Spatial updating according to a fixed reference direction of a briefly viewed layout

Abstract

Three experiments examined the role of reference directions in spatial updating. Participants briefly viewed an array of five objects. A non-egocentric reference direction was primed by placing a stick under two objects in the array at the time of learning. After a short interval, participants detected which object had been moved at a novel view that was caused by table rotation or by their own locomotion. The stick was removed at test. The results showed that detection of position change was better when an object not on the stick was moved than when an object on the stick was moved. Furthermore change detection was better in the observer locomotion condition than in the table rotation condition only when an object on the stick was moved but not when an object not on the stick was moved. These results indicated that when the reference direction was not accurately indicated in the test scene, detection of position change was impaired but this impairment was less in the observer locomotion condition. These results suggest that people not only represent objects’ locations with respect to a fixed reference direction but also represent and update their orientation according to the same reference direction, which can be used to recover the accurate reference direction and facilitate detection of position change when no accurate reference direction is presented in the test scene.

Retrieving enduring spatial representations after disorientation

“…In contrast to Wang and Spelke, but consistent with Zhang, Mou, and McNamara (2011), we propose that people represent body-object vectors with respect to a spatial reference direction that is a fixed component of the spatial representation. We assume that when people learn an irregular layout by standing amidst it, the fixed reference direction is determined by the original learning viewpoint (e.g., Shelton & McNamara, 2001).…”

“…This position is consistent with the discovery of place cells (e.g., Ekstrom et al, 2003; O’Keefe & Nadel, 1978) in human and non-human animals. Contemporary theories of spatial memory and navigation, however, have not reached agreement on whether people have enduring spatial representations of objects’ locations (Burgess, 2006; Wang & Spelke, 2002; Zhang, Mou, & McNamara, 2011). The purpose of this study was to reconcile this disagreement.…”

“…Mou, McNamara, and their colleagues (Mou, McNamara, Valiquette, & Rump, 2004; Mou, Xiao, & McNamara, 2008; Mou, Zhang, McNamara, 2009; Zhang, Mou, & McNamara, 2011) proposed that people have precise enduring spatial representations of objects’ locations that are organized with respect to a fixed reference direction. In a newer version of this theoretical framework, Zhang, Mou, and McNamara (2011) proposed that when an individual learns a layout of objects, he or she represents an object’s location in terms of his or her body (as a special object) and/or in terms of other objects.…”

“…In a newer version of this theoretical framework, Zhang, Mou, and McNamara (2011) proposed that when an individual learns a layout of objects, he or she represents an object’s location in terms of his or her body (as a special object) and/or in terms of other objects. The body-object vectors and the interobject vectors are specified with respect to a reference direction that is a fixed component of the representation of the layout of the objects.…”

“…These transient spatial relations are disrupted after disorientation and the imprecise enduring spatial representation have to be used. In this project, we proposed and tested a new explanation that was derived from theoretical model proposed by Mou and McNamara discussed above (e.g., Zhang Mou, & McNamara, 2011). …”