Cognitive map formation supported by auditory, haptic, and multimodal information in persons with blindness. (September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ottink, Loes; Buimer, Hendrik; van Raalte, Bram; Doeller, Christian F.; van der Geest, Thea M.; van Wezel, Richard J.A.
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews. Volume 140(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-09
• Subjects: Cognitive maps -- Spatial navigation -- Persons with blindness -- Non-visual sensory modalities -- Auditory -- Tactile -- Haptic -- Multimodal -- Route representation -- Survey representation; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Behavior -- Periodicals; Ethology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychophysiologie -- Périodiques; Comportement humain -- Périodiques; Animaux -- Mœurs et comportement -- Périodiques; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Animal behavior; Human behavior; Neurology; Psychophysiology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 573.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104797
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0149-7634

Abstract

Abstract: For efficient navigation, the brain needs to adequately represent the environment in a cognitive map. In this review, we sought to give an overview of literature about cognitive map formation based on non-visual modalities in persons with blindness (PWBs) and sighted persons. The review is focused on the auditory and haptic modalities, including research that combines multiple modalities and real-world navigation. Furthermore, we addressed implications of route and survey representations. Taking together, PWBs as well as sighted persons can build up cognitive maps based on non-visual modalities, although the accuracy sometime somewhat differs between PWBs and sighted persons. We provide some speculations on how to deploy information from different modalities to support cognitive map formation. Furthermore, PWBs and sighted persons seem to be able to construct route as well as survey representations. PWBs can experience difficulties building up a survey representation, but this is not always the case, and research suggests that they can acquire this ability with sufficient spatial information or training. We discuss possible explanations of these inconsistencies. Highlights: Persons with and without blindness can build up cognitive maps without vision. Cognitive map accuracy persons with and without blindness sometimes differs. Using multiple sensory modalities is more effective than a single modality. Persons with blindness experience more difficulties building up survey representation. Persons with blindness can acquire survey representation with sufficient training.