Influence of spatial learning perspectives on navigation through virtual reality environment

In navigation with virtual reality, spatial knowledge can be acquired through both route and survey perspective. Our study correlates the influence on spatial knowledge while navigating in a virtual reality environment after gaining information with different spatial perspectives. We measured brain activations while the participants navigated through a complex spatial environment, using the analysis tool of sLORETA. In the experimental condition, the participant watched a simulated video feed of either route perspective (front view) or survey perspective (top view) of the virtual environment. Distance travelled, path efficiency and time efficiency of the participants were measured while they navigated through nine successive landmarks. We obtained significant differences between the brain activation patterns while comparing both conditions. Higher activations in inferior frontal gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus, superior temporal gyrus and insula were observed for the theta band in route perspective when compared to survey perspective. Higher activations in the inferior parietal lobule, angular gyrus and precuneus were observed in survey perspective when compared to route perspective. Results showed higher path efficiency and time efficiency and lower distance travelled to reach the destination in survey perspective when compared to route perspective. The result indicates that survey perspective is better for navigation in a far spaced virtual reality environment.