When going the right way is hard to do: distinct phases of action compatibility in spatial knowledge development

The present study explores spatial knowledge development using online response measures available in mouse tracking. Online measures can reveal cognitive processing masked in post-processing measures. In the study, participants verified spatial descriptions by moving the mouse to a YES or NO button. Mouse tracking software (Freeman & Ambady, 2010) recorded mouse trajectories. Results demonstrated action-compatibility effects (ACE), differing as a function of spatial knowledge development. For well-developed spatial knowledge, the ACE reflected the physical spatial relationship (e.g. response button on right, but building to the left). In terms of temporal dynamics, this effect occurred later in the response. For less-developed knowledge, the spatial term drove the ACE (e.g., response button on right, but description used term left). In this case, the ACE was immediate and continuous. As would be consistent with learning, ACEs were observed more probably with proximal than distant locations. From these results, we infer that perceptuo-motor associations build with time and experience and can play an integral role in retrieval from well-developed spatial representations.