Spatial memory for vertical locations.

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Spatial Cognition

Background:

• Spatial memory research primarily focuses on horizontal environments.
• The generalization of spatial memory findings to vertical spaces remains under-explored.
• Vertical spaces involve salient orientation cues like gravity and visual upright.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the reference frames used for organizing memory of vertical locations.
• To determine whether egocentric (body-based) or allocentric (visual-room or gravity-based) frames are preferred.
• To examine the influence of body and room orientation on vertical spatial memory.

Main Methods:

• Three experiments were conducted using a virtual room environment.
• Participants learned vertical object layouts and judged interobject spatial relationships.
• Body orientation (upright vs. sideways) and room orientation relative to gravity were manipulated during learning and testing.

Main Results:

• Spatial judgments were faster and more accurate when the room's orientation relative to the body remained consistent from learning to testing.
• This indicates a preference for an egocentric, body-based reference frame for vertical locations.
• Testing accuracy was higher in the upright body position, suggesting a conflict between reference frames and a default advantage for upright orientation.

Conclusions:

• A body-based egocentric reference frame is preferred for representing vertical locations, even when salient allocentric cues are present.
• Vertical spatial memory appears optimized for the typical upright body orientation.
• Findings suggest that spatial memory in vertical environments is primarily body-centric, with an advantage for upright posture.