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Spatial navigation -

People who grew up outside cities, or in cities with a complicated layout, have been found to be better at navigating as adults.

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Spatial navigation -

Their improved navigation skills are related to the distances covered in such places, as well as the variety of places traversed.

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Childhood impact -

When children have the opportunity to move around independently, in a variety of environments, it can impact their comfort with navigation later in life.

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Childhood impact -

People who take part in orienteering as children report better spatial memory than average, but they are exposed to an unusual amount of navigation practice.

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Improving spatial skills -

However, modern psychology and neuroscience suggest there are many ways for ordinary people to make their spatial skills better.

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Improving spatial skills -

Even as an adult, the more you vary your environment, the better your spatial skills will be. This means going beyond your everyday, home to work route.

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Women and direction -

In many countries, women and girls have less opportunities to practice their navigation skills. This has proliferated a myth that women have a worse sense of direction than men.

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Women and direction -

Due to this stereotype, women often rate themselves as worse navigators than men, even in tests where they score the same.

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Overestimation -

In contrast, older men are the most likely group to overestimate their ability when it comes to their sense of direction.

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Cognitive maps -

Navigation ability is processed in the brain by cognitive maps. The cognitive map is believed to reside in the hippocampus region, where memories are stored.

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Cognitive maps -

Neuroscience research has shown that the structures around the hippocampus play an important role in orienteering ability.

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Landmark recognition -

The wrinkly outer layer of the brain, called the retrosplenial cortex, is linked with the ability to recognize stable landmarks.

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The Knowledge -

Highly skilled navigators' brains look different to others. In London, cab drivers must pass a test called "The Knowledge," taking years to learn every street in the sprawling capital. When examined, their hippocampus show signs of growth.

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Navigation skills test -

Across cultures, there is no standardized test to assess navigation skills. Interestingly, global research suggests that GDP per capita is linked to average ability in navigation.

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Career and navigation -

In many cultures, girls are not steered towards careers where navigation is critical. Many orienteers end up in STEM fields, which historically have lower levels of women working in them.

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Brain plasticity -

Many people think they can't improve their sense of direction, but this is untrue. Although it may take a little longer, our brains are flexible and, thanks to neuroplasticity, they can continue to learn.

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Brain plasticity -

New research shows that learning creates changes in the brain. We can help our brain adapt and change by enriching our environment long into adulthood. This includes improving our sense of direction.

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GPS -

In the age of GPS, you might wonder if there's a need to have a good sense of direction anymore. But batteries can die, and signals can drop out. It's good to have your own abilities to rely on as a backup.

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Environmental cues -

You can train yourself to notice environmental cues, such as wind, incline, the position of the sun in the sky, etc. These cues assist with directional sensing in both rural and urban settings.

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Everyday improvement -

One simple way to improve your navigational skills is to get enough sleep; people who sleep at least seven hours per night were found to perform better in navigation games, in one study. But if you're about to take a trip or navigate your way somewhere new, you can follow some simple steps to practice improving your sense of direction.

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Step 1: plan your route -

Get organized and plan your route before you leave, to take a lot of the stress out of your trip. Use Street View or photographs to familiarize yourself with a new place before you get there.

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Step 2: relax -

Relax while you plan your journey. Anxiety takes up space in the mind, and you need all your brainpower to navigate. Planning ahead should take a lot of the stress out of the journey.

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Step 3: concentrate -

Focus on your surroundings. If you're texting, talking, or distracted in any way, it can affect your sense of direction. Engage your concentration on the task at hand.

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Step 4: find landmarks -

Distinctive, easy-to-spot landmarks (e.g. a tall building if you're in a city) will help you get back on track in case you lose your way. Keep an eye out for them.

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Step 5: look behind you -

People who look behind them are better navigators than those who don't. Paying attention to all your surroundings will help you have a better sense of direction.

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Step 6: attach memories to locations -

If you need to retrace your steps, it's easier if you have memories attached to places. A conversation, song, event, or meeting can provide cues if you need to return to the same place again.

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Step 7: take photos -

Taking photos at key stages of your journey is more useful than taking videos. They can help you orient yourself on a repeat journey to the same place.

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Step 8: reflect on your journey -

To consolidate your memories, go back over the journey afterwards in your mind. Visualizing what you did will help form new neural pathways in the brain. 

Sources: (BBC Future) (Nature) (Reader's Digest) (Verywell Mind) 

See also: How to learn effectively at any age

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