Frames of reference and categorical and coordinate spatial relations: a hierarchical organisation |
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Authors: | Ruotolo Francesco Iachini Tina Postma Albert van der Ham Ineke J M |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy;(2) Helmholtz Institute, Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands;(3) Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands |
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Abstract: | This research is about the role of categorical and coordinate spatial relations and allocentric and egocentric frames of reference
in processing spatial information. To this end, we asked whether spatial information is firstly encoded with respect to a
frame of reference or with respect to categorical/coordinate spatial relations. Participants had to judge whether two vertical
bars appeared on the same side (categorical) or at the same distance (coordinate) with respect to the centre of a horizontal bar (allocentric) or with respect to their body midline (egocentric). The key manipulation was the timing of the instructions: one instruction (reference frame or spatial relation) was given
before stimulus presentation, the other one after. If spatial processing requires egocentric/allocentric encoding before coordinate/categorical encoding, then spatial judgements
should be facilitated when the frame of reference is specified in advance. In contrast, if categorical and coordinate dimensions
are primary, then a facilitation should appear when the spatial relation is specified in advance. Results showed that participants
were more accurate and faster when the reference frame rather than the type of spatial relation was provided before stimulus
presentation. Furthermore, a selective facilitation was found for coordinate and categorical judgements after egocentric and
allocentric cues, respectively. These results suggest a hierarchical structure of spatial information processing where reference
frames play a primary role and selectively interact with subsequent processing of spatial relations. |
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