Visual Scene Memory Predicts Route‐Retracing Performance in an Age‐Diverse Adult Sample

ABSTRACT Spatial navigation ability varies substantially across individuals, yet the cognitive mechanisms driving these differences remain partially understood. Self‐report measures show limited correspondence with objective performance. This study examined whether visual scene memory predicts navigation performance in an age‐diverse adult sample beyond demographic factors and self‐reported sense of direction. Ninety‐four participants (60 female, 34 male), aged 18–96 years ( M = 42.9, SD = 24.9), completed a visual scene recognition task, a route‐retracing navigation task, and the Santa Barbara Sense of Direction Scale. Hierarchical regression revealed that age accounted for 20% of the variance in navigation performance, while gender and self‐reported sense of direction contributed no significant additional variance. Visual scene memory added 10% unique variance ( β = 0.32, p < 0.001). These findings identify visual scene memory as a significant predictor of performance on this route‐retracing task in an age‐diverse adult sample and highlight the limited predictive utility of self‐report measures.