Pseudoneglect (PN) reveals a contralateral bias in the deployment of visuospatial attention by the dominant (right) hemisphere. The magnitude of PN is phasically modulated by transient exogenous visual cues which automatically recruit attention to cued locations. Optimal cue-line onset asynchrony (SOA), cue-contrast of this cueing effect and the relative effectiveness of cue locations relative to line endpoints are unknown. Similarly, the direction of line scanning modulates the tonic bias, although the origin of this modulation is unknown. The present experiments aim at informing theories about visuospatial attention as well as some neurological conditions such as hemispatial neglect. Four experiments were conducted where observers performed a tachistoscopic visual line bisection task. In experiments 1-3, pretransected lines were preceded by peripheral cues delivered to the left and right line ends at a variety of (1) stimulus onset asynchronies (SOAs), (2) contrasts and (3) horizontal positions relative to the line endpoints. Experiment 4 used a tachistoscopic line bisection protocol to manipulate the type (saccadic, smooth pursuit) and direction (leftward, rightward) of attentional scanning, executed with or without eye movements (overt, covert) while performing eye-tracking. Experiment 1 demonstrated early attentional capture with optimal cue-line SOA of 60 ms. Experiment 2 demonstrated that cue contrasts below 12% were ineffective in modulating perceived midpoint and the maximal effect occurred for cues of 100% contrast. Experiment 3 demonstrated modulation of the spatial error resulting from cues at all locations except the one lying completely beyond the line endpoints. Experiment 4 showed that leftward scanning resulted in leftward error and rightward scanning resulted in rightward error. Smooth pursuit scanning was more potent than saccadic scanning. Overt scanning was more potent than covert scanning and overall the strongest effects were found in leftward overt smooth pursuit scanning. Results from the cueing experiments suggest that the mechanisms subserving exogenous attentional capture in line bisection are fast, predominantly parvocellular-mediated and exert their effects at least partially in an object-referenced coordinate system. Experiment 4 suggests attentional magnification of the left line halve where visuospatial attention is deployed asymmetrically ahead of a scanned target.

<p>Intra urban consumer spatial behavior is investigated at three scales of analysis. A stepwise compilation of the regression model is used to explain variation in both distance and frequency measures at these scales. Changes in the importance of the variables between scales are noted together with changes from one area to another at the same scale of analysis. Residuals from the regression models are investigated to find the strength of locational differentials among the population in explaining consumer spatial behavior at the three scales of analysis.</p> / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA)

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 2008. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the World Wide Web.

No description available.

This experiment examined the relationship between a subject's ability to manipulate spatial relationships and utilize mental practice in the mirror drawing ability of 45 naive volunteer college students, using a six-pointed star track. The spatial manipulation abilities of all subjects were assessed with the Minnesota Paper Form Board Test, after which the subjects were divided into three treatment groups (no practice, mental practice, and physical practice) of 15 subjects using a blocked random design based upon their MPFBT scores. All three groups were trained in the mirror drawing task and given three physical practice pre-trials for familiarization. The physical practice group (PP) was given six, 80-second physical practice trials with a 40-second interpolated rest/reading period during which they read from a standardized poetry text. The mental practice group (MP) was given six, 80-second mental practice trials with the same 40- second interpolated rest/reading period, and the no practice group (NP) was allowed to read from the standardized text for an equal amount of time. Following administration of the treatment conditions, all subjects were given three physical practice post-trials in the mirror drawing task. The mean of pre-trials two and three were subtracted from the mean of the three post-trials to obtain an improvement score. The subjects' scores on the MPFBT were compared to their improvement scores using the Spearman Rank-Order Correlation (rho) test, but there was no significant correlation between the two abilities.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1989.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Auburn University, 2008. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 79-81).

When different development rates for psychological processes such as those in spatial memory exist, they can be linked to relevant brain areas via their different developmental rates. The hippocampus and caudate nucleus have been implicated in allocentric and egocentric spatial behavior changes found in youth and old age. Variation in allocentric and egocentric behavior in squirrel monkeys due to age was examined using a quadruple T-maze and animals in three age groups: 0.3 - 4 year olds, (n = 12), 5 - 10 year olds (n=12) and 11 - 17 year olds (n = 12). Subjects were trained to go to one of three goals in the maze from one of two training release locations. When they reached criterion for consistent responding, they were given probe trials pseudorandomly interspersed with the training trials in which they were released from one of the three other locations. The 12 test sessions were divided into three phases consisting of four sessions each. A 3 (age groups) x 3 (probe sites) x 3 (phases) mixed design ANOVA with repeated measures on the second and third factors revealed only a significant effect for probe site (F(1,33) = 14.55, p < .01) sing the Geisser-Greenhouse correction for heterogeneity of variance. The pattern of responding most clearly resembled route and was stable over testing. Age was not significant although there was a trend toward random behavior in young and more route-like behavior in older animals. Intrinsic maze cues effects on responding were examined. These data were analyzed using a 3 (age groups) x 2 (training groups) x 3 (probe sites) mixed design ANOVA with repeated measures on the last factor, and again revealed only a significant probe site effect (F(1,33) = 14.55, p < .01). Thus cues intrinsic to the maze did not affect response pattern. Only 13 subjects clearly used one of the three spatial strategies: 6 route, 3 direction, and 4 place. Of the remaining 23 animals 11 were young, 5 were adult and 7 were mature. Two used a variation of place, three used a combination of strategies, four were idiosyncratic, 10 used proto-route (route-like, but not systematic enough to be route) and three were random. The use of place strategy by animals as young as 4 and as old as approximately 17 implicates hippocampal changes occurring outside this age range.

This thesis is a critical inquiry about the spatial relationships between occupancy and the physical structure of squares and parks in city centres. It focuses on usability and the spatial capacity of places, from two different angles. Firstly, it discusses the actual uses mapped in places, using repeated observation on different days, times and weather conditions. This results in empirical knowledge about dimensions and spatial requirements, especially for some long-stay active uses, such as ball games in parks and skateboarding in squares, and how long-stay passive uses, such as sitting, might relate to them, as well as how transitory activities relate to both long-stay engagements. In addition, it illustrates how some activities can be contiguous, while some others require 'buffer' zones between them for effective use. Secondly, this thesis addresses uses imagined in parks and squares by urban landscape designers, using two approaches: mapping out likely uses in detailed maps of selected places, and revealing a physical structure of a particular place by knowing its behavioural patterns. On this basis, this thesis examines designers' tacit knowledge about the usage-spatial relationship and, highlights potential applicability, the role and value of empirically gained knowledge in the design of parks and squares. It shows that designers' beliefs and awareness about uses in places, in some aspects, differ from actual use. From this point of view, it reveals a need for effective design-research integration and stresses the importance of empirical knowledge and its incorporation in design. The thesis promotes GIS as a successful practical tool to build, develop and maintain a body of empirical knowledge using interactive GIS maps as its scripts. Concerning the implementation of such knowledge in urban public open space design, operationally, a visualisation of research findings and its related concerns to decision-making, evaluation and management, is of key importance.