Environmental cognitive load and spatial anxiety: What matters in navigation?

Spatial navigation is essential for orienting oneself in familiar and novel environments. Several internal factors may affect spatial navigation, such as anxiety. This study explored the mediating role of anxiety (spatial, trait and state) in the relationship between cognitive load and spatial navigation (egocentric and allocentric) using parallel mediation models. A sample of 125 participants (60 females) completed self-reported measures of anxiety (spatial and state-trait) during free navigation in a virtual reality square with or without environmental cognitive load. After the virtual learning experience, three spatial tasks evaluating landmark recognition and the use of egocentric and allocentric coordinates were administered. Results showed that spatial anxiety partially mediated the relationship between environmental load and spatial skills, specifically for egocentric and allocentric tasks. In addition, trait anxiety mediated the relationship between environmental load and allocentric performance. Overall, these findings update the Environmental Knowledge Model (EKM) that explains human navigation in terms of individual and environmental factors. The study results suggest that navigation could be facilitated by reducing anxiety and the spatial complexity of the environment. •Virtual reality navigation elicits cognitive load.•Environmental cognitive load worsened spatial problem solving.•Spatial anxiety mediated the relation between cognitive load and egocentric tasks.•Spatial and trait anxiety are mediators of the cognitive load-allocentric tasks link.•Updating of Environmental Knowledge Model with internal and external characteristics.