title: Observed bodies generate object-based spatial codes.
abstract: Contemporary studies of spatial and social cognition frequently use human figures as stimuli. The interpretation of such studies may be complicated by spatial compatibility effects that emerge when researchers employ spatial responses, and participants spontaneously code spatial relationships about an observed body. Yet, the nature of these spatial codes - whether they are location- or object-based, and coded from the perspective of the observer or the figure - has not been determined. Here, we investigated this issue by exploring spatial compatibility effects arising for objects held by a visually presented whole-bodied schematic human figure. In three experiments, participants responded to the colour of the object held in the figure's left or right hand, using left or right key presses. Left-right compatibility effects were found relative to the participant's egocentric perspective, rather than the figure's. These effects occurred even when the figure was rotated by 90° to the left or to the right, and the coloured objects were aligned with the participant's midline. These findings are consistent with spontaneous spatial coding from the participant's perspective and relative to the normal upright orientation of the body. This evidence for object-based spatial coding implies that the domain general cognitive mechanisms that result in spatial compatibility effects may contribute to certain spatial perspective-taking and social cognition phenomena.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Westminster, 115 New Cavendish Street, London W1W 6UW, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Westminster, 115 New Cavendish Street, London W1W 6UW, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Flynn
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of East London, Stratford Campus, Water Lane, London E15 4LZ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Caroline J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Edmonds
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Westminster, 115 New Cavendish Street, London W1W 6UW, United Kingdom. Electronic address: m.gardner@westminster.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Gardner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D003118:Color Perception; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000072458:Orientation, Spatial; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011930:Reaction Time; D013028:Space Perception; D065853:Spatial Learning; D056345:Theory of Mind; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Body representation; Implicit mentalising; Own body transformation; Perspective taking; Simon effect; Spatial compatibility