Blocking of spatial learning between enclosure geometry and a local landmark.

Wilson, Paul N.; Alexander, Tim

Abstract

In a virtual environment, blocking of spatial learning to locate an invisible target was found reciprocally between a distinctively shaped enclosure and a local landmark within its walls. The blocking effect was significantly stronger when the shape of the enclosure rather than the landmark served as the blocking cue. However, the extent to which the landmark blocked enclosure-shape learning was not influenced by increasing the physical salience of the landmark. The outcomes are the first to suggest that cue-interaction effects, commonly found in human and animal contingency learning experiments, are also found in human spatial learning based on landmarks and enclosure walls. The data are discussed in terms of spatial reference frames.

Citation

Wilson, P. N., & Alexander, T. (2008). Blocking of spatial learning between enclosure geometry and a local landmark. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 34(6), 1369-1376. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0013011

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Nov 1, 2008
• Deposit Date: Nov 13, 2014
• Journal: Journal Of Experimental Psychology-Learning Memory And Cognition
• Print ISSN: 0278-7393
• Electronic ISSN: 0278-7393
• Publisher: American Psychological Association
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 34
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 1369-1376
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/a0013011
• Keywords: Blocking; Spatial learning; Geometry; Landmarks
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/461551
• Publisher URL: http://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fa0013011