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Opposite visual field asymmetries for egocentric and allocentric spatial judgments
Stefano Sdoia1, Alessandro Couyoumdjian, Fabio Ferlazzo
1Department of Psychology, University of Rome La Sapienza, via dei Marsi no. 78. 00185 Rome, Italy. stefano.sdoia@uniroma1.it
Neuroreport
|May 29, 2004
Summary
Visual hemifields impact spatial judgments. An upper visual field advantage aids scene recognition using allocentric reference, while a lower visual field advantage supports goal-directed actions using egocentric reference.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Visual Perception
Background:
- Multiple spatial representations of 3D space are hypothesized.
- The relationship between visual hemifields and spatial frames of reference requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between visual hemifields and spatial frames of reference.
- To explore the existence of multiple representations of 3D space.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments were conducted to assess spatial judgments.
- Participants performed location tasks requiring either egocentric or allocentric spatial judgments.
Main Results:
- An upper visual hemifield advantage was observed for allocentric spatial judgments.
- A lower visual hemifield advantage was observed for egocentric spatial judgments.
- A double dissociation between visual hemifields and spatial frames of reference was found.
Conclusions:
- Two distinct neural pathways process visual information for different spatial tasks.
- The ventral occipito-temporal pathway supports scene recognition using allocentric reference.
- The dorsal occipito-parietal pathway supports goal-directed actions using egocentric reference.