Jakarta, ThedailyID — Getting lost in an unfamiliar place is common. However, some people struggle to find their way even in places they know well, including their own homes.
The problem does not always come from poor memory. In some cases, it may involve a lifelong condition called developmental topographical disorientation (DTD).
A March 2026 review in Neuropsychology Review examined DTD and described it as severe navigation difficulty in otherwise healthy people. Researchers Ineke J. M. van der Ham and Michiel H. G. Claessen reviewed 15 empirical studies to identify common patterns.
Their review found that DTD often involves difficulties in building a mental map of places. People with DTD can still recognize landmarks such as buildings and mountains. However, they may struggle to work out how to reach those landmarks.
In severe cases, the problem can appear inside the home. A person may struggle to draw a floor plan or remember the sequence of rooms.
The condition can also affect daily life. People with DTD may rely heavily on familiar routes and avoid traveling to unfamiliar places. If a familiar route closes, finding an alternative can become especially difficult.
The first reported case using the DTD terminology appeared in 2009. Neurologist Giuseppe Laria and colleagues at the University of British Columbia studied a woman who had experienced lifelong navigation difficulties despite normal sensory and intellectual abilities.
Tests showed that she struggled to create and interpret cognitive maps. Brain imaging also showed unusual activity in areas involved in memory and spatial navigation while she attempted to form such maps.
A cognitive map does not mean having a Google Maps-style image inside the brain. Instead, it represents how different places relate to one another.
For example, someone may know that a minimarket is near a train station and that a park sits nearby. Understanding these relationships helps people find shortcuts or alternative routes.
People with DTD may find this mental mapping difficult. GPS can therefore provide useful support when they travel outside familiar areas.
The condition highlights how complex human navigation can be. What seems like a simple ability to find our way involves several processes working together in the brain.
