Related Experiment Videos
Allocentric coding of object-to-object relations in overlearned and novel environments
Melinda C Holmes1, M Jeanne Sholl
1Department of Psychology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467-3807, USA.
Journal of Experimental Psychology. Learning, Memory, and Cognition
|October 27, 2005
Summary
Disorientation does not disrupt spatial knowledge, even in novel environments. This suggests allocentric coding, which uses external reference points, is immediately available for navigation.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Spatial Cognition
- Human Navigation
Background:
- Previous research suggested disorientation disrupts spatial knowledge, supporting egocentric (self-centered) coding.
- An alternative hypothesis proposed that allocentric (environment-centered) coding becomes dominant once established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test if disorientation disrupts configuration knowledge in novel versus overlearned environments.
- To investigate the immediate availability of allocentric location codes in a novel, room-sized environment.
Main Methods:
- Seven experiments were conducted, involving disorientation tasks.
- Experiments 1 and 2 assessed overlearned environments; Experiments 3-7 assessed novel, room-sized environments.
Main Results:
- Disorientation did not disrupt configuration knowledge in any of the tested environments.
- Findings indicate allocentric coding is used for both overlearned and novel environments.
Conclusions:
- Spatial knowledge, particularly allocentric coding, is robust to disorientation.
- Allocentric location codes are immediately available even in novel, large-scale environments.