Imagining physically impossible self-rotations: geometry is more important than gravity

Abstract

Previous studies found that it is easier for observers to spatially update displays during imagined self-rotation versus array rotation. The present study examined whether either the physics of gravity or the geometric relationship between the viewer and array guided this selfrotation advantage. Experiments 1±3 preserved a real or imagined orthogonal relationship between the viewer and the array, requiring a rotation in the observer's transverse plane. Despite imagined self-rotations that de®ed gravity, a viewer advantage remained. Without this orthogonal relationship (Experiment 4), the viewer advantage was lost. We suggest that ef®cient transformation of the egocentric reference frame relies on the representation of body±environment relations that allow rotation around the observer's principal axis. This ef®ciency persists across different and con¯icting physical and imagined postures. q

Stereotype susceptibility narrows the gender gap in imagined self-rotation performance

“…Like their imagined object-rotation counterparts (see, e.g., Linn & Petersen, 1985), imagined rotations of the self that are performed in the picture plane do not yield gender differences (Creem, Wraga, & Proffitt, 2001;Wraga et al, 2000), because they can be construed as simple, two-dimensional rotations. The present study involved a more difficult task that required imagined selfrotations in depth.…”

Dissociating contributions of head and torso to spatial reference frames: The misalignment paradigm

“…Our task involves thirdperson, alter-egocentric judgements, but it raises the question of what misalignment might tell us about the structure of first-person experience. There is certainly evidence that spatial structures involved in first-person experience are also used in imagined experience of objects from elsewhere (Creem, Wraga, & Proffitt, 2001;Wraga, Creem, & Proffitt, 2000).…”

Spatial aspects of bodily self-consciousness

“…Blanke et al, 2004). Yet, findings from mental own body transformation, a task that has been closely linked to OBEs (Blanke et al, 2005) suggest a rather small influence of gravitational constrains (Creem, Wraga, & Proffitt, 2001), so that further careful studies seem necessary to elucidate effects of gravity on self-location. A forth and in our opinion plausible alternative explanation is that a fast habituation effect for the elevated perspective (even without stroking) may have occurred and lessened potential effects of the chest synchronous stroking.…”