Integration of GPS-like synthetic cues and natural spatial cues during navigation

Effective navigation relies on spatial cues. Humans can integrate landmarks and body-based cues (e.g., proprioception) optimally. Modern reliance on GPS introduces synthetic cues—artificial sources of spatial information generated by technology. Yet it remains unclear how synthetic cues interact with natural ones during navigation. We examined how landmarks, body-based cues, and GPS-like synthetic cues (dynamic overhead maps) interact during navigation in immersive virtual reality with young healthy adults (N = 192). We manipulated cue availability and consistency, map orientation (heading-aligned or north-aligned) and the presence of performance feedback. Results showed that participants could—but did not always—integrate these three cues optimally; instead, they typically integrated two of the three cues. Providing feedback of participants’ performance appeared to promote three-cue integration. Moreover, a heading-aligned map enhanced integration with body-based cues and improved homing precision, even after its removal, suggesting an egocentric alignment benefit for spatial learning.