Spatial Perception Research Articles

Cognitive Functions in Adolescent Girls with Anorexia Nervosa during Nutritional Rehabilitation.

The present study aimed to evaluate cognitive function and laboratory parameters in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa (AN) before and after nutritional rehabilitation (NR) compared to healthy female peers (CG). We evaluated 36 girls with AN at two-time points, during acute malnutrition (AN1) and after NR, in a partially normalized weight status (AN2). We compared their cognitive functions and laboratory parameters to 48 healthy CG subjects. Cognitive function was assessed using a Cognitive Assessment Battery (CAB) assessment, depressive symptom levels were assessed using a Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) assessment, and eating disorders were assessed using an Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26). The AN1 group scored better in total cognition, attention, estimation, and spatial perception than the CG group (p < 0.05), with scores increasing in the AN2 group. Shifting and visual perception values did not differ between the study groups (p = 0.677, p = 0.506, respectively). Laboratory tests showed no significant abnormalities and did not differ significantly between groups (p > 0.05). There was a negative correlation for EAT-26 and CAB in the AN1 group (rho = -0.43, p = 0.01), but not for BDI. Cognitive function in adolescent girls with AN was better than CG and correlated with EAT-26 score. These results highlight the high compensatory capacity of the adolescent body to maintain cognitive function despite severe malnutrition. Our results suggest that although normalization of body weight is crucial, other factors can significantly influence improvements in cognitive function. Cognitive deficits and laboratory tests may not be biomarkers of early forms of AN.

Electret mechano-sensor array integrated with tribopotential-modulated thin film transistors for precise spatiotemporal pressure perception

Spatiotemporal pressure perception is a key function of electronic skins. Electret mechano-sensors, as active sensors for E-skins, have garnered significant interest, with outstanding sensing performance in dynamic pressure measurement. However, their high output impedance poses a challenge in accurately and simply measuring low-frequency or static pressure distribution. Herein, we proposed an electret mechano-sensor array, in which each sensing cell is based on an electret sensor integrated with an IGZO TFT. The high input impedance of the TFT facilitates the sensor signal readout and enables the measurement of static pressure. The super-linear amplification feature of the TFTs improves the sensitivity and linearity of the sensors. An IGZO TFT layer with the lower electrodes of the electret sensor was fabricated through microfabrication process and assembled with a pre-charged electret film to achieve a mechano-sensor array with a high density. The fabricated TFT-integrated electret mechano-sensor array has achieved pattern detection and spatial tactile perception. Moreover, the sensor array can record spatiotemporal static pressure and arterial pulse waves simultaneously, exhibiting high resolution in detecting subtle changes and potentially offering various physiological information regarding the cardiovascular system. This work demonstrated that the proposed mechano-sensor array has capabilities for broad-scale pressure distribution detection in healthcare monitoring and human-computer interaction.

Spatial layout optimization model integrating layered attention mechanism in the development of smart tourism management

Tourism demand projection is paramount for both corporate operations and destination management, facilitating tourists in crafting bespoke, multifaceted itineraries and enriching their vacation experiences. This study proposes a multi-layer self attention mechanism recommendation algorithm based on dynamic spatial perception, with the aim of refining the analysis of tourists’ emotional inclinations and providing precise estimates of tourism demand. Initially, the model is constructed upon a foundation of multi-layer attention modules, enabling the semantic discovery of proximate entities to the focal scenic locale and employing attention layers to consolidate akin positions, epitomizing them through contiguous vectors. Subsequently, leveraging tourist preferences, the model forecasts the likelihood of analogous attractions as a cornerstone for the recommendation system. Furthermore, an attention mechanism is employed to refine the spatial layout, utilizing the forecasted passenger flow grid to infer tourism demand across multiple scenic locales in forthcoming periods. Ultimately, through scrutiny of data pertaining to renowned tourist destinations in Beijing, the model exhibits an average MAPE of 8.11%, markedly surpassing benchmarks set by alternative deep learning models, thereby underscoring its precision and efficacy. The spatial layout optimization methodology predicated on a multi-layer attention mechanism propounded herein confers substantive benefits to tourism demand prognostication and recommendation systems, promising to elevate the operational standards and customer contentment within the tourism sector.

An Improved YOLOv8-Based Foreign Detection Algorithm for Transmission Lines

This research aims to overcome three major challenges in foreign object detection on power transmission lines: data scarcity, background noise, and high computational costs. In the improved YOLOv8 algorithm, the newly introduced lightweight GSCDown (Ghost Shuffle Channel Downsampling) module effectively captures subtle image features by combining 1 × 1 convolution and GSConv technology, thereby enhancing detection accuracy. CSPBlock (Cross-Stage Partial Block) fusion enhances the model’s accuracy and stability by strengthening feature expression and spatial perception while maintaining the algorithm’s lightweight nature and effectively mitigating the issue of vanishing gradients, making it suitable for efficient foreign object detection in complex power line environments. Additionally, PAM (pooling attention mechanism) effectively distinguishes between background and target without adding extra parameters, maintaining high accuracy even in the presence of background noise. Furthermore, AIGC (AI-generated content) technology is leveraged to produce high-quality images for training data augmentation, and lossless feature distillation ensures higher detection accuracy and reduces false positives. In conclusion, the improved architecture reduces the parameter count by 18% while improving the mAP@0.5 metric by a margin of 5.5 points when compared to YOLOv8n. Compared to state-of-the-art real-time object detection frameworks, our research demonstrates significant advantages in both model accuracy and parameter size.

Joint segmentation of tumors in 3D PET-CT images with a network fusing multi-view and multi-modal information

Objective. Joint segmentation of tumors in positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) images is crucial for precise treatment planning. However, current segmentation methods often use addition or concatenation to fuse PET and CT images, which potentially overlooks the nuanced interplay between these modalities. Additionally, these methods often neglect multi-view information that is helpful for more accurately locating and segmenting the target structure. This study aims to address these disadvantages and develop a deep learning-based algorithm for joint segmentation of tumors in PET-CT images.Approach. To address these limitations, we propose the Multi-view Information Enhancement and Multi-modal Feature Fusion Network (MIEMFF-Net) for joint tumor segmentation in three-dimensional PET-CT images. Our model incorporates a dynamic multi-modal fusion strategy to effectively exploit the metabolic and anatomical information from PET and CT images and a multi-view information enhancement strategy to effectively recover the lost information during upsamping. A Multi-scale Spatial Perception Block is proposed to effectively extract information from different views and reduce redundancy interference in the multi-view feature extraction process.Main results. The proposed MIEMFF-Net achieved a Dice score of 83.93%, a Precision of 81.49%, a Sensitivity of 87.89% and an IOU of 69.27% on the Soft Tissue Sarcomas dataset and a Dice score of 76.83%, a Precision of 86.21%, a Sensitivity of 80.73% and an IOU of 65.15% on the AutoPET dataset.Significance. Experimental results demonstrate that MIEMFF-Net outperforms existing state-of-the-art models which implies potential applications of the proposed method in clinical practice.

A large language model-based agent for wayfinding: simulation of spatial perception and memory

ABSTRACT Using agents to simulate human wayfinding processes helps to understand human decision-making and spatial cognition. The performance of large language models (LLMs) in agent-based wayfinding is still unclear. To address this, this study harnessed the thinking and reasoning capabilities of LLMs by designing an agent wayfinding framework based on cellular automata. This framework provides environmental descriptions in text form to the LLMs, enabling them to perceive the wayfinding environment and navigate within it. We simulated different spatial memory conditions for the LLM, including three types of spatial memories and one condition with no spatial memory, to observe its wayfinding behavior in a real-world setting. Multiple experiments were designed to compare the wayfinding performance of the LLM under different spatial memories, and 32 human participants conducted the same wayfinding experiments for reference. The results indicate that the LLM autonomously explores the environment and displays spatial reasoning abilities similar to humans. Furthermore, the LLM can develop reasonable wayfinding strategies to complete the tasks. This framework allows agents with different spatial memories to accurately reach their destinations. This research provides new ideas for utilizing large language models to construct more intelligent, efficient, and flexible wayfinding agents, which can help advance the application of agent technology in fields such as navigation and robotics.

How do the elderly perceive their community vitality? Taking old and dilapidated communities (ODCs) in Guangzhou as a case to study

ABSTRACT As urbanisation accelerates and population ageing becomes inevitable, simultaneous ageing of communities and residents becomes prominent. Measuring the vitality of old and dilapidated communities (ODCs) from the perspective of older residents and analysing its influencing factors can help promote ageing-friendly renovation and sustainable urban development. This study used subjective and objective data collected from 53 communities in Guangzhou to measure vitality in three dimensions: population vitality, travel perception and spatial perception. Furthermore, structural equation modelling was applied to analyse the factors influencing the vitality of ODCs from an ageing perspective. The results revealed that spatial service has the most significant positive impact on the vitality of ODCs from the perspective of the elderly, followed by transportation, social behaviour and functional facility, while the basic feature has a less significant impact. Among them, the green landscape ratio, the number of intersections, accessibility, recreation facilities, elevator installation rate, the density of medical institutions and contacts with neighbourhood are influencing factors that have a strong effect on vitality. In addition, the five categories of factors are also influencing each other. This paper concluded by providing suggestions for corresponding vitality enhancement strategies.

Transformation of Methods of Art Objects Using in Interior Design

The aim of the article is to identify and systematise the methods of using art objects in interior design, to analyse their transformation (from traditional to modern methods) with a focus on various aspects of the relationship between the spatial environment and fine art objects. Results. The research has shown that the transformation of the methods of using art objects (from traditional to modern innovative ones) provides endless opportunities for new methods and technologies of interior design with the use of art objects, which creates a harmonious object-spatial environment taking into account modern design trends. The analysis of art objects and the object-spatial environment revealed their interconnection in the following aspects: functional purpose, location conditions, types of fine art, spatial perception, reflection of the interior theme, integration with technology, and compliance with the principles and goals of sustainable development. The scientific novelty lies in the study, systematisation and analysis of the transformation of methods (from traditional to modern) of using art objects in interior design. Conclusions. The use of art objects in the interior is a complex multifunctional process that reflects a modern approach to the use of art works in the object-spatial environment to achieve a high artistic level in interior design. It has been found that art objects in the interior perform various functions, have certain visual forms of embodiment and create a harmonious aesthetic and meaningful space for living and working. In view of the development of the scientific and technological revolution, we see the prospects for further research in the analysis, systematisation and identification of modern methods transformation, including the identification of new aspects of the relationship between art objects and the subject-spatial environment based on the transformation of methods of using art works.

The impact of visitor attributes on the spatial experience in exhibition halls with background music

The exhibition hall is public architectural space with diverse forms, which serves as an exceptional research environment for investigating spatial experience. As a potent auditory stimulus capable of evoking emotions effectively, music exerts influence on behavioral responses in different contexts. However, the existing literature on interior space design rarely integrates soundscape considerations. Therefore, this study aims to explore the impact of tourist attributes-such as music learning experience, listening frequency, exhibition visiting motivation, personality traits, and neuroticism-on spatial experiences based on music perception and interior layouts. The background music is categorized into five sound conditions based on mode and tempo: no music, medium tempo in major, medium tempo in minor, fast tempo in major, and slow tempo in major. Meanwhile, the exhibition space is classified into four categories according to its interior layout: axis space, scale contrast space, shape contrast space, and flow space. The result shows that in different spatial environment with different music background, tourist attributes have different effects on the subjective spatial perception.

Comparison of Spatial Perception Regarding the Re-functionalized Industrial Buildings: Abdullah Gül University Sümer Campus

Industrial buildings that conserve their authentic identities and provide cultural sustainability also appeal to the spatial perceptions of users through their old and new usage forms. It is thought that every generation will have different timeframes and experiencing forms in the spaces they are in, based on their own needs, and this is believed to reflect on their spatial perceptions. Accordingly, this study aims to reveal the effect of different generations’ characteristics on their perception of educational buildings converted from industrial buildings and to reflect users’ reactions to the relevant spaces. In this study, the evolving spatial perceptions regarding Abdullah Gül University Sümer Campus, which has been converted as an educational facility from Sümerbank Fabric Factory, were evaluated through the members of the Generation X and Z. This study which employed qualitative data collection and assessment methods was conducted as a particular case study. Furthermore, this study contained the holistic assessment of the physical, functional and psychological aspects of the re-functionalized campus considering the fact that these spaces whose functions were converted to be educational would include differences based on spatial perceptions. The results of this study indicated that Sümer Campus was considered by the Generation X as a location combining the old texture with the new, while the Generation Z assessed the campus as an esthetic formation where the old and new coexisted with contrasts.

Pursued Spatial Perception benefit considering Attractiveness and Cognitive Load: Appropriate Visual Complexity of Indoor Commercial Space

Pursued Spatial Perception benefit considering Attractiveness and Cognitive Load: Appropriate Visual Complexity of Indoor Commercial Space

The uncanniness of interactive photography: Exploring spatial perception in virtual tours and structure from motion

Photography has always been associated with the physical activity of the human body: capturing, editing and viewing photos are all activities that involve the user’s spatial interaction with the technology used. With conventional photography, one aspect of spatial relation with technology is the viewer’s ability to recognize the camera’s location in the photographic scene through visual indications, such as the relative location of objects in the frame to the camera’s point of view, combined with a basic familiarity with the functionality of conventional cameras, relating to the notions of ‘in-front’ and ‘behind’ the camera. Some instances of interactive photography, such as 360-degree imagery and three-dimensional photogrammetry, challenge the spatial connection between the photographer (represented by the camera location) and the viewer due to unique usability and innovative interactions, such as the viewer’s ability to ‘move’ freely in all directions of the three-dimensional, photographic space. The technological affordances of interactive photography create a distinct corporeal experience that challenges the traditional associations between the photographer, the viewer and the photographic imagery, evoking with the viewers the notion of technological uncanniness and, consequently, questioning some of the traditional preconceptions regarding the prime characteristics of the photographic medium.

Analysis of the Work of Foreign Researchers on the Prevention of Typical Errors made by Students

The article reviews the theoretical literature on the issue of the occurrence and causes of errors in learning, identifies the types of errors. The author analyzes studies on typical errors made by students when mastering geometric problems. This article investigates how foreign researchers, including Schleppenbach and others, examine student errors in classroom settings. A key comparison is made between Chinese and American teachers, revealing different approaches: American teachers often hide or avoid discussing student mistakes, while Chinese teachers encourage students to reflect on their errors conceptually. This reflective process is essential for students to develop a deeper understanding of the material. Ball emphasizes that teachers should use mistakes as a learning tool, delving beyond simple "right or wrong" analyses. Newman's error analysis also plays a crucial role, highlighting stages where students encounter difficulties—reading, comprehension, transformation, and processing. The study also emphasizes spatial intelligence, including skills like spatial perception, mental rotation, and visualization, to assess how students solve geometric problems. Understanding the types of errors, such as procedural or encoding mistakes, is essential for improving teaching methods. Furthermore, researchers like Jacobs and Ambrose suggest that teachers can guide students to think critically about their mistakes, allowing them to correct misconceptions.

Difficulties in perceptual–motor coordination of reaching behavior in children with autism spectrum disorder

Increased risk of injury from collisions with objects is an important issue in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The purpose of the present study was to examine whether impaired perceptual–motor coordination may underlie the high frequency of collisions. Specifically, we hypothesized that collisions are likely to occur frequently in children with ASD due to their difficulty with body-related spatial perception and their inadequate motor planning, due to their detail-focused processing style, i.e., a tendency to focus attention on specific details rather than on the overall context. To evaluate impairment of perceptual–motor coordination in children with ASD, an original action selection task was developed to assess (a) body-related spatial perception and (b) predictive attentional properties for planning the subsequent movements based on the measures of hand movement and gaze behavior. Twenty-six children (13 diagnosed as ASD and 13 with typical development [TD]) completed the task, and their parents completed a questionnaire regarding their child's susceptibility to injury. Results showed that children with ASD displayed inaccurate body-related spatial perception and inadequate motor planning under conditions that induced their detail-focused processing style. In addition, analyses of gaze behavior reflected the characteristics of a detail-focused processing in children with ASD. This was correlated with the severity of ASD and the measure of motor planning. The present findings suggest that difficulty with perceptual–motor coordination, resulting in part from the detail-focused processing style, might contribute to susceptibility to injury in children with ASD. We consider that our evaluation of the difficulty with perceptual–motor of individuals with ASD provides a framework for understanding their high rate of collision-related injuries and could inform strategies for preventing these injuries.

Computer Graphical Representation of Complex Mathematical Functions in Turbo Basic

Computer graphic representation of complex mathematical functions plays an important role in the spatial perception of these functions by students. On the other hand, the diversity of spatial forms of complex functions and their beauty allows their use in the design of various architectural and advertising projects. In this article, the author presents an original program written in Turbo Basic, which allows building a spatial image of any given complex mathematical function on the computer screen.

Affective spaces of the rural: A praxeological analysis of the “spatial pioneers” of Upper Lusatia (Germany)

While many rural regions in Germany are facing a downward socio-structural spiral, there is a growing societal yearning for rurality and the practices associated with it. By creating a network for individuals who migrate from urban centers to a peripheral rural area, the self-proclaimed “spatial pioneer” movement of Upper Lusatia operates at the convergence of these realities. Through an ethnographic inquiry into this movement, we study the social practices of these spatial pioneers, particularly focusing on affective practices that evoke emotional responses within individuals. We identified five dimensions that shape the spatial pioneers' rural lifeworlds — nature, work, community, simplicity, and self-efficacy. From the perspective of the spatial pioneers, rural spaces are not necessarily ‘ideal’ via their discursive representations. However, rurality as a lifestyle (as a way of living) becomes desirable via the (affective) practices it enables. The singularity of structurally weak rural areas lies in the fact that they offer opportunities for living the ‘good life’ that, due to limiting material and cultural structures, are unavailable elsewhere (e.g., in urban settings). In applying the concept of affective spaces, we aim for a deeper understanding of the spatial pioneers' bodily-affective experience, perception, and practice-based production of space. By doing so, we provide insights into practice-based, affective (re-)productions of rurality and rural spaces.

Perceiving depth beyond sight: Evaluating intrinsic and learned cues via a proof of concept sensory substitution method in the visually impaired and sighted.

This study explores spatial perception of depth by employing a novel proof of concept sensory substitution algorithm. The algorithm taps into existing cognitive scaffolds such as language and cross modal correspondences by naming objects in the scene while representing their elevation and depth by manipulation of the auditory properties for each axis. While the representation of verticality utilized a previously tested correspondence with pitch, the representation of depth employed an ecologically inspired manipulation, based on the loss of gain and filtration of higher frequency sounds over distance. The study, involving 40 participants, seven of which were blind (5) or visually impaired (2), investigates the intrinsicness of an ecologically inspired mapping of auditory cues for depth by comparing it to an interchanged condition where the mappings of the two axes are swapped. All participants successfully learned to use the algorithm following a very brief period of training, with the blind and visually impaired participants showing similar levels of success for learning to use the algorithm as did their sighted counterparts. A significant difference was found at baseline between the two conditions, indicating the intuitiveness of the original ecologically inspired mapping. Despite this, participants were able to achieve similar success rates following the training in both conditions. The findings indicate that both intrinsic and learned cues come into play with respect to depth perception. Moreover, they suggest that by employing perceptual learning, novel sensory mappings can be trained in adulthood. Regarding the blind and visually impaired, the results also support the convergence view, which claims that with training, their spatial abilities can converge with those of the sighted. Finally, we discuss how the algorithm can open new avenues for accessibility technologies, virtual reality, and other practical applications.

Association between decreased walking speed and higher-level functional capacity in community-dwelling older women

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between walking speed and higher-level functional capacity in community-dwelling older women. Data were collected from 91 healthy Japanese women aged ≥65 years (mean age, 78.7 years) in Ibaraki City, Osaka Prefecture. Participants’ higher-level functional capacity was assessed using the Japan Science and Technology Agency Index of Competence (JST-IC). Participants were categorized into two groups based on walking speed (faster or slower than 1.0 m/s). Logistic regression analysis revealed that grip strength [odds ratio (OR): 0.84; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.713-0.992], the total JST-IC score (OR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.675-0.997), and the JST-IC subscale for use of technology (OR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.309-0.958) were significant factors associated with decreased walking speed. The decreased walking speed observed among community-dwelling older women was related to cognitive aspects such as processing and spatial perception, as well as the use of technology. Maintaining physical and cognitive functions, particularly hand function, is crucial for preserving or improving walking speed, a barometer of health.

AudioMove: Applying the Spatial Audio to Multi-Directional Limb Exercise Guidance

Guiding users with limb exercise can assist in muscle training or physical recovery. However, traditional vision-based methods often require multiple camera angles to help users understand the motions and require them to be within the range of the screen. Therefore, we propose a non-visual system that can guide users with multiple-directional limb motions utilizing spatial audio, AudioMove , with commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) devices (i.e., smartphones and earphones). The proposed system addresses the challenge of conveying directional information encompassing multiple planes in real-time. We conduct a mixed-method user study to evaluate the effectiveness of the system with three methods combining motion data with spatial audio perception. Additionally, a user interface is built to collect users' comments. The results conclude that spatial audio guidance could create a natural, pervasive, and non-visual exercise training solution in daily life.

How to Help Older Adults Navigate Through VR? Effects in Outdoor–Indoor Transition Environments

In more complex outdoor–indoor transition scenarios, people were more prone to getting lost due to difficulties in effectively integrating proprioceptive cues and external navigation cues. Previous research had mostly focused on spatial perception driven by head or limb movements, with less discussion on locomotion methods that involved significant visual discrepancies. The challenge in designing navigation systems lies in balancing the enhancement of wayfinding performance with the potential negative impact on spatial cognition. We believe that navigation legibility might be a key optimization approach. Additionally, the differences in performance between different age groups were also worth investigating. Therefore, this study aimed to explore how locomotion methods and navigation legibility affected wayfinding performance, navigation interaction, navigation regression, and spatial cognition in younger and older adults during outdoor–indoor transition scenarios. Twenty-four younger (aged 19–27) and 24 older adults (aged 60–83) underwent VR wayfinding tasks. Participants initially followed virtual phone navigation from outdoor starting points to indoor endpoints, then drew cognitive route maps. Five main findings emerged: Continuous teleportation positively affected navigation performance and global representation of routes. Improving navigation legibility boosted navigation interaction, navigation regression, and global representation of routes. Older adults engaged more in navigation interaction but less in navigation regression, exhibiting poorer performance and route representation. Location-specific differences were observed in locomotion, legibility, and age effects. Furthermore, most older adults and over half of younger adults displayed a deflection effect based on outdoor–indoor (OI) space in route representation. These findings indicated that continuous teleportation and enhanced navigation legibility could improve user experience and spatial cognition, highlighting the importance of considering user age and the characteristics of outdoor–indoor transition scenarios when optimizing navigation methods.