title: Delay improves performance on a haptic spatial matching task.
abstract: Systematic deviations occur when blindfolded subjects set a test bar parallel to a reference bar in the horizontal plane using haptic information (Kappers and Koenderink 1999, Perception 28:781-795; Kappers 1999, Perception 28:1001-1012). These deviations are assumed to reflect the use of a combination of a biasing egocentric reference frame and an allocentric, more cognitive one (Kappers 2002, Acta Psychol 109:25-40). In two experiments, we have examined the effect of delay between the perception of a reference bar and the parallel setting of a test bar. In both experiments a 10-s delay improved performance. The improvement increased with a larger horizontal (left-right) distance between the bars. This improvement was interpreted as a shift from the egocentric towards the allocentric reference frame during the delay period.
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz Institute, Psychological Laboratory, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 2, The Netherlands. s.zuidhoek@fss.uu.nl
authors.forename: Sander
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zuidhoek
authors.forename: Astrid M L
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kappers
authors.forename: Rob H J
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: van der Lubbe
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Postma
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors