Environmental designs shape navigational strategies in young and older adults: evidence from an ecologically valid, virtual reality experiment

Age-related declines in navigation can limit mobility and independence. Although wayfinding guidelines often emphasize landmarks, older adults increasingly rely on route-based strategies. To address this gap, we tested whether pathway configuration could support route learning and consequently improve wayfinding. Using immersive virtual reality, 76 younger (20–34 years) and 52 older (58–80 years) adults explored an environment with either a grid-shaped or star-shaped pathway layout. In the star layout, each destination was reached via a specific route, potentially strengthening route-target associations. Older adults generally travelled longer paths and showed greater distance errors. However, both age groups demonstrated better navigational memory in the star layout, reflected in smaller distance errors. This advantage was not explained by longer paths during initial exploration. Our findings suggest that pathway configuration can support route-based navigation across adulthood and highlight the potential of architectural design to improve wayfinding in public spaces.