Name: Orienteering as a Tool for Cognitive Research: An Implementation Guide (Video) | JoVE Journal
Uploaded: 2024-11-29T12:40:00.000+00:00
Duration: 7 min 13 s
Description: Learn how to implement orienteering for cognitive research using GPS tracking and standardized protocols. This guide helps researchers study spatial memory enhancement through physical activity.

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We would like to thank the members of the NeuroFit Lab for their ongoing support as we begin to explore the effects of orienteering on brain health and function. This study was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada under grant RGPIN-2022-05298 (to J. J. H.).

Implementing Orienteering for Body and Brain Training 

<ol><li>Eccles, D. W., Walsh, S. E., Ingledew, D. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((A+grounded+theory+of+expert+cognition+in+orienteering%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Sport+Exerc+Pyschol%22%5BJournal%5D)">A grounded theory of expert cognition in orienteering.</a> J Sport Exerc Pyschol. 24 (1), 68-88 (2002).</li>
<li>Waddington, E. E., Heisz, J. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Orienteering+experts+report+more+proficient+spatial+processing+and+memory+across+adulthood%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22PLoS+One%22%5BJournal%5D)">Orienteering experts report more proficient spatial processing and memory across adulthood.</a> PLoS One. 18 (1), e0280435(2023).</li>
<li>Feraco, T., Bonvento, M., Meneghetti, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Orienteering%3A+What+relation+with+visuospatial+abilities%2C+wayfinding+attitudes%2C+and+environment+learning%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Appl+Cogn+Psychol%22%5BJournal%5D)">Orienteering: What relation with visuospatial abilities, wayfinding attitudes, and environment learning.</a> Appl Cogn Psychol. 35 (6), 1592-1599 (2021).</li>
<li>Eccles, D. W., Arsal, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((How+do+they+make+it+look+so+easy%3F+The+expert+orienteer%27s+cognitive+advantage%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Sports+Sci%22%5BJournal%5D)">How do they make it look so easy? The expert orienteer's cognitive advantage.</a> J Sports Sci. 33 (6), 609-615 (2015).</li>
<li>Waddington, E. E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Orienteering+combines+vigorous-intensity+exercise+with+navigation+to+improve+human+cognition+and+increase+brain-derived+neurotrophic+factor%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22PLoS+One%22%5BJournal%5D)">Orienteering combines vigorous-intensity exercise with navigation to improve human cognition and increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor.</a> PLoS One. 19 (5), e0303785(2024).</li>
<li>Bao, S., Liu, J., Liu, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Shedding+light+on+the+effects+of+orienteering+exercise+on+spatial+memory+performance+in+college+students+of+different+genders%3A+An+fNIRS+study%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Brain+Sci%22%5BJournal%5D)">Shedding light on the effects of orienteering exercise on spatial memory performance in college students of different genders: An fNIRS study.</a> Brain Sci. 12 (7), 852(2022).</li>
<li>Erickson, K. I., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Exercise+training+increases+size+of+hippocampus+and+improves+memory%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Proc+Natl+Acad+Sci+U+S+A%22%5BJournal%5D)">Exercise training increases size of hippocampus and improves memory.</a> Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 108 (7), 3017-3022 (2011).</li>
<li>Maass, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Vascular+hippocampal+plasticity+after+aerobic+exercise+in+older+adults%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Mol+Psychiatry%22%5BJournal%5D)">Vascular hippocampal plasticity after aerobic exercise in older adults.</a> Mol Psychiatry. 20 (5), 585-593 (2015).</li>
<li>Nagamatsu, L. S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Physical+activity+improves+verbal+and+spatial+memory+in+older+adults+with+probable+mild+cognitive+impairment%3A+A+6-month+randomized+controlled+trial%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Aging+Res%22%5BJournal%5D)">Physical activity improves verbal and spatial memory in older adults with probable mild cognitive impairment: A 6-month randomized controlled trial.</a> J Aging Res. 2013, 861893(2013).</li>
<li>Nouchi, R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Four+weeks+of+combination+exercise+training+improved+executive+functions%2C+episodic+memory%2C+and+processing+speed+in+healthy+elderly+people%3A+evidence+from+a+randomized+controlled+trial%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Age%22%5BJournal%5D)">Four weeks of combination exercise training improved executive functions, episodic memory, and processing speed in healthy elderly people: evidence from a randomized controlled trial.</a> Age. 36 (2), 787-799 (2014).</li>
<li>Ruscheweyh, R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Physical+activity+and+memory+functions%3A+An+interventional+study%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Neurobiol+Aging%22%5BJournal%5D)">Physical activity and memory functions: An interventional study.</a> Neurobiol Aging. 32 (7), 1304-1319 (2011).</li>
<li>Ferencz, B., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((The+benefits+of+staying+active+in+old+age%3A+Physical+activity+counteracts+the+negative+influence+of+PICALM%2C+BIN1%2C+and+CLU+risk+alleles+on+episodic+memory+functioning%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Psychol+Aging%22%5BJournal%5D)">The benefits of staying active in old age: Physical activity counteracts the negative influence of PICALM, BIN1, and CLU risk alleles on episodic memory functioning.</a> Psychol Aging. 29 (2), 440-449 (2014).</li>
<li>Heisz, J. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((The+effects+of+physical+exercise+and+cognitive+training+on+memory+and+neurotrophic+factors%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Cogn+Neurosci%22%5BJournal%5D)">The effects of physical exercise and cognitive training on memory and neurotrophic factors.</a> J Cogn Neurosci. 29 (11), 1895-1907 (2017).</li>
<li>Bo, W., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Effects+of+combined+intervention+of+physical+exercise+and+cognitive+training+on+cognitive+function+in+stroke+survivors+with+vascular+cognitive+impairment%3A+a+randomized+controlled+trial%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Clin+Rehabil%22%5BJournal%5D)">Effects of combined intervention of physical exercise and cognitive training on cognitive function in stroke survivors with vascular cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial.</a> Clin Rehabil. 33 (1), 54-63 (2019).</li>
<li>Styliadis, C., Kartsidis, P., Paraskevopoulos, E., Ioannides, A. A., Bamidis, P. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Neuroplastic+effects+of+combined+computerized+physical+and+cognitive+training+in+elderly+individuals+at+risk+for+dementia%3A+An+eLORETA+controlled+study+on+resting+states%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Neural+Plast%22%5BJournal%5D)">Neuroplastic effects of combined computerized physical and cognitive training in elderly individuals at risk for dementia: An eLORETA controlled study on resting states.</a> Neural Plast. 2015, 172192(2015).</li>
<li>Ngandu, T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((A+2+year+multidomain+intervention+of+diet%2C+exercise%2C+cognitive+training%2C+and+vascular+risk+monitoring+versus+control+to+prevent+cognitive+decline+in+at-risk+elderly+people+%28FINGER%29%3A+a+randomised+controlled+trial%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Lancet%22%5BJournal%5D)">A 2 year multidomain intervention of diet, exercise, cognitive training, and vascular risk monitoring versus control to prevent cognitive decline in at-risk elderly people (FINGER): a randomised controlled trial.</a> Lancet. 385 (9984), 2255-2263 (2015).</li>
<li>Gavelin, H. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Combined+physical+and+cognitive+training+for+older+adults+with+and+without+cognitive+impairment%3A+A+systematic+review+and+network+meta-analysis+of+randomized+controlled+trials%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Ageing+Res+Rev%22%5BJournal%5D)">Combined physical and cognitive training for older adults with and without cognitive impairment: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.</a> Ageing Res Rev. 66, 101232(2021).</li>
<li>Lövdén, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Spatial+navigation+training+protects+the+hippocampus+against+age-related+changes+during+early+and+late+adulthood%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Neurobiol+Aging%22%5BJournal%5D)">Spatial navigation training protects the hippocampus against age-related changes during early and late adulthood.</a> Neurobiol Aging. 33 (3), 620.e9-620.e22 (2012).</li>
<li>Jeon, Y. K., Ha, C. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((The+effect+of+exercise+intensity+on+brain+derived+neurotrophic+factor+and+memory+in+adolescents%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Environ+Health+Prev+Med%22%5BJournal%5D)">The effect of exercise intensity on brain derived neurotrophic factor and memory in adolescents.</a> Environ Health Prev Med. 22 (1), 27(2017).</li>
<li>Kovacevic, A., Fenesi, B., Paolucci, E., Heisz, J. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((The+effects+of+aerobic+exercise+intensity+on+memory+in+older+adults%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Appl+Physiol+Nutr+Metab%22%5BJournal%5D)">The effects of aerobic exercise intensity on memory in older adults.</a> Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 45 (6), 591-600 (2020).</li>
<li>Marquez, C. M. S., Vanaudenaerde, B., Troosters, T., Wenderoth, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((High-intensity+interval+training+evokes+larger+serum+BDNF+levels+compared+with+intense+continuous+exercise%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Appl+Physiol%22%5BJournal%5D)">High-intensity interval training evokes larger serum BDNF levels compared with intense continuous exercise.</a> J Appl Physiol. 119 (12), 1363-1373 (2015).</li>
<li>Shah, Z., Ahmad, F., Zahra, M., Zulfiqar, F., Aziz, S., Mahmood, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Effect+of+single+bout+of+moderate+and+high+intensity+interval+exercise+on+brain+derived+neurotrophic+factor+and+working+memory+in+young+adult+females%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Brain+Plast%22%5BJournal%5D)">Effect of single bout of moderate and high intensity interval exercise on brain derived neurotrophic factor and working memory in young adult females.</a> Brain Plast. 8 (1), 35-42 (2022).</li>
<li>Griffin, ÉW., Mullally, S., Foley, C., Warmington, S. A., O'Mara, S. M., Kelly, ÁM. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Aerobic+exercise+improves+hippocampal+function+and+increases+BDNF+in+the+serum+of+young+adult+males%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Physiol+Behav%22%5BJournal%5D)">Aerobic exercise improves hippocampal function and increases BDNF in the serum of young adult males.</a> Physiol Behav. 104 (5), 934-941 (2011).</li>
<li>Ide, K., Schmalbruch, I. K., Quistorff, B., Horn, A., Secher, N. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Lactate%2C+glucose+and+O2+uptake+in+human+brain+during+recovery+from+maximal+exercise%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Physiol%22%5BJournal%5D)">Lactate, glucose and O2 uptake in human brain during recovery from maximal exercise.</a> J Physiol. 522 (1), 159-164 (2000).</li>
<li>Müller, P., Duderstadt, Y., Lessmann, V., Müller, N. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Lactate+and+BDNF%3A+Key+mediators+of+exercise+induced+neuroplasticity%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Clin+Med%22%5BJournal%5D)">Lactate and BDNF: Key mediators of exercise induced neuroplasticity.</a> J Clin Med. 9 (4), 1136(2020).</li>
<li>Hashimoto, T., Tsukamoto, H., Ando, S., Ogoh, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Effect+of+exercise+on+brain+health%3A+The+potential+role+of+lactate+as+a+myokine%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Metabolites%22%5BJournal%5D)">Effect of exercise on brain health: The potential role of lactate as a myokine.</a> Metabolites. 11 (12), 813(2021).</li>
<li>Cai, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Lactate+is+answerable+for+brain+function+and+treating+brain+diseases%3A+Energy+substrates+and+signal+molecule%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Front+Nutr%22%5BJournal%5D)">Lactate is answerable for brain function and treating brain diseases: Energy substrates and signal molecule.</a> Front Nutr. 9, 800901(2022).</li>
<li>El Hayek, L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Lactate+mediates+the+effects+of+exercise+on+learning+and+memory+through+SIRT1-dependent+activation+of+hippocampal+brain-derived+neurotrophic+factor+%28BDNF%29%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Neurosci%22%5BJournal%5D)">Lactate mediates the effects of exercise on learning and memory through SIRT1-dependent activation of hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).</a> J Neurosci. 339 (13), 2369-2382 (2019).</li>
<li>Hashimoto, T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Maintained+exercise-enhanced+brain+executive+function+related+to+cerebral+lactate+metabolism+in+men%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22FASEB+J%22%5BJournal%5D)">Maintained exercise-enhanced brain executive function related to cerebral lactate metabolism in men.</a> FASEB J. 32 (3), 1417-1427 (2018).</li>
<li>Kujach, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Acute+sprint+interval+exercise+increases+both+cognitive+functions+and+peripheral+neurotrophic+factors+in+humans%3A+The+possible+involvement+of+lactate%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Front+Neurosci%22%5BJournal%5D)">Acute sprint interval exercise increases both cognitive functions and peripheral neurotrophic factors in humans: The possible involvement of lactate.</a> Front Neurosci. 13, 1455(2020).</li>
<li>Raichlen, D. A., Alexander, G. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Adaptive+capacity%3A+An+evolutionary+neuroscience+model+linking+exercise%2C+cognition%2C+and+brain+health%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Trends+Neurosci%22%5BJournal%5D)">Adaptive capacity: An evolutionary neuroscience model linking exercise, cognition, and brain health.</a> Trends Neurosci. 40 (7), 408-421 (2017).</li>
<li>Dahmani, L., Bohbot, V. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Habitual+use+of+GPS+negatively+impacts+spatial+memory+during+self-guided+navigation%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Sci+Rep%22%5BJournal%5D)">Habitual use of GPS negatively impacts spatial memory during self-guided navigation.</a> Sci Rep. 10 (1), 6310(2020).</li>
<li>McKinlay, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Technology%3A+Use+or+lose+our+navigation+skills%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Nature%22%5BJournal%5D)">Technology: Use or lose our navigation skills.</a> Nature. 531 (7596), 573-575 (2016).</li>
<li>Ekstrom, A. D., Hill, P. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Spatial+navigation+and+memory%3A+A+review+of+the+similarities+and+differences+relevant+to+brain+models%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Neuron%22%5BJournal%5D)">Spatial navigation and memory: A review of the similarities and differences relevant to brain models.</a> Neuron. 111 (7), 1037-1049 (2023).</li>
</ol>

The authors report no conflicting interests.

Orienteering, which combines exercise with the cognitive challenge of navigation, offers a unique intervention with the potential to enhance cognitive functioning in domains highly impacted by age and dementia2,6. However, the absence of standardized protocols and a general lack of knowledge about orienteering undermines the clinical utility of this sport. This paper addresses these gaps and provides a detailed protocol for designing orienteering maps and materials for implementing orienteering in a research setting for those with minimal orienteering knowledge.
Although orienteering interventions will vary in terms of their location and course set-up, this protocol provides comprehensive resources, materials, websites, and programs to develop an orienteering intervention aimed at measuring its cognitive effects. This guide is intended for information and educational purposes only and is provided &#39;as is&#39; without any warranties, expressed or implied. The authors disclaim any responsibility for the application of the methods described and any liability for any adverse outcomes or damages resulting from their use. Researchers using this guide to develop their own orienteering interventions are solely responsible for assessing the associated risks of their methodology, obtaining appropriate institutional approvals, and ensuring compliance with all relevant ethical guidelines and regulations.
Choosing the map type in step 2 depends on available time, resources, cartography skills, and participant skill level. Detailed orienteering maps created in programs such as OCAD or OpenOrienteeringMapper&#160;(step 2.2) are generally recommended as they can show a greater level of detail and elaborate elevation data that simplified maps made with OpenOrienteeringMap are not able to show. As expert-level orienteers report being able to efficiently process high-level spatial information while running2, detailed maps are recommended for such participants in order to match the complexity of map information available to their skills. However, creating detailed orienteering maps requires cartography knowledge and more time, which can be a barrier for researchers without previous orienteering knowledge, which may be a limitation to implementing an orienteering intervention. In such cases, simplified orienteering maps (step 2.1) can be made with OpenOrienteeringMap for all participant levels.
In step 3, it is important to sequentially add checkpoints in numerical order, starting from the start location and ending at the finish location. By doing so, the course-setter is better able to track the potential route options between checkpoints to alter the difficulty of the course effectively. For example, when setting a beginner-level course in sequential order, the course-setter can ensure that there is only one decision to be made by participants from one checkpoint to the next.
When teaching basic orienteering skills in step 4.4, some beginner-level participants may require more instruction than others to understand orienteering concepts. Research shows that individuals with no orienteering experience approach spatial navigation and processing differently and also have poorer spatial memory abilities than those with orienteering experience2,3. This highlights individual differences in spatial memory abilities and their impact on orienteering learning and performance. Therefore, modifying the protocol to include more elaborate and detailed orienteering instructions may be necessary to accommodate these differences.
Choosing orienteering locations that are relatively unfamiliar to participants is recommended because an individual&#39;s navigational tendencies can vary between unfamiliar and familiar terrains34. However, safety considerations and adaptations are crucial when implementing orienteering interventions, particularly in unfamiliar areas. A thorough risk assessment for all terrains used is advised before creating any orienteering course. Given that orienteering typically takes place outdoors and some courses require expansive space, not all locations, climates or weather conditions may be safe.
For safety purposes, participant&#39;s routes should be continuously tracked using a GPS sports watch or similar device and should be observed by a researcher (without interference) in order to monitor their time and location. When completing the orienteering intervention, as in step 4.5, it is critical that the GPS sports watch or MapRun application being used acquires a GPS signal and starts recording correctly in order to track the participant&#39;s route for the entirety of the course.
Additional safety considerations are recommended when participants are engaging in longer, advanced-level courses. This includes having a first-aid kit available, and emergency contact information of the participants. Participants may also be required to carry a communication device with them for emergency use only. As orienteering can be performed at high intensities, health assessments of all participants should be completed before engaging in orienteering to ensure they are physically capable of completing the orienteering course without undue risk. Finally, adequate hydration and nutrition should be available for the duration of the orienteering course and exercise parameters. By implementing these safety measures, the risk of accidents and emergencies can be significantly reduced. Researchers are reminded of their responsibility in assessing risk and obtaining necessary ethical approval for their unique intervention
In conclusion, as the field of orienteering research unfolds, this protocol provides information that researchers with minimal orienteering knowledge can use to design and implement orienteering interventions in a research environment. By using this protocol as a guide, future researchers will be able to create standardized orienteering maps and courses to study their desired outcomes.

Orienteering combines spatial navigation with exercise, predominantly in the form of running. The objective of the sport is to use a map and compass to navigate to numerous checkpoints across an unfamiliar area as quickly as possible1. Orienteers may choose any navigational route they wish to locate a series of checkpoints, called an orienteering course. Orienteering courses vary in navigational difficulty; the level of challenge is tailored to match the participant&#39;s skill level, ensuring an appropriate and engaging navigational experience.
The ability to locate checkpoints requires spatial processing and wayfinding skills, and orienteering experts of all ages report more efficient spatial strategies while navigating and better spatial processing than non-orienteering controls2,3,4. When novices engage in orienteering at a vigorous exercise intensity, even a single session can improve spatial memory and increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a growth factor that supports the optimal functioning of brain cells5. Orienteering at a moderate intensity can also improve memory but may require consistent training. Bao and colleagues observed improvements in spatial memory when beginners participated in moderate-intensity orienteering twice weekly for 12 weeks (i.e., 24 sessions)6.
Although running alone can enhance the structure and function of brain regions like the hippocampus, improving spatial7,8,9 and episodic memory10,11,12, research suggests these effects may be amplified when running is combined with cognitively challenging tasks13,14,15,16,17,18. Furthermore, orienteering often involves vigorous exercise with short breaks at the checkpoints, resembling high-intensity interval training (HIIT). This format of exercise has been shown to significantly boost cognitive function19, 20 and increase BDNF21,22,23 more effectively than continuous, moderate-intensity exercise. Vigorous exercise may be especially beneficial for cognition because it causes the accumulation of lactate that can act as a fuel source for the brain24 as well as an activator of BDNF to support cognitive function25,26,27, but there is limited research examining this pathway in humans28,29,30.
Multiple theories could explain why orienteering benefits cognition. For one, orienteering relies on processes similar to hunter-gatherer activities, and according to the Adaptive Capacity Model31, the brain and body may be more receptive to training activities with an evolutionary semblance. Moreover, orienteering requires spatial navigation, which has largely been engineered out of modern life due to the ubiquitous global positioning system (GPS) technology32, and so it may also be a case of &#34;use it or lose it&#34; 33.
Given the novelty and promise of orienteering to enhance human cognition, it is important to develop resources and establish guidelines that help researchers unfamiliar with the sport implement an orienteering intervention. Therefore, this current protocol aims to provide researchers with the necessary steps for developing orienteering maps, courses, and interventions within a research setting.

<table><tbody><tr><td>Chest heart rate monitor strap</td><td>Polar Electro</td><td>https://www.polar.com/</td><td>Or any other device capable of recording heart rate continuously and that can pair with the chosen watch.</td></tr><tr><td>Clipboard</td><td>Staples</td><td>https://www.staples.com/clipboards</td><td>To record any in-field measures.</td></tr><tr><td>Colour printer</td><td>HP Laser Colour Printer</td><td>https://www.hp.com/</td><td>To print maps.</td></tr><tr><td>Computer&amp;nbsp;</td><td>Lenovo IdeaPad</td><td>https://www.lenovo.com/in/en/c/laptops/ideapad/</td><td>Ensure the device chosen is capable of running your chosen orienteering map and course making software.</td></tr><tr><td>GPS Sports watch</td><td>Polar Electro</td><td>https://www.polar.com/</td><td>Or any other GPS watch with a sampling rate of 1&amp;ndash;3 s.</td></tr><tr><td>OCAD for Orienteering&amp;nbsp;</td><td>OCAD</td><td>https://www.ocad.com/en/</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>OpenOrienteeringMapper</td><td>Open orienteering</td><td>https://www.openorienteering.org/apps/mapper/</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Orienteering Compass (for more advanced orienteers)</td><td>Suunto Oy</td><td>https://www.suunto.com/en-in/News/Suunto-introduces-stable-and-fast-AIM-compasses-for-competitive-orienteers/</td><td>Or any other compass model capable of orienting to Magnetic North and setting a bearing angle.</td></tr><tr><td>Orienteering control marker OR pin flag OR flagging tape OR pylon</td><td>Silva-USA (orienteering control markers) OR Amazon.com</td><td>n/a</td><td>Choose an item to mark each checkpoint location that is most feasible for your intervention.</td></tr><tr><td>Pen</td><td>Staples</td><td>https://www.staples.com</td><td>To record any in-field measures.</td></tr><tr><td>Plastic paper sleeve</td><td>Staples</td><td>https://www.staples.com/sheet-protectors/</td><td>To protect maps from weather.</td></tr><tr><td>Smartphone capable of running the MapRun Application</td><td>Apple, iPhone 12</td><td>https://www.apple.com/iphone/</td><td>Required if using the MapRun application as per step step 4.2.2.</td></tr></tbody></table>

orienteering as a tool for cognitive research: an implementation guide

Orienteering as a Tool for Cognitive Research: An Implementation Guide

The sport of orienteering combines physical activity with spatial navigation. Using only a map and a compass, the orienteer must locate a series of checkpoints over unfamiliar terrain using any navigational route they choose and while moving as quickly as possible. Although expert orienteers have superior spatial memory and navigational abilities, even a single session of orienteering can benefit cognition, suggesting that orienteering may be a promising way to train the brain. Research interventions involving orienteering may be especially beneficial for staving off Alzheimer's disease and related dementias that are afflicted by early impairments in wayfinding and spatial cognition. Though orienteering has gained traction in recent literature, certain barriers exist for researchers who are unfamiliar with the sport and wish to implement an intervention. Specifically, a lack of research-based resources for creating orienteering maps and courses may prevent those wishing to study orienteering from designing an intervention. Therefore, this report provides the fundamental information needed to develop orienteering maps and courses and how to implement orienteering interventions in a research setting.

Orienteering performance
Our previous work analyzed the navigational performance of 41 participants who engaged in orienteering5. For a comprehensive understanding of the study methodology, refer to Waddington et al.5.
In this study, 19 participants engaged in orienteering at a vigorous (running) intensity, while 22 performed it at a moderate orienteering (walking) intensity. Navigational performance was determined by calculating the ratio of the distance traveled by the participant to the most optimal route for the orienteering course. This analysis assumes that participants traveling farther than the most efficient route are making navigational errors, thereby extending their distance taken to complete the orienteering course. A ratio of 1 thus indicates that the participant completed the orienteering intervention course using the most efficient route without making any errors.
The most optimal route across the orienteering course was determined by an expert-level orienteer. This route was measured multiple times using a count-meter in both the forward and reverse directions by different researchers for a total of six measures. Using the average of these measures, the most efficient route of the orienteering intervention course was determined to be 1300 m.
The average distance taken to complete the orienteering course for participants orienteering at a vigorous exercise intensity was 1415.79 ± 162.25 m, and 1360 ± 149.83 m for those orienteering at a moderate intensity. In terms of the ratio of the distance traveled to the most optimal route, the average ratio for the vigorous intensity orienteering group was 1.09 ± 0.12 (range: 0.95-1.35) and 1.05 ± 0.12 (range: 0.96-1.48) for the moderate intensity orienteering group (Figure 6). These results reveal that participants orienting at either a vigorous or moderate-intensity traveled further than the optimal route, indicating the presence of navigational errors that are typical for novices and expected to improve with training. Comparing these values to the visualized route captured by the GPS sports watch, as in Figure 5, can further indicate navigational performance.
<img alt="Bar chart of orienteering intensity ratios showing moderate vs. vigorous distance analysis." class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/66833/66833fig06.jpg" data-altupdatedat="1788304762000" data-alt="Figure 6"> 
Figure 6: Navigational efficiency ratio at different orienteering exercise intensities. The figure illustrates the mean ± SD of the navigational efficiency ratio of participants completing an orienteering course at either a moderate or vigorous exercise intensity. The ratio was calculated as the distance traveled by the participant (as determined by a GPS sports watch) divided by the most optimal route length of 1300 m, and a value of 1 indicates that the course was completed without navigational errors. Data has previously been reported in  Waddington et al.5. <a href="https://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/66833/66833fig06large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>

The sport of orienteering is emerging as an effective way to train both the body and brain as it combines physical activity with spatial navigation. The current manuscript offers a guide on how to implement the sport of orienteering in research.

The sport of orienteering combines physical activity with spatial navigation. Using only a map and a compass, the orienteer must locate a series of ...

orienteering-as-a-tool-for-cognitive-research-an-implementation-guide

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JoVE Journal

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Learn how to implement orienteering for cognitive research using GPS tracking and standardized protocols. This guide helps researchers study spatial memory enhancement through physical activity.

Orienteering as a Tool for Cognitive Research: An Implementation Guide

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