Predicting the Quality of Spatial Learning via Virtual Global Landmarks

Analyzing the effects landmarks have on spatial learning is an active area of research in the study of human navigation processes and one that is key to understanding the links between human brain dynamics, landmark encoding, and spatial learning outcomes. This article presents a study on whether electroencephalography (EEG) signals related to virtual global landmarks combined with deep learning can be used to predict the accuracy and efficacy of spatial learning. Virtual global landmarks are silhouettes of actual landmarks projected into the navigator’s vision via a heads-up display. They serve as a notable frame of reference in addition to the local landmarks we all typically use for route navigation. From a mobile virtual reality scenario involving 55 participants, the results of the study suggest that the EEG data associated with those who were exposed to global landmarks shows a visibly better capacity for predicting the quality of spatial learning levels than those who were not. As such, the EEG features associated with processing VGLs have a greater functional relation to the quality of spatial learning. This finding opens up a future direction of enquiry into landmark encoding and navigational ability. It may also provide a potential avenue for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.