Research Claims GPS Use Can Cause Memory Problems

[Darren]

GPS users have an increased risk of memory loss and spatial orientation problems claims new report.

Researchers conducted a number of studies and the findings suggest that a reliance on GPS for navigation can lead to damage to a region of the brain responsible for memory and spatial orientation.

The actual research is complex and the results may in fact show that the cause is a lack of exercise of the region responsible for spatial awareness rather than the direct fault of GPS.

Whilst it can be invaluable in helping us find our way, it does mean we have less awareness of our surroundings and the routes we have taken.

The researchers advise not placing too much reliance on the tech and that we should take the time to assess our surroundings and update our built-in spatial 'map' to prevent problems.

The original article is here.
_________________
Darren Griffin

[Guivre46]

Well if I used it to guide me around the house, or to take me to the pub, or up to my local shops, or didn't force it to reroute when I choose routes I know will be better than the one it offers, I might give some thought to the research. As it is, they should find something better to do.
_________________
Mike R [aka Wyvern46]
Go 530T - unsupported
Go550 Live [not renewed]
Kia In-dash Tomtom

[Jellyroll]

Well, I've just spent the last hour trying to find this research, to no avail. Do you remember where you came across it?

[Survey_Poster]

There is some info here regarding their 'research':

http://www.telematics.info/wp-admin/post-new.php?posted=7819

[Darren]

Sorry, the original item is here.
_________________
Darren Griffin

[BigPerk]

[Darren]

Good points. I've always loved maps part of the reason I fell into PGPS after all and so spacial awareness and a good sense of direction etc have always been strong suits.

But I do notice than, when in unfamiliar areas, iI find it is very easy to lose sight of where you are in the larger 'map'. And when I'm driving long distances I often fail to digest information that is available such as road signs, county boundary signs etc in the same way that I used to.

I see it much like any skill, use it or lose it and that is what I suspect has been identified here.

I still like to refer to good 'ol paper maps to orientate myself, something that you can't do as effectively with a satnav.
_________________
Darren Griffin

[Andy_P]

I'm in big trouble then.....

I'm the sort of person who still turns up the wrong side turning and wonders where my house has gone (I'm not exaggerating here).

I flounder when I try to tell a taxi driver where I live.

I have a satnav running even on journeys I know well, and I'm kidding myself if I think it's ONLY because I'm "testing them".

My only hope is that I too love paper maps.
So I think I need to leave the satnav at home once in a while and cope with the panic and sweats from going cold turkey!

[Guivre46]

I gave up on this sort of twaddle when I read a research extract that said prisoners reacted sooner to people coming up behind them, than average/normal people did. Surprise!
_________________
Mike R [aka Wyvern46]
Go 530T - unsupported
Go550 Live [not renewed]
Kia In-dash Tomtom

[DennisN]

I have three satnavs on the go - and another three are sitting at home waiting for a turn.

I still tend to drive in a similar way to paper map days, when I used to "memorise" 200 miles up the M5/M6/M74, then round the ring road to the right, etc and print off a page of Autoroute close detail for the last couple of streets. The satnavs nowadays confirm the 200 miles (or suggest alternative 200) and then take over for the last few streets. That means I'm not taking my attention away from the road onto the paper map on the passenger seat - and don't tell me not to look at paper maps on the seat - you don't have much choice on a Red Route! Before becoming a whitevanman, I had about as good a sense of direction as I was handsome. I'm much better at it now, although I confess it deserts me when I'm faced with no entry and no right turn etc, etc.

I'm with this guy

[Guivre46]

Coincidentally, this afternoon I read two papers. One said that use of the internet was reducing our ability to concentrate and conceptualise, the other said that internet use for older people was activating and refreshing parts of the brain that otherwise deteriorated with age.
_________________
Mike R [aka Wyvern46]
Go 530T - unsupported
Go550 Live [not renewed]
Kia In-dash Tomtom

[newtomoneowner]

i can see where the research points, in the days before i started using a satnav i used the A-Z road maps but frequently had to pull over and check where i was, that said i could (once i had been to a place) remember where it was and didnt need the map to find it, with the exception of Bolton town centre which is a joke when your trying to get from one side to the other.

Just recently i had a 930 screen fail on me and went for a month without a satnav and had to revert to a paper based maps and navigating with them was absolute murder, my brain just couldnt work it out, such is the reliance on technology i suppose.

i dont use my satnav for all my journeys as i mainly know where i am heading but i have it on to warn me about speed cameras and i only use it to head home if im not sure where i am, otherwise its just on for the cameras.

[Pocketgps]

Think it may be true. Just notice how most kids these days can't even add up without a calculator. So it must be all teck thats doing it, not just gps.

[Allan_whoops]

They may have been looking at the wrong devices for their research. Look at people walking around and sitting with mobiles and blackberries and their 'world' consists of a radius of about 60cm max.

A friend works in ITU in central London and she commented 5 years ago about the number of people who were coming in who had been on the phone at the time of the accident.

A friend's daughter is a London paramedic and she says the same and notes that they normally walk in front of buses - those big red things!

[DeLorean]

That would explain why I've forgotten how to use my TomTom and knocked off my wing mirrors

What a load of old cobblers!
_________________
🔸🔸 Currently using TomTom GO 940 & Locus Map 🔸🔸

We see you’re using an ad-blocker. We’re fine with that and won’t stop you visiting the site.
Have you considered making a donation towards website running costs?.
Or you could disable your ad-blocker for this site. We think you’ll find our adverts are not overbearing!