Spatial Memory as a Function of Action-Based and Perception-Based Similarity

Abstract

Each of 34 subjects answered two spatial questions about each of 32 schematic maps from memory. The maps had been used before for performing two navigation tasks, resembling driving a car or flying a plane. The two questions were about the distance between and spatial orientation of two map cities. These cities either were on the same navigation path or belonged to different paths (defining action-similarity), and were either connected by lines or not (defining perceptual similarity). Results showed an expected effect of action-similarity on distance estimation (action-sharing made the cities seem closer to each other), but only when cities were not connected by lines. Cities that were connected by lines were judged to be closer to each other than non-connected cities (expected effect of perceptual similarity). No similarity effects were observed on the speed of verifying orientation statements. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are indicated.