How Spatial Memory Works And Is Lost

Spatial memory is not a type of memory you often hear about. It is a small subset of memory that operates both in short-term and long-term memory. It is responsible for your ability to move freely about your home, remember the route to the grocery store, and find things soon after putting them down.

Ahead, we'll delve into the concept of spatial memory, explore how it works in the brain, elaborate on spatial memory loss, and offer suggestions for addressing memory-related problems.

Most research on spatial memory has been conducted on animals, particularly rodents. However, recent studies have tested spatial memory in humans and found that the same principles observed in rodents also apply to humans.

What is spatial memory?

Spatial memory allows you to remember where things are both on a short-term and long-term basis. Any time you remember the location of an object or place, you are using spatial memory.

You use spatial memory even when you do not think about it. While some spatial memory is declarative, meaning you must actively recall it, other spatial memory is automatic and does not require specific attention to recall.

Spatial memory is even more important for people with eyesight problems. If you wear glasses or contacts and do not have them on when you get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, it is spatial memory that helps you remember where things are in the room, so you don't bump into anything or trip and fall.

The brain and spatial memory

The primary part of the brain involved in spatial memory is the hippocampus. Studies in both rodents and humans have shown that the hippocampus is vital for spatial memory. If the hippocampus is damaged, spatial memory can be permanently impaired.

In addition, studies have found that the brain's right hemisphere is most active during spatial memory tasks. This contrasts with verbal memory tasks, which primarily use the left side of the brain. The right hemisphere, as well as parts of the left hemisphere, was used in subjects who performed spatial memory tasks that involved both spatial and verbal memory.

The parietal lobe also plays a role in spatial memory. When you perform a task, such as remembering where objects are in relation to the body, you are using the parietal lobe. This is also the area of the brain responsible for actions such as reaching and grasping. Without spatial memory working in conjunction with the parietal lobe, you would not be able to grasp something that was in front of you reliably.

How spatial memory works

Spatial memory works differently depending on the type of information you are trying to recall. Spatial memory can be utilized in working memory, also called short-term memory, or in long-term memory. When you see something with your eyes, that information is transferred to iconic memory, a form of ultra-short-term sensory memory.

From the sensory memory, that information is passed on to the short-term memory, or working memory. This memory usually lasts less than an hour, with an average of twenty minutes for most people. 

When you place something down and forget where you put it five minutes later, this is a failure of spatial working memory. When you forget the route to the grocery store that you have taken several times, this is a lapse in long-term spatial memory. Both types of memory are reliant on the hippocampus.

Spatial working memory

Spatial working memory is short-term memory. It is this working memory that we use when we are trying to remember the location of an object soon after placing it down or seeing it. If the lights suddenly go out and you are left in darkness, spatial working memory helps you remember where things are that you can no longer see.

Long-term spatial memory

Long-term spatial memory includes memories of things you have repeatedly seen or routes you have taken in the past, which your brain encodes as long-term memory. When you go to the grocery store for the second time after moving to a new town, it is your long-term memory that helps you remember the route. Long-term spatial memory also allows you to remember where an event took place.

Spatial working memory impairment 

Spatial memory loss is common in several conditions, although it is not frequently reported as the first sign of memory loss. The biggest reason it is not reported more frequently is that people do not realize that spatial memory is its own category of memory. However, because it depends on the hippocampus, spatial memory is among the first types of memory to show deficits in many disorders.

Common signs of spatial memory loss include:

• Getting lost in familiar places
• Misplacing items and being unable to retrace steps
• Trouble judging distances (like parking or reaching)
• Confusion with directions
• Trouble with maps/navigation
• Struggling with tasks requiring visual-spatial skills, like using stairs or recognizing objects
• Challenges with complex tasks like planning, organizing, or completing familiar multi-step activities

Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease is the most common reason behind memory loss. Alzheimer's first attacks the hippocampus. Because the hippocampus is so severely impacted early in the disease, spatial memory loss is one of the first signs of the disorder. However, it is not until other types of memory loss are apparent that most people seek help. The earlier Alzheimer's is detected, the more treatment options are available. For this reason, it is important to seek help right away if you find yourself having trouble with spatial memory.

Brain injury

A traumatic brain injury can be responsible for the loss of spatial memory. Severe damage to the right hemisphere of the brain can impair spatial memory. In addition, if the hippocampus is damaged, spatial memory can experience significant losses. Sometimes the loss of spatial memory due to brain injury is temporary. As the brain heals, spatial memory may begin to come back.

Stroke

A stroke can also cause the loss of spatial memory. A stroke may affect the hippocampus, leading to problems with spatial and other types of memory. However, if the stroke primarily affects the right hemisphere of the brain, it is more likely to affect spatial memory. Some stroke patients recover somewhat over time, and some spatial memory abilities may return with therapy.

How spatial memory works with aging

The process of aging has long been known to cause gradual memory loss. This is considered natural memory loss, and there really isn't anything to be done about it in most cases. The same is true of spatial memory. As we age, our ability to recall where things are located declines. You may find that as you get older, you have a harder time remembering where you last saw your phone, your car keys, or your wallet.

New studies have come to light, however, that may be able to reverse the effects of aging on spatial memory. The research was conducted in rodents and has yet to be tested in humans. The idea is that the immune system weakens with age, contributing to memory loss. The researchers found that boosting the mice's immune systems restored their spatial memory.

Stress

Older studies on mice have shown that stress may cause permanent deficits in spatial memory. Mice were put under restraint stress for six hours a day for 21 days. These rodents were then unable to perform spatial memory tasks. Over time, without stress, their spatial memory abilities did not improve. This suggests that putting the brain under stress, including emotional duress, may contribute to spatial memory loss.

Vestibular loss

Vestibular loss refers to loss of balance related to the inner ear. Previous studies have shown that vestibular loss leads to hippocampal atrophy and impairments in spatial memory. The research was conducted with a relatively small sample size, and further research is needed to determine whether there is indeed a correlation between vestibular loss and spatial memory loss.

Getting help with spatial memory loss

If you have noticed that you are frequently forgetting where things are located, or if you are getting lost driving or walking routes that you have followed often in the past, you may be experiencing spatial memory loss. It is a good idea to get help as soon as you notice that you are having memory problems.

You should contact a psychologist right away when you notice that you have deficits in spatial memory or any other type of memory. Certain conditions such as Alzheimer's and dementia have additional treatment options when the disease is caught early. A psychologist can administer memory tests and help determine if a diagnosis and treatment are needed.

Stress-related memory impairment

Also, if stress is contributing to or exacerbating memory loss, a licensed therapist can help you identify ways to reduce stress. Studies have shown that psychotherapy is an effective treatment for stress, which may potentially help with memory problems. A therapist can offer compassionate support, helping you to:

• Pinpoint specific people, situations, or thoughts that cause stress
• Practice coping techniques like progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, or grounding exercises.
• Uncover old coping habits that no longer serve you and replace them with effective ones.
• Create realistic goals and action plans to manage stress and improve daily functioning. 

And with services like BetterHelp, you can connect with a licensed therapist with the click of a button. Not only has online therapy been proven to be as effective as in-person therapy, but it is also more convenient.