Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Sentence memorability reveals the mental representations involved in processing spatial descriptions
AU - Fleming, Piers
AU - Ball, Linden J.
AU - Ormerod, Thomas C.
AU - Collins, Alan F.
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Enhanced memorability for first-sentence information was used as a probe to examine the mental representations underpinning the processing of spatial descriptions, with a focus on analogue, mental model representations versus propositional representations. In Experiment 1 rotating the visual layout of a spatial description slowed its recognition, a result that is strongly indicative of an analogue representation. In contrast, the surface details of spatial descriptions were recalled after 2 weeks, with advantages for information that was repeated or mentioned in first sentences. Although suggestive of propositional representations, these latter findings are not decisive. In Experiment 2, however, the determinacy of spatial relations influenced the recognition of their descriptions (indicative of analogue representations), but first-sentence information aided only the recall of the original text and not the spatial layout (indicative of propositional representations). Overall, these results are consistent with the existence of separate and non-integrated analogue and propositional representations of spatial information that trade computational efficiency for task appropriateness.
AB - Enhanced memorability for first-sentence information was used as a probe to examine the mental representations underpinning the processing of spatial descriptions, with a focus on analogue, mental model representations versus propositional representations. In Experiment 1 rotating the visual layout of a spatial description slowed its recognition, a result that is strongly indicative of an analogue representation. In contrast, the surface details of spatial descriptions were recalled after 2 weeks, with advantages for information that was repeated or mentioned in first sentences. Although suggestive of propositional representations, these latter findings are not decisive. In Experiment 2, however, the determinacy of spatial relations influenced the recognition of their descriptions (indicative of analogue representations), but first-sentence information aided only the recall of the original text and not the spatial layout (indicative of propositional representations). Overall, these results are consistent with the existence of separate and non-integrated analogue and propositional representations of spatial information that trade computational efficiency for task appropriateness.
KW - Analogue representation
KW - Proportional representation
KW - Mental models
KW - Spatial descriptions
KW - Sentence memorability
KW - CONSTRUCTION-TRACE HYPOTHESIS
KW - RECOGNITION MEMORY
KW - SITUATION MODELS
KW - FREE RECALL
KW - SHORT-TERM
KW - COMPREHENSION
KW - INFORMATION
KW - RETENTION
KW - IMAGERY
KW - TEXT
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79751497003&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/13546783.2010.539870
DO - 10.1080/13546783.2010.539870
M3 - Journal article
VL - 17
SP - 30
EP - 56
JO - Thinking and Reasoning
JF - Thinking and Reasoning
SN - 1354-6783
IS - 1
ER -