Cue Color and Familiarity in Place Learning for Older Adults

Older adults often have problems finding their way (place learning) in unfamiliar environments. We examined how colorful familiar cues-versus black-and-white abstract cues-affected place learning in 133 community-dwelling older adults using a computerized virtual environment. Participants were required to learn the location of the hidden platform using only environmental cues repeatedly over 3 days in four cue conditions that varied with respect to the color and familiarity of cues. Place learning was measured by the distance traveled to the platform. Participants found the hidden target with the shortest distance traveled when cues were colorful and familiar. Older participants showed poorer performance than the younger groups. Study results showed that place learning was assisted by using colorful familiar cues and that the older participants and those with lower cognition scores were most impaired in place learning.