Perspective Dependence on Direction Judgment in a Virtual Room Space

Abstract

The present study investigated the role of encoding perspective in mental representation for the spatial layout learned via the route, leaning and aerial perspectives which are different with respect to the height taken. Two experiments with the same procedures were carried out in two different virtual rooms. The results showed that the direction judgment, especially the vertical angle judgment, was changed as the perspectives varied along the vertical dimension of space. In addition, the room geometry can also influence the mental representation of spatial relations. The data indicated that the orientation-dependent property of spatial memory can be formed when the perspective varies along the vertical dimension of space.