People usually rely on sight to encode spatial information, becoming aware of other sensory cues when deprived of vision. In the absence of vision, it has been demonstrated that physical movements and spatial descriptions can effectively provide the spatial information that is necessary for the construction of an adequate spatial mental model. However, no study has previously compared the influence of these encoding modalities on complex movements such as human spatial navigation within real room-size environments. Thus, we investigated whether the encoding of a spatial layout through verbal cues - that is, spatial description - and motor cues - that is, physical exploration of the environment - differently affect spatial navigation within a real room-size environment, by testing blindfolded sighted (Experiment 1) and late-blind (Experiment 2) participants. Our results reveal that encoding the environment through physical movement is more effective than through verbal descriptions in supporting active navigation. Thus, our findings are in line with the studies claiming that the physical exploration of an environment enhances the development of a global spatial representation and improves spatial updating. From an applied perspective, the present results suggest that it might be possible to improve the experience for visually impaired people within a new environment by allowing them to explore it.

中文翻译：

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编码模式对视力正常和晚盲人群空间导航的影响。

人们通常依靠视觉来编码空间信息，在视力丧失时会意识到其他感官线索。在没有视觉的情况下，已经证明物理运动和空间描述可以有效地提供构建适当空间心智模型所必需的空间信息。然而，之前没有研究比较过这些编码方式对复杂运动的影响，例如真实房间大小环境中的人类空间导航。因此，我们研究了通过语言线索（即空间描述）和运动线索（即对环境的物理探索）对空间布局的编码是否会不同地影响真实房间大小的环境中的空间导航，通过测试蒙眼视力（实验 1）和晚盲（实验 2）参与者。我们的结果表明，在支持主动导航方面，通过身体运动对环境进行编码比通过口头描述更有效。因此，我们的研究结果与声称对环境进行物理探索可增强全球空间表示的发展并改善空间更新的研究一致。从应用的角度来看，目前的结果表明，通过允许他们探索新环境，有可能改善视障人士在新环境中的体验。我们的研究结果与声称对环境进行物理探索可促进全球空间表征的发展并改善空间更新的研究一致。从应用的角度来看，目前的结果表明，通过允许他们探索新环境，有可能改善视障人士在新环境中的体验。我们的研究结果与声称对环境进行物理探索可促进全球空间表征的发展并改善空间更新的研究一致。从应用的角度来看，目前的结果表明，通过允许他们探索新环境，有可能改善视障人士在新环境中的体验。