Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 26, 2025
06:36
Author Spotlight: Insights into the Analysis of Human Interaction with 3D Virtual Objects
Published on: October 18, 2024
1.1K
Adaptive cognitive maps for curved surfaces in the 3D world.
Misun Kim1, Christian F Doeller2
1Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.
Cognition
|April 23, 2022
Summary
Humans do not use a purely 2D or 3D map for curved terrains. Spatial representation is flexible, adapting to driving, looking, or flying experiences in 3D environments.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Spatial cognition
- Human-computer interaction
Background:
- Most spatial representation research focuses on flat surfaces, using a 2D cognitive map model.
- Undulating terrains in 3D environments present challenges not fully addressed by 2D models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether humans mentally represent curved surfaces as a flattened 2D map or a full 3D map.
- To determine how different interaction methods (driving, looking, flying) influence spatial representation of curved terrains.
Main Methods:
- Participants learned object locations on flat and curved surfaces in a virtual reality environment.
- Experiments involved driving on the surface, driving while looking vertically, and flying.
- Participants estimated path distances and 3D Euclidean distances between objects.
Main Results:
- Path distance estimation was generally accurate but showed underestimation on curved surfaces, suggesting perceived 3D shortcuts.
- Euclidean distance estimation improved with greater exposure to the global 3D structure (looking and flying).
Conclusions:
- Spatial representation of 2D manifolds in 3D worlds is not strictly 2D or 3D.
- Representation is flexible and dynamically shaped by behavioral experience and task demands.
Related Concept Videos
01:16Bending of Curved Members - Neutral Surface
264
In curved beams, unlike straight beams, the stress distribution across the cross-section is not uniform due to the beam's curvature. This non-uniformity arises because the neutral axis, where stress is zero, does not align with the centroid of the section. In a curved beam, the strain varies along the section as a function of the distance from the neutral axis.
Consider the curved member described in the previous lesson. According to Hooke's law, which relates stress to strain within...
Consider the curved member described in the previous lesson. According to Hooke's law, which relates stress to strain within...
264
01:30Three-Dimensional Force System:Problem Solving
905
A three-dimensional force system refers to a scenario in which three forces act simultaneously in three different directions. This type of problem is commonly encountered in physics and engineering, where it is necessary to calculate the resultant force on the system, which can then be used to predict or analyze the behavior of the object or structure under consideration.
To solve a three-dimensional force system, first resolve each force into its respective scalar components. Do this using...
To solve a three-dimensional force system, first resolve each force into its respective scalar components. Do this using...
905
01:15Depth Perception and Spatial Vision
1.0K
Depth perception is the ability to perceive objects three-dimensionally. It relies on two types of cues: binocular and monocular. Binocular cues depend on the combination of images from both eyes and how the eyes work together. Since the eyes are in slightly different positions, each eye captures a slightly different image. This disparity between images, known as binocular disparity, helps the brain interpret depth. When the brain compares these images, it determines the distance to an object.
1.0K
01:04Hydrostatic Pressure Force on a Curved Surface
2.1K
Hydrostatic pressure on curved surfaces is a fundamental concept in fluid mechanics with broad applications in the civil engineering field. When fluid is in contact with a curved surface, as in a reservoir, dam, or storage tank, it exerts pressure that varies in magnitude and direction along the curved surface. To assess the total hydrostatic force exerted by the fluid on a curved structure, engineers typically isolate the fluid volume adjacent to the surface and analyze the forces acting on...
2.1K
01:29Coordinates and Map Projections
186
Coordinates and map projections are essential tools in accurately representing the Earth's surface for various applications, ranging from navigation to spatial analysis. The latitude and longitude coordinate system is a universally recognized framework for defining locations. Latitude specifies the distance of a point north or south of the equator, measured in degrees from 0° at the equator to 90° at the poles. Longitude indicates a location's position east or west of the prime meridian,...
186
01:27Curvilinear Motion: Normal and Tangential Components
486
When a car traverses a curved road, its motion can be elucidated by breaking it down into tangential and normal components. The car-centric coordinates attached to the vehicle move with it.
The positive direction of the t-axis aligns with the increasing position of the car along the curved path, denoted by the unit vector ut. Simultaneously, the n-axis, perpendicular to the t-axis, dissects the curved path into differential arc segments, each forming the arc of a circle with a radius of...
The positive direction of the t-axis aligns with the increasing position of the car along the curved path, denoted by the unit vector ut. Simultaneously, the n-axis, perpendicular to the t-axis, dissects the curved path into differential arc segments, each forming the arc of a circle with a radius of...
486