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Published on: November 30, 2018
Inhibition within a reference frame during the interpretation of spatial language
Laura A Carlson1, Shannon R Van Deman
1Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame, 118-D Hagger Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556, United States. lcarlson@nd.edu
Cognition
|April 24, 2007
Summary
Ambiguous spatial terms like "right" activate multiple reference frames. Research shows only specific components of the non-selected frame are inhibited, suggesting privileged axes in spatial cognition.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Neuroscience
- Spatial cognition
Background:
- Spatial terms can be ambiguous, relying on different reference frames (relative vs. intrinsic).
- Previous research suggests competing reference frames are activated and the non-selected one is inhibited.
- The exact components inhibited within a non-selected reference frame remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate which specific components of a non-selected reference frame are inhibited.
- To determine if inhibition affects the entire frame or only select parts.
- To explore the implications for how spatial information is represented and accessed.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a negative priming paradigm across three experiments.
- Manipulated competing reference frames to elicit ambiguity in spatial terms.
- Measured behavioral responses to infer the inhibition of reference frame components.
Main Results:
- Found that only certain components, not the entire frame, of the non-selected reference frame were inhibited.
- Evidence suggests that some axes within a reference frame are privileged.
- Demonstrated that components of a reference frame can be accessed independently.
Conclusions:
- Inhibiting spatial reference frames is selective, targeting specific components.
- This selectivity points to privileged axes in spatial representation.
- Spatial information processing involves independent access to frame components.
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