Differential Contributions of Global and Local Object Landmarks in Human Wayfinding Behavior

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• Memory & Cognition

Abstract

Human wayfinding relies on landmarks to support route learning and spatial updating, yet the relative contributions of global (salient, far-reaching) versus local (proximal, decision-point) landmarks remain debated. This study employed a factorial design crossing landmark scale (global, local) with environmental layout regularity (regular, irregular) in a virtual navigation task. Route-learning accuracy and navigation errors were measured across training and test phases. Local landmarks consistently benefited route-following regardless of environmental structure. Global landmarks, however, provided significant advantages only in irregular environments, where local route information was insufficient to build a coherent cognitive map. These results reveal a hierarchical, context-sensitive landmark utilization system and explain prior inconsistencies by showing that global landmark utility emerges specifically under environmental uncertainty.

Citation

Lin, W.-J., & Chang, E. C. (2025). Differential contributions of global and local object landmarks in human wayfinding behavior. Memory & Cognition.

@article{Lin2025,
  author  = {Lin, Wen-Jing and Chang, Erik Chihhung},
  year    = {2025},
  title   = {Differential Contributions of Global and Local Object Landmarks in Human Wayfinding Behavior},
  journal = {Memory \& Cognition},
  doi     = {10.3758/s13421-025-01807-9}
}