Path integration:: is there a difference between athletes and non-athletes?

The ability to estimate distance walked when blindfolded is associated with the vestibular, proprioceptive and ( loco-) motor systems. In this study, we examined subjects' ability to walk when blindfolded to a previously seen target. We examined whether there is a difference of performance in path integration between athletes and non- athletes. Two groups of healthy volunteers took part in this experiment: 21 athletes and 20 non- athletes. Subjects were asked to walk at three different velocities ( slow, normal, fast) to a target ( 10 m in front of them) that they had seen before being blindfolded. Increase in velocity was associated with a decrease in the distance walked for both groups. Both groups were accurate at normal velocities. Athletes were also accurate at fast velocities whereas non- athletes undershot the target. In both groups, accuracy considerably decreased at slow velocities. It seems that our perceptual system can adapt to different velocities ( normal, fast) but is most strongly disrupted at low velocity. When attempting to modify walking velocity, step length is also modified, playing a determining role in the estimation of distance.