1993 Volume 11 Issue 2 Pages 75-86
Three experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of pattern structure upon the formation and transformation of spatial image. Mazes were presented on the CRT display controlled by a personal computer. Experiments consisted of Learning Phase and Test Phase. In Learning phase subjects explored a maze until they made no error in succession and they explored the rotated or symmetrically transformed maze pattern in Test Phase. In experiment 1, 11 undergraduate students participated as subjects and the factor of pattern structure (form of maze: factor of 'closure') was manipulated. Results in Learning phase implied that spatial image was more easily constructed for closed mazes than for non-closed ones. In Test phase it was more difficult to explore symmetrically transformed patterns (mirror images) than to explore rotated patterns. In experiment 2, both pattern structure (closure) and presentation of exploring cue were manipulated. Results implied that processing of pattern structure might be independent from that of frame of reference in processing spatial images. In experiment 3, the effect of disharmony of orientation in Test phase between visual information and motor action was examined. Effect of disharmony was recognized in visually transformed condition. Results of 3 experiments support the view that mental structure is used in the situation of spatio-temporal integration.
