Work

Chunking in spatial memory.

Year: 2010

Type: article

Abstract: In order to gain insight into the nature of human spatial representations, the current study examined how those representations are affected by blind rotation. Evidence was sought on the possibility that whereas certain environmental aspects may be updated independently of one another, other aspects may be grouped (or chunked) together and updated as a unit. Participants learned the locations of an array of objects around them in a room, then were blindfolded and underwent a succession of passive, whole-body rotations. After each rotation, participants pointed to remembered target locations. Targets were located more precisely relative to each other if they were (a) separated by smaller angular distances, (b) contained within the same regularly configured arrangement, or (c) corresponded to parts of a common object. A hypothesis is presented describing the roles played by egocentric and allocentric information within the spatial updating system. Results are interpreted in terms of an existing neural systems model, elaborating the model's conceptualization of how parietal (egocentric) and medial temporal (allocentric) representations interact.

Source: Journal of Experimental Psychology Learning Memory and Cognition

DOI: 10.1037/a0017528

Authors: Jesse Sargent, Stephen Dopkins, John Philbeck, David Chichka

Institution: George Washington University

Language: English

Topic: Spatial Cognition and Navigation

Subfield: Automotive Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Awards: G2257964271, Medial temporal lobe role in human locomotor navigation, Injury - Induced Endothelial Dysfunction, G8633941658