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Abstract:
Spatial behavior in humans and animals includes a wide variety of
behavioral competences and makes use of a large number of sensory
cues. Here we studied the ability of human subjects to search
locations, to find shortcuts and novel paths, to estimate distances
between remembered places, and to draw sketch maps of the explored
environment; these competences are related to declarative memory of
space, or cognitive maps. Information on spatial relations was
restricted to two types: a visual motion sequence generated by
simulated movements in a virtual maze, and the subject's own movement
decisions defining the path through the maze. Visual information was
local, i.e., no global landmarks or compass information was provided.
Other position- and movement information (vestibular or
proprioceptive) was excluded. The amount of visual information
provided was varied over four experimental conditions. The results
indicate that human subjects are able to learn a virtual maze from
sequences of local views and movements. The information acquired is
local, consisting of recognized positions and movement decisions
associated to them. While simple associations of this type can be
shown to be present in some subjects, more complete configurational
knowledge is acquired as well. The results are discussed in a
view-based framework of navigation and the representation of spatial
knowledge by means of a view-graph.