Syfte: Undersöka och beskriva aktivitetsbalans hos individer med högkänsligt personlighetsdrag. Metod: En kvantitativ enkätstudie genomfördes. Webbenkäten utformades efter Occupational Balance Questionnaire 11 [OBQ11]. Fyra bakgrundsvariabler lades till. Vid analys av data tillämpades en kvantitativ bearbetning. I studien deltog 203 högkänsliga individer. Resultat: De högkänsliga individerna skattade i genomsnitt låg aktivitetsbalans. Resultatet visade att det fanns en signifikant skillnad i skattad aktivitetsbalans mellan de individer som har barn mot de individer utan barn samt mellan de som bor ensam eller är sammanboende. Vissa delar av OBQ11 utmärkte sig mer då de visade lägre skattad aktivitetsbalans än andra. Inget samband mellan ålder och skattad aktivitetsbalans kunde urskiljas. Slutsats: Deltagarna i studien har en genomgående låg aktivitetsbalans. Mer forskning behövs för att undersöka kopplingen mellan arbetsterapi och högkänslighet. Däremot skulle arbetserapeuters kunskap om hur miljön påverkar en individ kunna vara till nytta för högkänsliga individer. / Aim: Examine and describe occupational balance in individuals with highly sensitive personality traits. Method: A quantitative questionnaire study was conducted. The web survey was designed according to Occupational Balance Questionnaire 11 [OBQ11]. Four background variables were added. In the analysis of data, a quantitative processing was applied. The study involved 203 highly sensitive individuals. Result: The highly sensitive individuals estimated an average low occupational balance. The results showed that there was a significant difference in the estimated occupational balance between the individuals who have children against the individuals without children and between those who live alone or live together. Some parts of OBQ11 excelled more as they showed lower estimated occupational balance than others. No relationship between age and estimated occupational balance could be discerned. Conclusion: The participants in the study have a consistently low occupational balance. More research is needed to investigate the link between occupational therapy and highly sensitive personality traits. On the other hand, occupational therapists' knowledge of how the environment affects an individual could be useful for highly sensitive individuals.

No description available.

No description available.

M.Sc.(Occupational Therapy), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 2009 / Title: The agreement found between the sensory profiles of children 3-10 years and their parents Author: Elsje Geyser Promoter: Denise Franszen School: Therapeutic Sciences Faculty: Health Sciences Degree: MSc.OT Key Concepts: Sensory modulation dysfunction, sensory processing disorder, high threshold, low threshold, sensory profile, low registration behaviour, sensory seeking behaviour, sensory sensitive behaviour, sensation avoiding behaviour. In order to treat a child with sensory modulation disorder (SMD), the impact of SMD on the child’s occupational sphere should be taken into account. This includes the effect of SMD in the parent on the child’s development and behaviour. This study determined the probability of agreement between the parent and child’s sensory profiles. A quantitative, cross sectional study design established the sensory profiles of 81 children and their parents. Results indicated a moderate probability that a child with SMD may have a parent with SMD. A moderate to high probability existed for a parent with SMD to have a child with SMD. This supports the supposition that there is a hereditary component to SMD, with learned sedentary behavioural patterns. The treatment implications include considering the parent’s reaction to their own sensory thresholds and the influence this has on the child’s treatment and learnt behaviour.

A mensuração do desenvolvimento sensorial tem se tornado um componente necessário na avaliação clínica e no planejamento terapêutico ocupacional para intervenções com bebês e crianças pequenas. Estudos sobre traduções, adaptações culturais e validação de instrumentos para obtenção de medidas válidas e confiáveis tem sido incorporado mais frequentemente em pesquisas no campo da terapia ocupacional. Este estudo metodológico, transversal, de abordagem quantitativa, teve como objetivo descrever o processo de tradução, adaptação cultural e validação das propriedades psicométricas dos instrumentos Infant Sensory Profile 2 (ISP 2) e Toddler Sensory Profile 2 (TSP 2) para crianças brasileiras. A pequisa foi conduzida em ambulatório pediátrico e em laboratórios de pesquisas vinculados à Universidade de São Paulo e Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro. A amostra total incluiu 303 pais/cuidadores de crianças de 0 a 35 meses com desenvolvimento típico e atípico. Métodos: O desenvolvimento das versões para o português do Brasil constou de duas etapas, a primeira consistiu do processo de tradução, retrotradução, estudo de validade de conteúdo e de fase pré-teste em estudo piloto; na segunda etapa, foram realizados estudos psicométricos por meio da consistência interna, fidedignidade teste-reteste, análise fatorial confirmatória, e análise de pontos de corte de escores. Para a primeira etapa, os resultados mostraram que, a partir da validade de face, houve adequação semântica e compreensibilidade de ambos os instrumentos por parte dos respondentes. Para a etapa dois, o software STATA auxiliou nas análises, e o ISP 2 apresentou consistência interna total > 0.70, mas quando analisado por áreas sensoriais a consistência foi < que 0.70. Com relação ao TSP 2, apresentou consistência interna total > 0.80, mas quando analisado por áreas sensoriais a consistência foi < que 0.70 com exceção das áreas auditiva e visual, e em relação aos quadrantes, todos os valores de alfa foram < que 0.70. Sobre o teste-reteste, para ambos os instrumentos, houve alta concordância com valor de Kappa ponderado na categoria quase perfeita. Entretanto, a análise fatorial confirmatória não confirma a estrutura atual dos instrumentos. A rotação da matriz mostrou que itens poderiam ser alocados em domínios diferentes aos que pertencem originalmente, demonstrando correlações distintas entre os itens e dimensões. Os pontos de corte dos escores brasileiros foram diferentes dos americanos. Destaca-se, como considerações finais, a importância em analisar e testar a estrutura fatorial exploratória e confirmatória de ambos os instrumentos uma vez que houve diferenças significantes ente as versões brasileiras do ISP 2 e TSP 2 para a população brasileira de crianças de 0 a 3 meses de idade, verificar as equivalências das cargas fatoriais, as quantidades de itens por domínios, as covariâncias entre os fatores dos instrumentos e os erros de medida. Ainda seria importante verificar a invariância das medidas, seja através da análise fatorial ou da teoria de resposta ao item / Sensory development measurement has become a necessary component in clinical assessment and occupational therapy planning for interventions with infants and young children. Studies related to translations, cultural adaptations and validation of instruments to obtain valid and reliable measures have been incorporated more frequently in researches in the occupational therapy field. This cross-sectional methodological study, with a quantitative approach, aimed to describe the process of translation, cultural adaptation and validation of the psychometric properties of the Infant Sensory Profile 2 (ISP 2) and Toddler Sensory Profile 2 (TSP 2) to brazilian children. The research was conducted in a pediatric outpatient clinic and in research laboratories linked to the University São Paulo and the Federal University of the Triângulo Mineiro. The total sample included 303 parents/caregivers of children aged 0-35 months with typical and atypical development. The development of the Brazilian Portuguese versions was done in two steps, the first one consisted of the translation process, back translation, content validity study and pre-test phase in a pilot study; in the second stage, psychometric studies were performed through internal consistency, test-retest reliability, confirmatory factor analysis, and analysis of cut-off scores. For the first step, the results showed that, from the face validity, there was semantic adequacy and comprehensibility of both instruments by the respondents. For step two, the STATA software assisted in the analyzes, and the ISP 2 presented total internal consistency > 0.70, but when analyzed by sensory areas the consistency was < 0.70. Regarding TSP 2, it presented total internal consistency > 0.80, but when analyzed by sensory areas the consistency was < 0.70, except for auditory and visual areas, and in relation to the quadrants, all alpha values were lower than 0.70. On test-retest analysis, for both instruments, there was high agreement with weighted Kappa value in the almost perfect category. However, the confirmatory factor analysis does not confirm the current structure of this instrument. The rotation of the matrix showed that items could be allocated in domains other than those that originally belonged, showing distinct correlations between items and dimensions. The cut-off points of the Brazilian scores were different from the American ones. As final considerations, it is important to analyze and test the exploratory and confirmatory factorial structure of both instruments since there were significant differences between the Brazilian versions of ISP 2 and TSP 2 for the Brazilian population of children aged 0 to 3 months age; to verify the equivalence of factorial loads; the quantity of items by domains; the covariance between the factors of the instrument and the measurement errors. It is still important to verify the invariance of the measurements, either through factor analysis or item response theory

The contact-making process of teachers with learners, who present with sensory processing disorder (SPD), has an impact on the learners’ functioning in the classroom. In this study the researcher explored how teachers made contact with these learners by using their senses to accommodate the learners’ unique contact-making style. The involved occupational therapists selected teachers, who taught learners who received occupational therapy for SPD in the age group 7-12 years. The selected teachers participated in unstructured interviews. The case study was used as research method and aimed at gaining deeper insight into and understanding of the teachers’ understanding of and contact-making process with learners with SPD. Erikson’s developmental theory was integrated with the Gestalt theoretical perspective, with focus on the relevant age group. The researcher became aware of contact-making interruptions that occurred during the contact- making process between the teachers and learners with SPD. These interruptions occurred because the teachers did not fully understand the contact-making processes and needs of the learners with SPD. The mentioned contact-making interruptions may occur in various forms. The contact-making interruptions were used by the learners to protect themselves and for organismic self-regulation. During the unstructured interviews the teachers became aware of the importance of the way that they made contact with learners who present with SPD, but they lacked training in the appropriate teaching techniques. The results indicated that teachers needed knowledge about SPD and skills to facilitate and accommodate learners with SPD and to approach them according to their uniqueness. Recommendations were formulated to enhance the teachers’ knowledge about SPD and support the teachers to try other strategies in the classroom to improve the contact-making process with learners who present with SPD. The recommendations made by the researcher were done in support of teachers in order to make sufficient contact with learners who present with SPD, and in doing so, to promote the holistic development of these learners. It is important that teachers are aware of the possible contact-making interruptions used by learners who present with SPD, in order to creatively adjust their own contact-making process and to retry to make and maintain good contact with involved learners by using different senses. This study is a first step in more effective service rendering to learners with SPD, by clarifying issues and shedding light on how teachers cope with this challenge. / Thesis (MA (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The contact-making process of teachers with learners, who present with sensory processing disorder (SPD), has an impact on the learners’ functioning in the classroom. In this study the researcher explored how teachers made contact with these learners by using their senses to accommodate the learners’ unique contact-making style. The involved occupational therapists selected teachers, who taught learners who received occupational therapy for SPD in the age group 7-12 years. The selected teachers participated in unstructured interviews. The case study was used as research method and aimed at gaining deeper insight into and understanding of the teachers’ understanding of and contact-making process with learners with SPD. Erikson’s developmental theory was integrated with the Gestalt theoretical perspective, with focus on the relevant age group. The researcher became aware of contact-making interruptions that occurred during the contact- making process between the teachers and learners with SPD. These interruptions occurred because the teachers did not fully understand the contact-making processes and needs of the learners with SPD. The mentioned contact-making interruptions may occur in various forms. The contact-making interruptions were used by the learners to protect themselves and for organismic self-regulation. During the unstructured interviews the teachers became aware of the importance of the way that they made contact with learners who present with SPD, but they lacked training in the appropriate teaching techniques. The results indicated that teachers needed knowledge about SPD and skills to facilitate and accommodate learners with SPD and to approach them according to their uniqueness. Recommendations were formulated to enhance the teachers’ knowledge about SPD and support the teachers to try other strategies in the classroom to improve the contact-making process with learners who present with SPD. The recommendations made by the researcher were done in support of teachers in order to make sufficient contact with learners who present with SPD, and in doing so, to promote the holistic development of these learners. It is important that teachers are aware of the possible contact-making interruptions used by learners who present with SPD, in order to creatively adjust their own contact-making process and to retry to make and maintain good contact with involved learners by using different senses. This study is a first step in more effective service rendering to learners with SPD, by clarifying issues and shedding light on how teachers cope with this challenge. / Thesis (MA (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

A mensuração do desenvolvimento sensorial tem se tornado um componente necessário na avaliação clínica e no planejamento terapêutico ocupacional para intervenções com bebês e crianças pequenas. Estudos sobre traduções, adaptações culturais e validação de instrumentos para obtenção de medidas válidas e confiáveis tem sido incorporado mais frequentemente em pesquisas no campo da terapia ocupacional. Este estudo metodológico, transversal, de abordagem quantitativa, teve como objetivo descrever o processo de tradução, adaptação cultural e validação das propriedades psicométricas dos instrumentos Infant Sensory Profile 2 (ISP 2) e Toddler Sensory Profile 2 (TSP 2) para crianças brasileiras. A pequisa foi conduzida em ambulatório pediátrico e em laboratórios de pesquisas vinculados à Universidade de São Paulo e Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro. A amostra total incluiu 303 pais/cuidadores de crianças de 0 a 35 meses com desenvolvimento típico e atípico. Métodos: O desenvolvimento das versões para o português do Brasil constou de duas etapas, a primeira consistiu do processo de tradução, retrotradução, estudo de validade de conteúdo e de fase pré-teste em estudo piloto; na segunda etapa, foram realizados estudos psicométricos por meio da consistência interna, fidedignidade teste-reteste, análise fatorial confirmatória, e análise de pontos de corte de escores. Para a primeira etapa, os resultados mostraram que, a partir da validade de face, houve adequação semântica e compreensibilidade de ambos os instrumentos por parte dos respondentes. Para a etapa dois, o software STATA auxiliou nas análises, e o ISP 2 apresentou consistência interna total > 0.70, mas quando analisado por áreas sensoriais a consistência foi < que 0.70. Com relação ao TSP 2, apresentou consistência interna total > 0.80, mas quando analisado por áreas sensoriais a consistência foi < que 0.70 com exceção das áreas auditiva e visual, e em relação aos quadrantes, todos os valores de alfa foram < que 0.70. Sobre o teste-reteste, para ambos os instrumentos, houve alta concordância com valor de Kappa ponderado na categoria quase perfeita. Entretanto, a análise fatorial confirmatória não confirma a estrutura atual dos instrumentos. A rotação da matriz mostrou que itens poderiam ser alocados em domínios diferentes aos que pertencem originalmente, demonstrando correlações distintas entre os itens e dimensões. Os pontos de corte dos escores brasileiros foram diferentes dos americanos. Destaca-se, como considerações finais, a importância em analisar e testar a estrutura fatorial exploratória e confirmatória de ambos os instrumentos uma vez que houve diferenças significantes ente as versões brasileiras do ISP 2 e TSP 2 para a população brasileira de crianças de 0 a 3 meses de idade, verificar as equivalências das cargas fatoriais, as quantidades de itens por domínios, as covariâncias entre os fatores dos instrumentos e os erros de medida. Ainda seria importante verificar a invariância das medidas, seja através da análise fatorial ou da teoria de resposta ao item / Sensory development measurement has become a necessary component in clinical assessment and occupational therapy planning for interventions with infants and young children. Studies related to translations, cultural adaptations and validation of instruments to obtain valid and reliable measures have been incorporated more frequently in researches in the occupational therapy field. This cross-sectional methodological study, with a quantitative approach, aimed to describe the process of translation, cultural adaptation and validation of the psychometric properties of the Infant Sensory Profile 2 (ISP 2) and Toddler Sensory Profile 2 (TSP 2) to brazilian children. The research was conducted in a pediatric outpatient clinic and in research laboratories linked to the University São Paulo and the Federal University of the Triângulo Mineiro. The total sample included 303 parents/caregivers of children aged 0-35 months with typical and atypical development. The development of the Brazilian Portuguese versions was done in two steps, the first one consisted of the translation process, back translation, content validity study and pre-test phase in a pilot study; in the second stage, psychometric studies were performed through internal consistency, test-retest reliability, confirmatory factor analysis, and analysis of cut-off scores. For the first step, the results showed that, from the face validity, there was semantic adequacy and comprehensibility of both instruments by the respondents. For step two, the STATA software assisted in the analyzes, and the ISP 2 presented total internal consistency > 0.70, but when analyzed by sensory areas the consistency was < 0.70. Regarding TSP 2, it presented total internal consistency > 0.80, but when analyzed by sensory areas the consistency was < 0.70, except for auditory and visual areas, and in relation to the quadrants, all alpha values were lower than 0.70. On test-retest analysis, for both instruments, there was high agreement with weighted Kappa value in the almost perfect category. However, the confirmatory factor analysis does not confirm the current structure of this instrument. The rotation of the matrix showed that items could be allocated in domains other than those that originally belonged, showing distinct correlations between items and dimensions. The cut-off points of the Brazilian scores were different from the American ones. As final considerations, it is important to analyze and test the exploratory and confirmatory factorial structure of both instruments since there were significant differences between the Brazilian versions of ISP 2 and TSP 2 for the Brazilian population of children aged 0 to 3 months age; to verify the equivalence of factorial loads; the quantity of items by domains; the covariance between the factors of the instrument and the measurement errors. It is still important to verify the invariance of the measurements, either through factor analysis or item response theory

Problématique : Le trouble du spectre de l’autisme (TSA) affecte plus de 1 % des enfants. Les caractéristiques communes associées au TSA sont des difficultés de communication et d’interaction sociale, ainsi qu’une rigidité ou une répétitivité dans les intérêts et comportements. Certains intérêts et comportements restreints ou répétitifs peuvent être liés à des difficultés de traitement de l’information sensorielle (TIS). De fait, entre 45 et 95 % des enfants ayant un TSA présentent des difficultés sur le plan sensoriel, affectant leur fonctionnement dans la vie quotidienne. Cependant, les données disponibles dans la littérature scientifique nous apportent peu de connaissances quant à l’évolution des habiletés sensorielles chez les enfants ayant un TSA. Objectif : L’objectif principal est de documenter l’évolution des habiletés sensorielles chez les enfants ayant un TSA entre l’âge de 3-4 ans (T1) et deux ans après (T2), au moment de l’entrée à l’école. Méthodologie : Il s’agit d’une analyse secondaire de données non traitées d’une étude prospective antérieure (de 2008 à 2010). Dans le présent projet, un devis corrélationnel rétrospectif a été utilisé pour étudier 34 enfants ayant un TSA. Les données provenant d’outils d’évaluation normalisés permettant de documenter les habiletés sensorielles des enfants dans le temps, soit le Sensory Profile (SP) et le Short Sensory Profile (SSP), ont été analysées. Résultats: Les analyses démontrent une stabilité des difficultés sensorielles chez les enfants atteints de TSA de l'âge de trois à six ans. La stabilité des scores sensoriels est indépendante de la correction par des variables contrôlées, telles que l'âge mental et la gravité du TSA. Conclusions : La persistance des difficultés sensorielles chez les enfants ayant un TSA souligne la nécessité de bien évaluer cet aspect et de le considérer lors de la planification des interventions et du suivi de ces enfants. En effet, si l’on souhaite améliorer leur fonctionnement dans la vie quotidienne et accroître leur intégration sociale, il importe de tenir compte de leurs difficultés persistantes. / Abstract : Introduction: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects more than 1% of children. Common characteristics associated with ASD are difficulties in communication and social interaction, as well as repetitive interests and behaviors. Some restricted or repetitive interests and behaviors may be linked to difficulties in sensory processing. Indeed, between 45% and 95% of children with ASD have sensory featuresaffecting their functioning in everyday life. However, the data available in the scientific literature give us little knowledge about the evolution of sensory abilities in children with ASD. Objective:The main objective of this project was to evaluatethe evolution of sensory features in children with ASD between the age of 3-4 years (T1) and two years after (T2), when they entered school. Methods:This project is a secondary analysisof untreated data from a previous prospective study (from 2008 to 2010).In the presentproject, a retrospective correlation design was usedto study 34 children with ASD. The data from standardized assessment tools were used to evaluate children's sensory features over time, the Sensory Profile (SP) and the Short Sensory Profile (SSP), were analyzed. Results:Our analyses demonstratea stability of sensory features in children with ASD from the age of three to six years old. The stability of sensory scores is independent of correction by covariates such as mental age and autism severity. Conclusions: The persistence of sensory features in children with ASD highlights the need to adequately assess this aspect and to consider it when planning and monitoring interventions. Indeed, in order to improve their functioning in everyday life and increase their social integration, it is important to take into account their persistent sensory features.

Dans le cadre de cette thèse, nous avons mené trois études sur le terrain et/ou en laboratoire pour comparer l'importance relative de la géométrie des routes, représentée visuellement ou tactilement en deux dimensions, des informations multidimensionnelles extraites sur la base d'une visite directe du monde réel, et des informations symboliques indirectes sur les lieux par le biais d' instructions verbales, dans la construction de représentations spatiales chez l'homme, lui permettant de naviguer de mémoire dans des environnements complexes et non-familiers. Ces expériences ont permis de mettre en lumière certains aspects multidimensionnels et multi-sensoriels dans le traitement cognitif des informations spatiales et l'influence de celui-ci sur les performances d'hommes et de femmes, qui avaient pour tâche de retrouver de mémoire un itinéraire donné dans un milieu urbain non familier. Les résultats montrent clairement que des informations relatives aux repères visuels, transmises au moyen de séquences d'images panoramiques des itinéraires étudiés, sont inutilisables par un navigateur s'il ne dispose pas d'informations valides sur les distances relatives entre ces repères dans le monde réel (expérience 1). L'influence d'une exposition au préalable à un plan 2D visuel ou tactile des itinéraires a été comparé avec celle d'une expérience directe au moyen d'une visite guidée, ou indirecte au moyen d'indications verbales, sur les performances de navigation de personnes voyantes (expérience 1 et 2), déficientes visuelles (expérience 3), ou voyantes mais privées temporairement de leur vision (expérience 3) dans des environnements urbains à grande échelle. Les tests ont été réalisés en milieu réel (expériences 1 et 3) et virtuel (expérience 2) généré par ordinateur (Google Street View). Les performances ont été analysées en termes de temps du point de départ au point d'arrivée, nombre d'arrêts, nombre d'erreurs et taux de succès. Les stratégies potentiellement employées durant la navigation sont mis en avant sur la base des réponses des sujets à un questionnaire standardisé ; leurs capacités individuelles de se représenter l'environnement exploré sous forme d'images mentales a été évaluée sur la base de dessins. Les niveaux subjectifs de stress psychologique ont été mesurés pour mettre en évidences des différences possibles entre l'homme et la femme à cet égard. Les données ici montrent, d'une part, qu'une exploration rapide de représentations virtuelles correctement mises à l'échelle d'un environnement complexe permet aux sujets de retrouver cet itinéraire sans problème dans le milieu réel (expérience 2). Les personnes aveugles de naissance compensent l'absence de repères visuels dans la navigation efficacement par la mémorisation d'informations géométriques sur la base d'une brève exploration d'un plan tactile des itinéraires étudiés ici. Les sujets voyants privés de repères visuels, par contre, ne sont pas instantanément capables d'une telle compensation (expérience 3). Les résultats de ce travail sont discutés ici à la lumière des hypothèses actuelles sur la nature intrinsèque des représentations spatiales chez l'homme et placés ici dans le contexte d'un modèle de la mémoire de travail. Nous suggérons que cette dernière comprend des sous-systèmes multidimensionnels de stockage temporaire, capables de traiter en parallèle une multitude d'entrées sensorielles avec une capacité beaucoup plus grande que précédemment postulé dans le modèle classique de la mémoire de travail, qui présume un traitement sériel d'informations à capacité limitée. Un tel modèle est globalement mis en question par les résultats de cette thèse, qui ouvre une porte importante aux recherches futures sur le traitement cognitif d'informations spatiales chez l'homme dans un monde en perpétuel changement.Mots-clés : Environnements à grandes échelles – perception – traitement multi-sensoriel – représentation spatiale – navigation – humain / Previous studies investigating how humans build reliable spatial knowledge representations allowing them to find their way from one point to another in complex environments have been focused on comparing the relative importance of the two-dimensional visual geometry of routes and intersections, multi-dimensional data from direct exposure with the real world, or verbal symbols and/or instructions. This thesis sheds further light on the multi-dimensional and multi-sensorial aspects by investigating how the cognitive processing of spatial information derived from different sources of sensory and higher order input influences the performance of human observers who have to find their way from memory through complex and non-familiar real-world environments. Three experiments in large-scale urban environments of the real world, and in computer generated representations of these latter (Google Street View), were run to investigate the influence of prior exposure to 2D visual or tactile maps of an itinerary, compared with a single direct experience or verbal instructions, on navigation performances in sighted and/or visually deficient individuals, and in individuals temporarily deprived of vision. Performances were analyzed in terms of time from departure to destination, number of stops, number of wrong turns, and success rates. Potential strategies employed by individuals during navigation and mental mapping abilities were screened on the basis of questionnaires and drawing tests. Subjective levels of psychological stress (experiment 2) were measured to bring to the fore possible differences between men and women in this respect. The results of these experiments show that 2D visual maps, briefly explored prior to navigation, generate better navigation performances compared with poorly scaled virtual representations of a complex real-world environment (experiment 1), the best performances being produced by a single prior exposure to the real-world itinerary. However, brief familiarization with a reliably scaled virtual representation of a non-familiar real-world environment (Google Street View) not only generates optimal navigation in computer generated testing (virtual reality), but also produces better navigation performances when tested in the real-world environment and compared with prior exposure to 2D visual maps (experiment 2). Congenitally blind observers (experiment 3) who have to find their way from memory through a complex non-familiar urban environment perform swiftly and with considerable accuracy after exposure to a 2D tactile map of their itinerary. They are also able to draw a visual image of their itinerary on the basis of the 2D tactile map exposure. Other visually deficient or sighted but blindfolded individuals seem to have greater difficulty in finding their way again than congenitally blind people, regardless of the type of prior exposure to their test itinerary. The findings of this work here are discussed in the light of current hypotheses regarding the presumed intrinsic nature of human spatial representations, replaced herein within a context of working memory models. It is suggested that multi-dimensional temporary storage systems, capable of processing a multitude of sensory input in parallel and with a much larger general capacity than previously considered in terms of working memory limits, need to be taken into account for future research.Keywords: large scale environments – perception – multisensory processing - spatial representation – navigation - human