The cognitive mechanisms of spatial perspective taking in map reading

Spatial perspective taking (SPT) is a core cognitive ability essential for real-world navigation, yet the examination of dynamic integration of allocentric and egocentric reference frames using map has received limited attention. To address this gap, the present study introduces a Map-Based Self-Localization Task paired with event-related potential (ERP) techniques to examine how angular disparities and rotation directions affect SPT. High school participants (n = 38) completed 320 Map-Based Self-Localization trials. Behavioral analyses revealed that accuracy and response speed varied significantly with angular disparity, and notably, rotation direction also emerged as a critical factor, with left-turn rotations (South to West, 90°) resulting in significantly lower accuracy compared to equivalent right-turn rotations (South to East, 90°). ERP and oscillatory analyses showed that larger angular disparities elicited stronger neural activation in frontal, central, and parietal-occipital regions, evidenced by elevated delta-band power and increased P300 amplitudes. Lateralized readiness potentials further underscored the role of motor imagery in directional rotations, reinforcing an embodied cognition perspective. These results highlight both angular disparity and rotation direction as important considerations in spatial navigation research using map, with implications for SPT theory.