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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Behav. Neurosci.
Sec. Learning and Memory
Volume 18 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1429069

Spatial Memory and Learning: Investigating the Role of Dynamic Visual Acuity

Provisionally accepted
BURAK KABIS BURAK KABIS 1*Emre Gürses Emre Gürses 2Ayşe İlksen Çolpak Işıkay Ayşe İlksen Çolpak Işıkay 2Songul AKSOY Songul AKSOY 2
  • 1 Gazi University, Ankara, Ankara, Türkiye
  • 2 Hacettepe University, Ankara, Türkiye

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    The vestibular system's contribution to spatial learning and memory abilities may be clarified using the virtual Morris Water Maze Task (vMWMT). This is important because of the connections between the vestibular system and the hippocampus area. However, there is ongoing debate over the role of the vestibular system in developing spatial abilities. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between Dynamic Visual Acuity (DVA) across three planes and spatial abilities. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 50 healthy adults aged 18 to 55 with normal stress levels and mental health and no neurological, audiological, or vestibular complaints. The Trail-Making Test (TMT) Forms A and B for the assessment of executive functions, the DVA test battery for the evaluation of visual motor functions, and the Virtual Morris Water Maze Test (vMWMT) for the assessment of spatial learning and spatial memory were performed. All participants also underwent the Benton Face Recognition Test (BFRT) and Digit Symbol Substitution Tests (DSST) to assess their relation with spatial memory.Results: DVA values in horizontal (H-DVA), vertical (V-DVA), and sagittal (S-DVA) planes ranged from (-0.26) to 0.36 logMAR, (-0.20) to 0.36 logMAR, and (-0.28) to 0.33 logMAR, respectively. The latency of three planes of DVA was affected by vMWMT (Horizontal, Vertical, and Sagittal; Estimate: 22.733, 18.787, 13.341, respectively p<0.001). Moreover, a moderately significant correlation was also found, with a value of 0.571 between the Virtual MWM test and BFRT and a value of 0.539 between the DSST (p<0.001).Spatial abilities in healthy adults were significantly influenced by dynamic visual functions across horizontal, vertical, and sagittal planes. These findings are expected to trigger essential discussions about the mechanisms that connect the vestibular-visual system to the hippocampus. The original vMWMT protocol is likely to serve as a model for future studies utilizing this technology.

    Keywords: Virtual Morris water maze test, Dynamic Visual Acuity, Spatial learning, spatial memory, trail-making test

    Received: 23 May 2024; Accepted: 12 Aug 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 KABIS, Gürses, Çolpak Işıkay and AKSOY. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: BURAK KABIS, Gazi University, Ankara, 06500, Ankara, Türkiye

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.