Abstract
Background: Spatial cognition research strives to maximize conditions favoring environment representation. This study examined how initial (egocentric) navigation headings interact with allocentric references in terms of world-based information (such as cardinal points) in forming environment representations. The role of individual visuo-spatial factors was also examined. Method: Ninety-one undergraduates took an unfamiliar path in two learning conditions, 46 walked from cardinal south to north (SN learning), and 45 walked from cardinal north to south (NS learning). Path recall was tested with SN and NS pointing tasks. Perspective-taking ability and self-reported sense of direction were also assessed. Results: Linear models showed a better performance for SN learning and SN pointing than for NS learning and NS pointing. The learning condition x pointing interaction proved SN pointing more accurate than NS pointing after SN learning, while SN and NS pointing accuracy was similar after NS learning. Perspective-taking ability supported pointing accuracy. Conclusions: These results indicate that initial heading aligned with cardinal north prompt a north-oriented representation. No clear orientation of the representation emerges when the initial heading is aligned with cardinal south. Environment representations are supported by individual perspective-taking ability. These findings offer new insight on the environmental and individual factors facilitating environment representations acquired from navigation.
Highlights
Concerning the ability to point to the cardinal north correctly, more of the participants in the SN-learning condition succeeded in doing so (N = 34, as opposed to N = 12 who failed), while the proportions of participants in the NS-learning condition who succeeded in identifying the cardinal north was much the same (N = 23 and N = 22, respectively) (χ2 (1) = 4.13, p = 0.042)
This study aimed to examine the formation of environment representations acquired by navigation
This study aimed to examine the formation of environment representations acquired by in terms of: a) the interplay between egocentric experience and allocentric information, navigation in terms of: a) the interplay between egocentric experience and allocentric i.e., whether the initial egocentric view or a combination of the egocentric with allocentric information, i.e., whether the initial egocentric view or a combination of the egocentric with information prevails; and b) the contribution of individual visuo-spatial factors
Summary
The conditions that favor (or hinder) navigation include how information is acquired from one’s own point of view, depending on the position of one’s body in a space, and the features of an environment, given by the area as a whole and how it is located in reference to the world-based frame, in terms of cardinal directions. These conditions may relate to the individuals themselves, with an important part played by their abilities and personal preferences and approach to the environment [1,2]. These findings offer new insight on the environmental and individual factors facilitating environment representations acquired from navigation
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