The goal of this line of research is to understand how the spatial structure of the environment is represented in and retrieved from memory. We are particularly interested in determining the spatial frames of reference used by human memory systems to represent the locations of objects in the environment. This research has led to investigations of the relation between object and scene recognition, apparent rotational motion, and the acquisition of spatial representations from non-visual information, such as verbal descriptions and tactile reconstructions. We have been studying these problems using multi-object scenes (example scene), multi-location spatial arrays (example array), and room-sized spaces (example layout).
Some recent papers and reports include:
McNamara, T. P., & Diwadkar, V. A. (1996). Viewpoint dependence in human spatial memory.Cognitive & Computational Models of Spatial Representation: Papers from the 1996 AAAI Spring Symposium. AAAI Press: Menlo Park, CA.
Diwadkar, V. A., & McNamara, T. P. (1997). Viewpoint dependence in scene recognition.Psychological Science, 8, 302-307.
Shelton, A. L., & McNamara, T. P. (1997). Multiple views of spatial memory. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 4, 102-106.
Roskos-Ewoldsen, B., McNamara, T. P., Shelton, A. L., & Carr, W. S. (1998). Mental representations of large and small spatial layouts are orientation dependent. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, & Cognition, 24, 215-226.
Shelton, A. L., & McNamara, T. P. (in press). Systems of spatial reference in human memory. Cognitive Psychology.
Shelton, A. L., & McNamara, T. P. (in press). Visual memories from nonvisual experiences. Psychological Science. (Figure 1, Figure 2A, Figure 2B).
Mou, W., & McNamara, T. P. (2001). Intrinsic frames of reference in spatial memory. Manuscript submitted for publication.
Valiquette, C., & McNamara, T. P. (2001). Locomotion, incidental learning, and the orientation dependence of spatial memory. Manuscript submitted for publication.
McNamara, T. P., Rump, B., & Werner, S. (2001). Egocentric and geocentric frames of reference in memory of large-scale space. Manuscript in preparation.
McNamara, T. P., Diwadkar, V. A., Blevins, W. A., & Valiquette, C. (2001). Representations of apparent rotation. Manuscript in preparation. (Figure 1).
Shelton, A. L., & McNamara, T. P. (2001). The role of egocentric orientation in spatial memory after route and survey learning. Manuscript in preparation.
Shelton, A. L., & McNamara, T. P. (2001). The effect of perspective taking on memory for spatial layout. Manuscript in preparation.
In another line of work, we have been studying higher level processes in encoding and retrieval from spatial memories. In particular, we have examined whether spatial memory satisfies formal metric constraints, such as the metric axioms. We, among others, have demonstrated that estimates of distance using spatial memory systematically violate the axiom of symmetry. In a recent paper we reported on a series of experiments in which we probed the nature of these asymmetries, evaluated the ability of extant models (e.g., Holman, 1979; Nosofsky, 1991) to account for them, and proposed an alternative model of why spatial estimation may be asymmetric.
McNamara, T. P., & Diwadkar, V. A. (1997). Symmetry and asymmetry of human spatial memory. Cognitive Psychology, 34, 160-190.
For more information on some of our ongoing projects contact:
