The Conversation is a news site.

It talks about Neuroscience.

The article was published on Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 5:15am.

Some people get lost easily because they lack a 'cognitive map'.

Imagine using your phone to find your way, but the route disappears. You might panic, but then you see something familiar or ask for help.

You might panic, but then you see something familiar or ask for help. This feeling usually goes away.

For some people, this feeling doesn't go away, even at home.

About one in 30 people may have developmental topographical disorientation (DTD).

DTD is a lifelong condition where people can't find their way, even in familiar places.

People with DTD get lost often, at least a few times a week, since they were kids.

DTD is not caused by a brain injury, disease, or mental health issue.

It's just how their internal navigation system works.

Early research on DTD looked at extreme cases where people sought help.

Now we know DTD can be mild or severe, and people might just think they're 'bad with directions'.

The term DTD now covers many navigation problems, making it hard to understand and help people.

Our research focuses on a subgroup of people with DTD who lack a 'cognitive map'.

We make sense of our surroundings by building a mental map of landmarks.

This mental map, or 'cognitive map', helps us predict what's around the corner and find our way.

Having a cognitive map allows us to be flexible and adapt to new environments.

But some people don't build this map, and that's what we're studying.

We propose calling this condition 'atopia', which means living without a map.

People with atopia can remember landmarks, but they can't put them together into a map.

They might know their home is near the station, but they can't see the bigger picture.

If their usual route is disrupted, they get lost because they have no map to fall back on.

Landmarks tell them what they're looking at, but not how it all fits together.

One participant said, 'I am always in one place in my head, so I cannot imagine what my environment looks like.'

Everyday navigation is hard for people with atopia, making them rely on others or GPS.

This can be misinterpreted as carelessness or low intelligence, which is not true.

Without support, people with atopia can lose their independence.

One participant relied on her husband to navigate, even for short distances.

The good news is that atopia and DTD are not degenerative, and navigation can be improved.

Navigation is like a muscle that can be trained.

Research shows that relying on GPS can weaken spatial memory.

Virtual training programs can help people with DTD improve their spatial orientation.

We're testing a similar program to help people with atopia.

Next time you use your phone for directions, try to remember the way without it.

Can you still find your way without your phone?

Many of us take our ability to navigate for granted.

Maybe we should try to improve it before it gets lost.

The authors are researchers in Neuropsychology.

This article first appeared on The Conversation.

It was published on Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 5:15am.

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