Human place learning in a virtual Morris water task: some important constraints on the flexibility of place navigation.
We investigated human place learning in a computerized version of the Morris water task (VMWT) under comparable conditions to those employed by Sutherland et al. (Sutherland et al. Psychobiology, 1987;15:48-57) with rats. Participants viewed a computer-generated environment and were trained to locate a hidden goal in one half of a circular pool (region 1). The opportunity to navigate in and view cues from region 2 was systematically varied during training. Participants were then started from region 2 to assess transfer. Accurate transfer performance was dependent upon prior experience viewing distal cues from region 2 while on a trajectory to the goal, a finding we interpret as inconsistent with the automatic formation and modification of a cognitive map (O'Keefe J, Nadel L. The Hippocampus as a cognitive map. Oxford, UK: Clarendon Press, 1978). Additionally, the transfer data reported here closely match the data obtained by Sutherland et al. with rats suggesting some generality in the principles involved in place learning.
Hamilton
Derek A
DA
Department of Psychology, Logan Hall, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA. dahamilt@unm.edu
Driscoll
Ira
I
Sutherland
Robert J
RJ
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003463:Cues; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014163:Transfer, Psychology / Q000502:physiology