As we go: incidental learning of episodic and navigational memory

Difficulty remembering recent events or navigating familiar places is often the first symptom in individuals with suspected neurocognitive disorders, many of whom receive diagnoses of subjective cognitive decline (SCD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study investigates the relationship between episodic memory and navigational memory through a computerized task replicating everyday situations, in which memories are acquired either intentionally (e.g., learning a route to a new location) or incidentally (e.g., remembering passing by a pharmacy). Grounded in cognitive map, scene construction, and trace transformation theories, this research examines the hippocampus's role in both spatial navigation and episodic memory. Participants, including healthy controls and individuals with SCD, MCI, and mild AD, complete a computerized visuo-spatial navigation paradigm with embedded episodic materials. Performance is assessed under incidental and intentional learning conditions. We hypothesize that incidental memory may provide a more realistic measure of everyday cognitive functioning than intentional tasks where participants are explicitly instructed to pay attention. Preliminary data from healthy controls revealed significant differences between intentional and incidental memory acquisition. Performance on episodic and navigational memory components is analyzed across all groups to evaluate how these domains function, interact, and differ in terms of accuracy and reaction times. Expected outcomes include identifying early markers of pathological aging and clarifying cognitive mechanisms linking navigation and episodic memory. This ecologically valid approach may improve early detection of neurodegenerative conditions.