People who grew up outside of cities or in cities with difficult layouts were proven to be better navigators as adults.
When youngsters are given the opportunity to move around independently in a variety of places, it can affect their comfort with navigation later in life.
Even as an adult, the more you change your surroundings, the better your spatial abilities will be. This entails moving beyond your typical, home-to-work route.
In many nations, women and girls have fewer opportunities to improve their navigational abilities. This has perpetuated the idea that women have a poorer sense of direction than men.
In contrast, older men are more inclined to overestimate their sense of direction.
Cognitive maps help the brain process navigation abilities. The cognitive map is thought to exist in the hippocampus, which is where memories are stored.
There are no standardized tests for assessing navigation skills across cultures. Interestingly, global study reveals that GDP per capita is related to average navigational ability.
In many societies, girls are not encouraged to pursue occupations requiring navigation skills. Many orienteers go on to work in STEM sectors, which have historically had lower female employment rates.
Many people believe they cannot improve their sense of direction, but this is incorrect. Although it may take longer, our brains are adaptable and, because to neuroplasticity, can continue to learn.
You may train yourself to recognize environmental cues such as wind, elevation, and the position of the sun in the sky. These cues help with directional awareness in both rural and urban environments.