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Review
. 2025 May 14:17:1609620.
doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2025.1609620. eCollection 2025.

Research status of visuospatial dysfunction and spatial navigation

Rui Bao  1 , Shijie Chang  1 , Ruixiang Liu  1 , Yunning Wang  2 , Yifu Guan  1   3
Affiliations
Review

Research status of visuospatial dysfunction and spatial navigation

Rui Bao et al. Front Aging Neurosci. .

Abstract

Visuospatial function is a critical aspect of cognitive abilities, encompassing visual perception, attention, memory, and adaptive responses to spatial changes. This paper reviews studies on human visuospatial function, spatial navigation, and factors contributing to visuospatial impairments. After introducing fundamental concepts of visuospatial function and spatial navigation, classical methods for assessing visuospatial performance are summarized. By examining recent advances in spatial navigation studies, this paper discusses factors influencing spatial navigation capabilities and explores how spatial navigation paradigms can be used to investigate visuospatial cognitive impairments. Finally, current limitations in spatial navigation research are highlighted. Overall, the current research has not yet reached definitive conclusions regarding visuospatial aspects. However, this paper aims to enhance the understanding of visuospatial dysfunction and spatial navigation, providing valuable references for future research.

Keywords: aging; cognitive assessment; cognitive function; dementia; spatial navigation; visuospatial dysfunction.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Several different Y-maze construction paradigms.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Several different paradigms for constructing virtual spaces.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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