Children with ASD reported lower perceived navigation ability than typically developing peers in an observational study.

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medRxiv Published April 16, 2026 Medically reviewed April 25, 2026 Study authors: McKeown, D. J.; Cruzado, O. S.; Colombo, G.; Angus, D. J.; Schinazi, V. R. DOI ↗ By Dr. Ji-eun Park, MD · Brain, Mind & Pain

Key Takeaway

Note the discrepancy between objective navigation performance and lower perceived ability in children with ASD.

This observational study examined navigation abilities in a cohort of 26 children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 25 typically developing (TD) children. The primary objective was to compare objective navigation performance against perceived navigation ability between the two groups. No significant group differences were observed during the objective navigation tasks, indicating comparable performance capabilities between children with ASD and TD peers under these specific conditions.

In contrast, assessments of perceived navigation ability revealed a notable disparity. Children with ASD reported significantly lower perceived navigation ability compared to TD peers. This suggests that while objective performance may be preserved, the internal experience or confidence regarding navigation skills differs substantially between the groups. The study highlights the importance of distinguishing between measured performance and subjective self-assessment in this population.

Safety data, adverse events, and tolerability were not reported in the provided evidence. Key limitations include the small sample size and the observational nature of the design, which precludes causal inferences. The results underscore the importance of incorporating objective, task-based measures when assessing cognitive abilities in autistic populations, as subjective reports may not align with actual performance capabilities.

Study Details

EvidenceLevel 5

PublishedApr 2026

View Original Abstract ↓

PurposeNavigational ability develops throughout childhood alongside the maturation of brain regions supporting egocentric and allocentric processing. In Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), atypical hippocampal development may impact flexible spatial memory; however, findings on navigational ability in autistic children remain inconsistent. This study aimed to compare both objective and perceived navigation ability in children with ASD and typically developing (TD) peers. MethodTwenty-six children with high-functioning ASD and twenty-five age- and gender-matched TD children (M_age = 12.04 years, SD = 1.64) completed a battery of navigational tasks from the Spatial Performance Assessment for Cognitive Evaluation (SPACE), including Path Integration, Egocentric Pointing, Mapping, Associative Memory, and Perspective Taking. Perceived navigation ability was assessed using the Santa Barbara Sense of Direction (SBSOD) scale. ResultsNo significant group differences were observed across any objective navigation tasks. However, children with ASD reported significantly lower perceived navigation ability compared to TD peers. ConclusionThese findings suggest a dissociation between perceived and actual navigational ability in ASD. By early adolescence, objective navigation performance appears intact, potentially reflecting sufficient maturation of underlying neural systems or the presence of compensatory mechanisms. The results underscore the importance of incorporating objective, task-based measures when assessing cognitive abilities in autistic populations.