Article
Spatial memories of virtual environments: How egocentric experience, intrinsic structure, and extrinsic structure interact
Psychonomic Bulletin & Review
(2008)
Abstract
Previous research has uncovered three primary cues that influence spatial memory organization: egocentric experience, intrinsic structure (object defined), and extrinsic structure (environment defined). In the present experiments, we assessed the relative importance of these cues when all three were available during learning. Participants learned layouts from two perspectives in immersive virtual reality. In Experiment 1, axes defined by intrinsic and extrinsic structures were in conflict, and learning occurred from two perspectives, each aligned with either the intrinsic or the extrinsic structure. Spatial memories were organized around a reference direction selected from the first perspective, regardless of its alignment with intrinsic or extrinsic structures. In Experiment 2, axes defined by intrinsic and extrinsic structures were congruent, and spatial memories were organized around reference axes defined by those congruent structures, rather than by the initially experienced view. The findings are discussed in the context of spatial memory theory as it relates to real and virtual environments.
Disciplines
Publication Date
2008
DOI
10.3758/PBR.15.2.322
Publisher Statement
This is a manuscript of an article published as Kelly, J.W. & McNamara, T.P. (2008b). Spatial memories of virtual environments: How egocentric experience, intrinsic structure, and extrinsic structure interact. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 15(2), 322-327. doi:10.3758/PBR.15.2.322. Posted with permission.
Citation Information
Jonathan W. Kelly and Timothy P. McNamara. "Spatial memories of virtual environments: How egocentric experience, intrinsic structure, and extrinsic structure interact" Psychonomic Bulletin & Review Vol. 15 Iss. 2 (2008) p. 322 - 327 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/jonathan_kelly/25/