Transformations and representations supporting spatial perspective taking. Issue 4 (2nd October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yu, Alfred B.; Zacks, Jeffrey M.
• Is Part Of: Spatial cognition and computation. Volume 17:Issue 4(2017)
• Page Start: 304
• Page End: 337
• Publication Date: 2017-10-02
• Subjects: perspective taking -- spatial transformations -- spatial frameworks -- mental imagery; Space perception -- Periodicals; Geographical perception -- Periodicals; Artificial intelligence -- Periodicals; 153.752
• DOI: 10.1080/13875868.2017.1322596
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1387-5868

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Spatial perspective taking is the ability to reason about spatial relations relative to another's viewpoint. Here, we propose a mechanistic hypothesis that relates mental representations of one's viewpoint to the transformations used for spatial perspective taking. We test this hypothesis using a novel behavioral paradigm that assays patterns of response time and variation in those patterns across people. The results support the hypothesis that people maintain a schematic representation of the space around their body, update that representation to take another's perspective, and thereby to reason about the space around their body. This is a powerful computational mechanism that can support imitation, coordination of behavior, and observational learning.