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Sentence memorability reveals the mental representations involved in processing spatial descriptions

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Sentence memorability reveals the mental representations involved in processing spatial descriptions. / Fleming, Piers; Ball, Linden J.; Ormerod, Thomas C. et al.
In: Thinking and Reasoning, Vol. 17, No. 1, 2011, p. 30-56.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

Harvard

Fleming, P, Ball, LJ, Ormerod, TC & Collins, AF 2011, 'Sentence memorability reveals the mental representations involved in processing spatial descriptions', Thinking and Reasoning, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 30-56. https://doi.org/10.1080/13546783.2010.539870

APA

Fleming, P., Ball, L. J., Ormerod, T. C., & Collins, A. F. (2011). Sentence memorability reveals the mental representations involved in processing spatial descriptions. Thinking and Reasoning, 17(1), 30-56. https://doi.org/10.1080/13546783.2010.539870

Vancouver

Fleming P, Ball LJ, Ormerod TC, Collins AF. Sentence memorability reveals the mental representations involved in processing spatial descriptions. Thinking and Reasoning. 2011;17(1):30-56. doi: 10.1080/13546783.2010.539870

Author

Fleming, Piers ; Ball, Linden J. ; Ormerod, Thomas C. et al. / Sentence memorability reveals the mental representations involved in processing spatial descriptions. In: Thinking and Reasoning. 2011 ; Vol. 17, No. 1. pp. 30-56.

Bibtex

@article{2cd4edcfe7704a3cae80c2c109397dde,
title = "Sentence memorability reveals the mental representations involved in processing spatial descriptions",
abstract = "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.",
keywords = "Analogue representation, Proportional representation, Mental models, Spatial descriptions, Sentence memorability, CONSTRUCTION-TRACE HYPOTHESIS, RECOGNITION MEMORY, SITUATION MODELS, FREE RECALL, SHORT-TERM, COMPREHENSION, INFORMATION, RETENTION, IMAGERY, TEXT",
author = "Piers Fleming and Ball, {Linden J.} and Ormerod, {Thomas C.} and Collins, {Alan F.}",
year = "2011",
doi = "10.1080/13546783.2010.539870",
language = "English",
volume = "17",
pages = "30--56",
journal = "Thinking and Reasoning",
issn = "1354-6783",
publisher = "Psychology Press Ltd",
number = "1",

}

RIS

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 -