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How can you explain why some people are good with directions or navigating without maps, and some aren't?

How can you explain why some people are good with directions or navigating without maps, and some aren't? For example, judging from personal experience, I see little correlation between intelligence level and ability to find one's way around a new place given directions. How can someone explain how one's ability to navigate and what is it related to? Thanks. Hope you guys understood my question

Public Comments

1. I'm bad at finding my way without a map. However funny thing is I am very good at finding my way around a forest. I do not get lost. When I see the streets in a city I know my way by sight but names of streets seems like math to me. I have to have a map.
2. I don't think intelligence and being a guru when it comes to directions are correlated. I for instance, pick-up things quite quickly but I'm completely handicapped when it comes to directions.
3. Yes I understand your question. I am one of those who gets lost a few times before getting to my destination. But as time goes by I have learned to follow a map. However, my husband and all 3 of my children just have a natural ability to go anywhere without a map. It is their sense of direction being right on Q. I get turned around but learned to follow the guidelines in our city by how the mountains look and then I can know my direction. It took several times for me to figure that out and very embarrassing because it is so simple. If I were in a different place without mountains I would never get the directions right without a map. So I think it is just me that needs to learn after all these years to learn my directions better. Hope that gives you some help.