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The Spatial Memory Game: Testing the Relationship Between Spatial Language, Object Knowledge, and Spatial Cognition
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View-based organization and interplay of spatial working and long-term memories
Wolfgang G Röhrich1, Gregor Hardiess1, Hanspeter A Mallot1
1Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, Department of Biology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
Plos One
|November 20, 2014
Summary
Spatial memory recall is influenced by your current location, favoring views you would see when approaching a destination. This research models how egocentric working memory and allocentric long-term memory interact.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Neuroscience
- Spatial cognition
Background:
- Space perception builds egocentric (self-centered) working and long-term memories.
- The organization of allocentric (environment-centered) long-term memories, like cognitive graphs, and their interaction with egocentric working memory is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a unified model of view-based working and long-term memories.
- To investigate how egocentric and allocentric memory systems interact during spatial recall.
Main Methods:
- Developed a coherent model of view-based spatial memory.
- Conducted behavioral experiments with pedestrians in an urban environment.
- Analyzed sketch map productions to assess spatial memory recall.
Main Results:
- Spatial memory recall is dependent on the observer's location and orientation.
- Recall favors views of a target location consistent with the approach direction from the current recall point.
- Memory salience for specific views within a location can vary.
Conclusions:
- The findings support a view-based model of spatial memory.
- Demonstrated a clear interplay between egocentric working memory and allocentric long-term memory.
- Location significantly influences the recall of spatial information, supporting a view-dependent memory system.
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