Imagining Physically Impossible Self-Rotations: Geometry is More Important than Gravity

Authors

Sarah H. Creem, University of Virginia
Maryjane Wraga, Harvard UniversityFollow
Dennis R. Proffitt, University of Virginia

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1-2001

Publication Title

Cognition

Abstract

Previous studies found that it is easier for observers to spatially update displays during imagined self-rotation versus array rotation. The present study examined whether either the physics of gravity or the geometric relationship between the viewer and array guided this self-rotation advantage. Experiments 1-3 preserved a real or imagined orthogonal relationship between the viewer and the array, requiring a rotation in the observer's transverse plane. Despite imagined self-rotations that defied gravity, a viewer advantage remained. Without this orthogonal relationship (Experiment 4), the viewer advantage was lost. We suggest that efficient transformation of the egocentric reference frame relies on the representation of body-environment relations that allow rotation around the observer's principal axis. This efficiency persists across different and conflicting physical and imagined postures. Copyright © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V.

Keywords

Geometry, Gravity, Imagined self-rotations, Spatial updating

Volume

81

Issue

1

First Page

41

Last Page

64

DOI

10.1016/S0010-0277(01)00118-4

ISSN

00100277

Comments

Archived as published.

Recommended Citation

Creem, Sarah H.; Wraga, Maryjane; and Proffitt, Dennis R., "Imagining Physically Impossible Self-Rotations: Geometry is More Important than Gravity" (2001). Psychology: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/psy_facpubs/129