A geometric process for spatial reorientation in young children.
Disoriented rats and non-human primates reorient themselves using geometrical features of the environment. In rats tested in environments with distinctive geometry, this ability is impervious to non-geometric information (such as colours and odours) marking important locations and used in other spatial tasks. Here we show that adults use both geometric and non-geometric information to reorient themselves, whereas young children, like mature rats, use only geometric information. These findings provide evidence that: (1) humans reorient in accord with the shape of the environment; (2) the young child's reorientation system is impervious to all but geometric information, even when non-geometric information is available and is re-presented by the child--such information should improve performance and is used in similar tasks by the oriented child; and (3) the limits of this process are overcome during human development.
Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853.
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Hermer
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Spelke
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009949:Orientation; D051381:Rats; D013028:Space Perception; D013037:Spatial Behavior