces it in a new and sometimes difficult and trying condition and always offers the opportunities for new depth, intimacy and connectedness. These obstacles may seem to be nastiest at the very first glimpse. But as one move forward develop a knack of dealing with them. The cancer experience is like living in the face of uncertainty, much like traveling along an unfamiliar road without any maps or sense of direction. This kind of journey can be overwhelming since the path is so elusive and fuel of uncertainty whether the outlook for recovery is good or poor, the days go by, one at a time and patient and the family must learn to live each day and hence move on with journey. It however, becomes a part of life to them who are unfortunate to come under its grip. In contemporary period its incidence is increasing. Its outcomes, like other disease are also mediated by dispositional and supportive factors, with this in view the present work was planned to understand the lives of cancer patient. It also focuses on belief system world view and attitude of the cancer patient which play important role in coping with it. In order to create a context for this humble effort the introductory part of this paper presents a conceptual analysis and relevant studies.TheoreticalframeworkThis research study is situated within a broadly based Psychoontological model and data is viewed through a variety of lenses including phenomenology methodology.Over the past 20 years, psycho-oncology has developed as one of the model of Oncology. This area deals with the two psychological dimension of cancer: the patient; families and medical stuffs emotional reactions to cancer and its treatment (psychosocial); and the psychological and botanical factors that influence cancer risk and survival. The dimensions dealing with the psychological, social and spiritual were neglected for many years in most countries around the world. The focus was almost on the physical aspects of illness. Psychosocial problems were hardly addressed in their case those suffering from unrecognized anxiety and depression.The word cancer was equated with death for centuries because there was no treatment for it until the surgical removal became possible after the introduction of an aesthesia of the last half the 19th century. The disease was so frightening that the diagnosis was withheld from the patient. It was considered cruel to reveal it, so only family was given the facts. This has been called the 'Conspiracy of silence' which left the patient feeling isolated and alone. The result was a false cheerfulness and deception from others that did not permit patients an opportunity to express their distress and concerns to others. Several historical factors have led to greater emphasis on psychological and social aspects of cancer. These include: the shifting of attitude away from fatalism about cancer, the mare open disclosure of the diagnosis and therefore mare open discussions with others; greater dialogue between doctor and patient; discussion about treatment options and asking for their participation in decision making; and the recognition that cancer prevention and screening depends in large measure on changing behaviors and attitudes.In recent years, research in psycho oncology has progressed to the point that it is possible to present a research model that places the various aspects into an integrated perspective. Komuith (1991) has proposed the model presented in Fig. 1. As can be seen cancer and its treatment is the independent variable, the outcome variables are survival and health related quality of life. A major advance has patient's own reports. Patient can now report their level of function in physical, psychological, social, work and several domains of their life. The mediating variables and intervention researcher seek to study these variables (demography, coping skills, beliefs and personality) that impact upon the outcome. …

Sound sense of direction

Sound sense of direction

Sense of direction in the elderly:

Sense of direction in the elderly:

Working memory in spatial knowledge acquisition: Differences in encoding processes and sense of direction

This study examined how different components of working memory are involved in spatial knowledge acquisition for good and poor sense-of-direction (SOD) people. We employed a dual-task method, and asked participants to learn routes from videos with verbal, visual and spatial interference tasks and without any interference. Results showed that participants with a good SOD encoded landmarks and routes verbally and spatially, and integrated knowledge about them into survey knowledge with the support of all three components of working memory. In contrast, participants with a poor SOD encoded landmarks only verbally, and tended to rely on the visual component of working memory in the processing of route knowledge. Based on the results, a possible model for explaining the differences in spatial knowledge acquisition and SOD was proposed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.