title: First-perspective alignment effects in a computer-simulated environment.
abstract: In Experiment 1, participants explored two desktop, virtual environments (VEs), each comprising three city streets connected at right angles; for each participant one VE was open and one was enclosed. Following the first VE exploration, orientation estimates to remembered test locations were most accurate when participants imagined themselves aligned, rather than 90 degrees misaligned or 180 degrees or contra-aligned, with the first part of the route. In the second VE, the effect was attenuated and the data pattern conformed to that anticipated from an orientation-free memory. Experiment 2 followed the procedure of Experiment 1, but omitted the alignment tests after the first VE; following the second VE exploration, orientation estimates presented a similar pattern to those in first test of Experiment 1. These data are discussed in terms of cognitive load.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Leicester, UK. p.wilson@hull.ac.uk
authors.forename: Paul N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Diane J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Wildbur
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D009949:Orientation; D013028:Space Perception; D014584:User-Computer Interface