Learning a map of environment: The role of visuo‐spatial abilities in young and older adults

The present study examines age‐related differences between young and older adults in spatial mental representation derived from learning a realistic city map. A sample of 30 young (20–30‐years) and 30 older (60–72 years) adults learned a simplified map of a city; afterwards participants performed map‐drawing and pointing‐aligned and counter‐aligned tasks. Tasks measuring visuo‐spatial abilities were also administered to explore their relationship with map learning. Results showed an age‐related impairment in older adults in both map tasks, as well as in visuo‐spatial ones. Furthermore, performance on counter‐aligned pointing was poorer than on aligned pointing in young and older adults, and its relationship with visuo‐spatial abilities changed as a function of age group: The performance of counter‐aligned pointing in older adults was related to all visuo‐spatial abilities, and in young adults with perspective‐taking measures only. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.