Individual Differences in Visuo-Spatial Working Memory and Real-World Wayfinding
Abstract
The present research investigated the relationship between individual differences in visuo-spatial working memory (VSWM) and wayfinding performance in adults. Forty participants completed a battery of tasks measuring VSWM (Mental Rotation Task, Corsi Block Task, Copying Task, and Spatial Problem Task) and covered an unfamiliar route in a botanical garden. Our findings showed that VSWM was involved in wayfinding performance: High-VSWM participants performed the wayfinding task with fewer errors and faster and paused less frequently along the route than did low-VSWM participants. Our results suggest that different aspects of working memory, that is, active/passive and visual/sequential/simultaneous subcomponents, are involved in remembering an unfamiliar real-world route.
References
Allen, G. L. (1999). Spatial abilities, cognitive maps, and wayfinding. Bases for individual differences in spatial cognition and behavior. In R. G. Golledge (Ed.), Wayfinding behavior. Cognitive mapping and other spatial processes (pp. 46-80). Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University PressBaskaya, A., Wilson, C., Özcan, Y. (2004). Wayfinding in an unfamiliar environment. Different spatial settings of two polyclinics. Environment and Behavior, 36, 839– 867Blades, M. (1991). Wayfinding theory and research: The need for a new approach. In D. M. Mark & A. Y. Franks (Eds.), Cognitive and Linguistic Aspects of Geographic Space (pp. 137-165). London: Kluwer AcademicBlajenkova, O., Motes, M. A., Kozhevnikov, M. (2005). Individual differences in the representations of novel environments. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 25, 97– 109Bosco, A., Longoni, A. M., Vecchi, T. (2004). Gender effects in spatial orientation: Cognitive profiles and mental strategies. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 18, 519– 532Brown, A. L. (1976). The construction of temporal succession by pre-operational children. In A. Pick (Ed.), Minnesota Symposium on Child Psychology, Vol. 10 (pp. 103-152). Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota PressColuccia, E., Martello, A. (2004). Il ruolo della memoria di lavoro visuo-spaziale nell’orientamento geografico: Uno studio correlazionale [The role of visuo-spatial working memory in geographical orientation: A correlation study]. Giornale Italiano di Psicologia, 3, 523– 551Cornoldi, C., Vecchi, T. (2000). Mental imagery in blind people: The role of passive and active visuo-spatial processes. In M. Heller (Ed.), Touch, representation, and blindness (pp. 143-181). Oxford, UK: Oxford University PressCornoldi, C., Vecchi, T. (2003). Visuo-spatial working memory and individual differences. Hove, UK: Psychology PressCorsi, P. M. (1972). Human memory and the medial temporal region of the region of the brain. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, McGill University, Montreal, QuebecCrowder, R. G. (1976). Principles of learning and memory. Hillsdale, NJ: ErlbaumDe Renzi, E., Nichelli, P. (1975). Verbal and nonverbal short term memory impairment following hemispheric damage. Cortex, 11, 341– 353Della Sala, S., Gray, C., Baddeley, A., Allamano, N., Wilson, L. (1999). Patter span: A tool for unwelding visuo-spatial memory. Neuropsychologia, 37, 1189– 1199Denis, M., Zimmer, H. D. (1992). Analog properties of cognitive maps constructed from verbal descriptions. Psychological Research/Psychologische Forschung, 54, 286– 298Denis, M., Pazzaglia, F., Cornoldi, C., Bertolo, L. (1999). Spatial discourse and navigation: An analysis of route direction in the city of Venice. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 13, 145– 174De Vega, M. (1994). Characters and their perspectives in narratives describing spatial environments. Psychological Research/Psychologische Forschung, 56, 116– 126Deyzac, E., Logie, R. H., Denis, M. (2006). Visuospatial working memory and the processing of spatial descriptions. British Journal of Psychology, 97, 217– 243Downs, R. M., Stea, D. (1973). Image & environment: Cognitive mapping and spatial behavior. New Brunswick, NJ: AldineTransactionEducational Testing Service Staff (1976). Manual and technical report. Reading, MA: Addison-WesleyFenner, J., Heathcote, D., Jerrams-Smith, J. (2000). The development of wayfinding competency: Asymmetrical effects of visuo-spatial and verbal ability. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 20, 165– 175Garden, S., Cornoldi, C., Logie, R. H. (2002). Visuo-spatial working memory in Navigation. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 16, 35– 50Golledge, R. G. (1978). Learning about urban environments. In T. Carlstein, D. N. Parkes, & N. J. Thrift (Eds.), Timing Space and Spacing Time I: Making Sense of Time (pp. 76-98). London: Edward ArnoldGolledge, R. G. (1999). Wayfinding behavior: Cognitive mapping and other spatial processes. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University PressGolledge, R. G., Smith, T. R., Pellegrino, J. W., Doherty, S., Marshall, S. P. (1985). A conceptual model and empirical analysis of children’s acquisition of spatial knowledge. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 5, 125– 152Gyselinck, V., Cornoldi, C., Ehrlich, M.-F., Dubois, V., De Beni, R. (2002). Visuospatial memory and phonological loop in processing texts and illustrations. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 16, 665– 685Haq, S., Zimring, C. (2003). Just down the road a piece: The development of topological knowledge of building layouts. Environment and Behavior, 35, 132– 160Hegarty, M., Waller, D. (2005). Individual differences in spatial abilities. In P. Shah & A. Miyake (Eds.), The Cambridge handbook of visuospatial thinking (pp. 121-169). New York: Cambridge University PressHelstrup, T., Magnussen, S. (2001). The mental representation of familiar, long-distance journeys. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 21, 411– 421Kruley, P., Scima, S., Glenberg, A. M. (1994). On-line processing of textual illustrations in the visuo-spatial sketchpad: Evidence from dual-task studies. Memory and Cognition, 22, 261– 272Lindberg, E., Gärling, T. (1981). Acquisition of locational information about reference points during locomotion with and without a concurrent task: Effects of number of reference points. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 22, 109– 115Logie, R. H. (1995). Visuo-spatial working memory. Hove, UK: ErlbaumLogie, R. H. (2003). Spatial and visual working memory: A mental workspace. In B. H. Ross & D. E. Irwin (Eds.), Cognitive vision: The psychology of learning and motivation, Vol. 42, (pp. 37-78). San Diego, CA: Academic PressMammarella, I. C., Pazzaglia, F., Cornoldi, C. (2006). The assessment of imagery and visuo-spatial working memory functions. In T. Vecchi, & G. Bottini, Imagery and Spatial Cognition (pp. 15-38). Amsterdam: John BenjaminsMilner, B. (1971). Interhemispheric differences in the localization of psychological processes in man. British Medical Bulletin, 27, 272– 277Montello, D. R., Lovelance, K. L., Golledge, R. G., Self, C. M. (1999). Sex-related differences and similarities in geographic and environmental spatial abilities. Annals of the Association of the American Geographers, 89, 515– 534Nori, R., Giusberti, F. (2003). Cognitive styles: Errors in directional judgments. Perception, 32, 307– 320Nori, R., Giusberti, F. (2006). Predicting cognitive styles from spatial abilities. American Journal of Psychology, 119, 67– 86O’Neill, M. J. (1991). Effects of signage and floor plan configuration on wayfinding accuracy. Environment and Behavior, 223, 553– 574Paivio, A., Clark, J. M. (1991). Static versus dynamic imagery. In C. Cornoldi & M. A. McDaniel (Eds.), Imagery and Cognition (pp. 221-245). New York: SpringerPazzaglia, F., Cornoldi, C. (1999). The role of the distinct components of visuospatial working memory in processing the texts. Memory, 7, 19– 41Perrig, W., Kintsch, W. (1985). Propositional and situational representations of text. Journal of Memory Language, 24, 503– 518Reagan, I., Baldwin, C. L. (2006). Facilitating route memory with auditory route guidance systems. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 26, 146– 155Rovine, M. J., Weisman, G. D. (1989). Sketch-map variables as predictors of way-finding performance. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 9, 217– 232Salthouse, T. A., Mitchell, D. R. D. (1989). Structural and operational capacities in integrative spatial ability. Psychology and Aging, 4, 18– 25Stern, E., Portugali, Y. (1999). Environmental cognition and decision making in urban navigation. In G. R. Golledge, (Ed.), Wayfinding behavior: Cognitive mapping and other spatial processes (pp. 99-119). Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University PressTaylor, H. A., Tversky, B. (1992). Spatial mental models derived from survey and route description. Journal of Memory and Language, 31, 261– 292Taylor, H. A., Tversky, B. (1996). Perspective in spatial descriptions. Journal of Memory and Language, 35, 371– 391Thurstone, L. L. (1937). Psychological tests for the study of mental abilities. Chicago: University of Chicago PressTversky, B. (2000). Remembering spaces. In E. Tulving & F. I. M. Craik (Eds.), Handbook of memory (pp. 363-378). New York: Oxford University PressVecchi, T. (1998). Visuo-spatial limitations in congenitally totally blind people. Memory, 6, 91– 102Vecchi, T., Girelli, L. (1998). Gender differences in visuo-spatial processing: The importance of distinguishing between passive storage and active manipulation. Acta Psychologica, 99, 1– 16Vecchi, T., Phillips, L. H., Cornoldi, C. (2001). Individual differences in visuo-spatial working memory. In M. Denis, R. H. Logie, C. Cornoldi, M. de Vega, & J. Engelkamp (Eds.), Imagery, language, and visuo-spatial thinking (pp. 29-58). Hove, UK: Psychology PressWeisman, G. D. (1979). Way-finding in the built environment: A study in architectural legibility. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MIWeisman, G. D. (1981). Evaluating architectural legibility: Wayfinding in the built environment. Environment and Behavior, 13, 189– 204