Classification of navigation impairment: A systematic review of neuropsychological case studies

Michiel H G Claessen; Ineke J M van der Ham

doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.12.015

Classification of navigation impairment: A systematic review of neuropsychological case studies

Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2017 Feb:73:81-97. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.12.015. Epub 2016 Dec 16.

Authors

Michiel H G Claessen¹, Ineke J M van der Ham²

Affiliations

¹ Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands; Center of Excellence in Rehabilitation Medicine, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, De Hoogstraat Rehabilitation, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Health, Medical and Neuropsychology, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden, The Netherlands. Electronic address: m.h.g.claessen@fsw.leidenuniv.nl.
² Department of Health, Medical and Neuropsychology, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden, The Netherlands. Electronic address: c.j.m.van.der.ham@fsw.leidenuniv.nl.

PMID: 27993606
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.12.015

Abstract

The neurocognitive architecture of navigation ability has been investigated by extensively studying the navigation problems of individual neurological patients. These neuropsychological case reports have applied highly variable approaches to establish navigation impairment in their patients. This review provides a systematic and up-to-date inventory of all relevant case studies and presents an analysis of the types of navigation impairments that have been described. The systematic literature search revealed 58 relevant papers reporting on 67 neurological patients. Close analysis of their patterns of navigation performance suggests three main categories of navigation impairments. These categories are related to three types of representations that are considered highly relevant for accurate navigation: knowledge of landmarks, locations, and paths. The resulting model is intended to serve both clinical and theoretical advances in the study of navigation ability and its neural correlates.

Keywords: Landmark; Location; Navigation impairment; Path; Spatial navigation.

Publication types

Review
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Mental Disorders*
Nervous System Diseases*
Neuropsychological Tests