Cognitive Models for Spatial Representations in Congenitally Blind,Adventitiously Blind,and Sighted Subjects

Abstract

Congenitally blind, adventitiously blind, and sighted subjects’ informal verbal response to questions about furniture arrangements verbally described by the experimenter were analyzed. From their accuracy, RT, and verbal protocols it was concluded that prior visual experience is crucial though not essential to the development of a “frame of reference,” i.e., a two-dimensional symbol structure for spatial representation. The conclusion supports the belief that visual-modality perceptual-symbol-structures are useful in the development of a frame of reference and also casts some doubt on Juurmaa's conclusion (1973) that the congenitally blind develop the same type of spatial representations as the sighted.