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Learning to echolocate in sighted people: A correlational study on attention, working memory and spatial abilities
Ekkel, M. R. van Lier, R. Steenbergen, B.
Ekkel, M. R.
van Lier, R.
Steenbergen, B.
Abstract
Echolocation can be beneficial for the orientation and mobility of visually impaired people. Research has shown considerable individual differences for acquiring this skill. However, individual characteristics that affect the learning of echolocation are largely unknown. In the present study, we examined individual factors that are likely to affect learning to echolocate: sustained and divided attention, working memory, and spatial abilities. To that aim, sighted participants with normal hearing performed an echolocation task that was adapted from a previously reported size-discrimination task. In line with existing studies, we found large individual differences in echolocation ability. We also found indications that participants were able to improve their echolocation ability. Furthermore, we found a significant positive correlation between improvement in echolocation and sustained and divided attention, as measured in the PASAT. No significant correlations were found with our tests regarding working memory and spatial abilities. These findings may have implications for the development of guidelines for training echolocation that are tailored to the individual with a visual impairment.
Keywords
echolocation, visual impairment, perception, attention
Date
2017
Type
Journal article
Journal
Experimental Brain Research
Book
Volume
235
Issue
3
Page Range
809-818
Article Number
ACU Department
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
Open access
License
CC BY 4.0
File Access
Open