title: Cognitive and affective aspects of thigmotaxis strategy in humans.
abstract: The present article describes the cognitive and emotional aspects of human thigmotaxis (a wall-following spatial strategy) during exploration of virtual and physical spaces. The authors assessed 106 participants with spatial and nonspatial performance-based learning-memory tasks and with fear and anxiety questionnaires. The results demonstrate that thigmotaxis plays a distinct role at different phases of spatial learning. The 1st phase shows a positive correlation between thigmotaxis and general phobic avoidance, whereas there is no association between thigmotaxis and general phobic avoidance during later phases of learning. Furthermore, participants who underperformed in working memory tests and in a spatial construction task exhibited greater thigmotaxis and a higher potential for fear response. Findings are interpreted in the framework of interactions among emotion-, action-, and knowledge-controlled spatial learning theories.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Behavioral Sciences, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary. janos.kallai@aok.pte.hu
authors.forename: Janos
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kallai
authors.forename: Tamas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Makany
authors.forename: Arpad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Csatho
authors.forename: Kazmer
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karadi
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Horvath
authors.forename: Beatrix
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kovacs-Labadi
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jarai
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nadel
authors.forename: Jake W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Jacobs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology