Spatial span under translation: A study of reference frames

Abstract

The nature of the reference frame used to remember location sequences in a computer-presented version of spatial span was investigated by moving the template (a rectangular frame enclosing nine target squares) across the screen during presentation and/or during recall. Movement of the display during presentation substantially impaired memory in comparison with a stationary display (Experiment 1). However, there was no effect of template movement during recall (Experiment 2). In Experiments 3 and 4, the template was moved through the same screen locations during presentation and recall. When the extrinsic, or screen location, of each position was repeated identically on each trial but the sequence on the template varied, learning was not facilitated (Experiment 3). When the template sequences were repeated across trials but extrinsic location varied, the sequences were rapidly learned (Experiment 4). In this version of spatial span, location sequences appear to be encoded in an intrinsic frame of reference that is based on the template. Movement of the template during encoding impairs this process, possibly because concurrent attention shifts prevent the encoding of locations. The results are discussed with respect to recent studies of positional encoding in which multiple reference frames were available. Memory & Cognition 2007, 35(3), 402-417 S. E. Avons, savons@essex.ac.uk

Spatial working memory in immersive virtual reality foraging: Path organization, traveling distance and search efficiency in humans (Homo sapiens)

“…play an important role in sequence encoding [Avons, 2007]. The results of this experiment indicate that the benefits of organization are also evident when people 310 navigate through the set of locations in a large virtual foraging environment.…”

Human short-term spatial memory: Precision predicts capacity

“…Participants must repeat a previously-viewed, serially-demonstrated target sequence. Investigations assessing serial spatial memory span have implemented the Corsi block-tapping task with nine blocks (CBT; (Corsi, 1972)), or target locations presented on a screen (Avons, 2007;Fagot & De Lillo, 2011;Parmentier, Elford, & Mayberry, 2005). The length of the sequence repeated correctly represents the spatial span; immediate span for block-tapping was originally reported to be 4.9 for normal young adults (average age: 28.1 years; (Corsi, 1972)).…”

What kind of space is remembered in spatial span?

“…If the board is moved relative to the observer or the local environment, then the position of a block with respect to extrinsic reference frames such as the observer (a), or the local environment (b), will change. However, location specified by a template-centred reference frame will not be affected by translation of the template (Avons 2006).…”