title: Manipulation of visual information does not change the accuracy of distance estimation during a blindfolded walking task.
abstract: While humans rely on vision during navigation, they are also competent at navigating non-visually. However, non-visual navigation over large distances is not very accurate and can accumulate error. Currently, it is unclear whether this accumulation of error is due to the visual estimate of the distance or to the locomotor production of the distance. In a series of experiments, using a blindfolded walking test, we examine whether enhancing the visual estimate of the distance to a previously seen target, through environmental enrichment, visual imagery, or repeated exposure would improve the accuracy of blindfold navigation across different distances. We also attempt to decrease the visual estimate in order to see if the opposite effect would occur. Our results would indicate that manipulation of the static visual distance estimate did not change the navigation accuracy to any great extent. The only condition that improved accuracy was repeated exposure to the environment through practice. These results suggest that error observed during blindfold navigation may be due to the locomotor production of the distance, rather than the visual process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, National University of Ireland Maynooth, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland. Electronic address: Sean.Commins@nuim.ie.
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Commins
authors.forename: Kelsie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McCormack
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Callinan
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.forename: Eoin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Molloy
authors.forename: Kerrie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004215:Distance Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology; D012683:Sensory Deprivation / Q000502:physiology*; D012931:Social Environment; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Blindfold navigation; Distance estimation; Idiothetic; Visual