Anne-Kathrin Bestgen

Grids in Topographic Maps Reduce Distortions in the Recall of Learned Object Locations

To date, it has been shown that cognitive map representations based on cartographic visualisations are systematically distorted. The grid is a traditional element of map graphics that has rarely been considered in research on perception-based spatial distortions. Grids do not only support the map reader in finding coordinates or locations of objects, they also provide a systematic structure for clustering visual map information (“spatial chunks”). The aim of this study was to examine whether different cartographic kinds of grids reduce spatial distortions and improve recall memory for object locations. Recall performance was measured as both the percentage of correctly recalled objects (hit rate) and the mean distance errors of correctly recalled objects (spatial accuracy). Different kinds of grids (continuous lines, dashed lines, crosses) were applied to topographic maps. These maps were also varied in their type of characteristic areas (LANDSCAPE) and different information layer compositions (DENSITY) to examine the effects of map complexity. The study involving 144 participants shows that all experimental cartographic factors (GRID, LANDSCAPE, DENSITY) improve recall performance and spatial accuracy of learned object locations. Overlaying a topographic map with a grid significantly reduces the mean distance errors of correctly recalled map objects. The paper includes a discussion of a square grids usefulness concerning object location memory, independent of whether the grid is clearly visible (continuous or dashed lines) or only indicated by crosses.

True-3D Accentuating of Grids and Streets in Urban Topographic Maps Enhances Human Object Location Memory

Cognitive representations of learned map information are subject to systematic distortion errors. Map elements that divide a map surface into regions, such as content-related linear symbols (e.g. streets, rivers, railway systems) or additional artificial layers (coordinate grids), provide an orientation pattern that can help users to reduce distortions in their mental representations. In recent years, the television industry has started to establish True-3D (autostereoscopic) displays as mass media. These modern displays make it possible to watch dynamic and static images including depth illusions without additional devices, such as 3D glasses. In these images, visual details can be distributed over different positions along the depth axis. Some empirical studies of vision research provided first evidence that 3D stereoscopic content attracts higher attention and is processed faster. So far, the impact of True-3D accentuating has not yet been explored concerning spatial memory tasks and cartography. This paper reports the results of two empirical studies that focus on investigations whether True-3D accentuating of artificial, regular overlaying line features (i.e. grids) and content-related, irregular line features (i.e. highways and main streets) in official urban topographic maps (scale 1/10,000) further improves human object location memory performance. The memory performance is measured as both the percentage of correctly recalled object locations (hit rate) and the mean distances of correctly recalled objects (spatial accuracy). It is shown that the True-3D accentuating of grids (depth offset: 5 cm) significantly enhances the spatial accuracy of recalled map object locations, whereas the True-3D emphasis of streets significantly improves the hit rate of recalled map object locations. These results show the potential of True-3D displays for an improvement of the cognitive representation of learned cartographic information.

Odor Emotional Quality Predicts Odor Identification

It is commonly agreed upon a strong link between emotion and olfaction. Odor-evoked memories are experienced as more emotional compared with verbal, visual, and tactile stimuli. Moreover, the emotional quality of odor cues increases memory performance, but contrary to this, odors are poor retrieval cues for verbal labels. To examine the relation between the emotional quality of an odor and its likelihood of identification, this study evaluates how normative emotion ratings based on the 3-dimensional affective space model (that includes valence, arousal, and dominance), using the Self-Assessment Manikin by Bradley and Lang (Bradley MM, Lang PJ. 1994. Measuring emotion: the Self-Assessment Manikin and the Semantic Differential. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry. 25(1):49-59.) and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (Watson D, Clark LA, Tellegen A. 1988. Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: the PANAS scales. J Pers Soc Psychol. 54(6):1063-1070.) predict the identification of odors in a multiple choice condition. The best fitting logistic regression model includes squared valence and dominance and thus, points to a significant role of specific emotional features of odors as a main clue for odor identification.

The Effects of Grid Line Separation in Topographic Maps for Object Location Memory

Research from the field of cognitive psychology provides evidence that cognitive representations of space based on maps or map-like sketches are subject to systematic distortion tendencies. These distortions influence the orientation capacity as they represent errors in spatial memory. Map grids are a traditional feature of map graphics that has rarely been considered in research on spatial distortions in cognitive maps. Grids traditionally assist the map reader in finding coordinates and objects, but they also provide a systematic and homogeneous structure for dividing up map information into smaller units supporting perception and spatial memory. In a previous study it was shown that grids improve object location memory. The aim of this study was to determine whether different sizes of grid cells have an effect on the quality of object location memory. Therefore, an empirical study including the test performances of 33 participants was carried out: the memory performance was measured as both the percentage of correctly recalled object locations (hit rate) and the mean distance errors of correctly recalled objects (spatial accuracy). Three different intervals of grid line spacing (Separation) were applied to topographic maps. These maps varied in their type of characteristic geographical areas, accompanied by three different levels of map complexity (Landscape). The results of this study show that both factors have an impact on object location memory in topographic maps. La recherche sur la psychologie cognitive démontre que les représentations cognitives de l’espace fondées sur des cartes ou des croquis ont tendance à faire l’objet de distorsion systématique. Ces distorsions influencent la capacité d’orientation puisqu’elles représentent des erreurs dans la mémoire spatiale. On a rarement tenu compte des grilles cartographiques, une caractéristique traditionnelle des représentations graphiques de cartes, lors des recherches sur les distorsions spatiales dans les cartes cognitives. Par tradition, les grilles aident le lecteur d’une carte à trouver les coordonnées et les objets, mais elles fournissent également une structure systématique et homogène qui permet de diviser les renseignements contenus sur une carte en de plus petites unités, facilitant ainsi la perception et la mémoire spatiale. Une étude réalisée antérieurement a démontré que les grilles améliorent la mémoire servant à localiser les objets; cet article décrit une expérience conçue pour déterminer si les différentes dimensions des cellules des grilles ont un effet sur la qualité de ce type de mémoire. Dans une étude empirique des performances réalisées par 33 participants à un test, la performance de la mémoire a été mesurée à la fois selon le pourcentage d’objets correctement localisés(taux de succès) et selon les erreurs de distance moyennes des objets correctement localisés(exactitude spatiale). Le test utilisait trois différents intervalles d’espacements des lignes des grilles (séparation), intervalles appliqués à des cartes topographiques de diverses régions géographiques selon trois différents niveaux de complexité cartographique (topographie). Les résultats ont révélé que les facteurs pour la séparation et la topographie ont tous deux des effets sur la mémoire servant à localiser les objets sur les cartes topographiques.

An extension of olfactometry methods: An expandable, fully automated, mobile, MRI-compatible olfactometer

BACKGROUND fMRI experiments on olfaction offer new insights into the complex, but in contrast to other sensory systems, less studied cognition of odors. To perform these experiments is still a challenge. NEW METHOD To address the challenge posed by MR settings, an olfactometer design is presented including specific improvements to the limited number of already existing olfactometers. Innovative features such as pneumatically controlled pinch valves, useable in the scanner and providing exact stimulus timing as well as a 3D-printed nasal mask inlet for common sleep laboratory masks that can be used for lateral divided stimulus presentation are introduced. To ensure a fully automated and mobile system, the use of a flexible and easily-adapted Matlab-Code and a portable adaptable container system are presented. RESULTS The functional efficiency of these features are proven by results of an fMRI study as well as testing temporal resolution and concentration stability with a mass spectrometer. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS The 24-channel olfactometer design presented here provides an inexpensive alternative to the currently available olfactometers including the achievement of fast onset times, lateral divided stimulus presentation and high flexibility and adaptability to different scientific questions. CONCLUSION The olfactometer design presented in this paper can be seen as a realistic and feasible solution to overcome the challenges of presenting olfactory stimuli within the MR setting.

Audiovisual communication of object-names improves the spatial accuracy of recalled object-locations in topographic maps

Knowing the correct location of a specific object learned from a (topographic) map is fundamental for orientation and navigation tasks. Spatial reference systems, such as coordinates or cardinal directions, are helpful tools for any geometric localization of positions that aims to be as exact as possible. Considering modern visualization techniques of multimedia cartography, map elements transferred through the auditory channel can be added easily. Audiovisual approaches have been discussed in the cartographic community for many years. However, the effectiveness of audiovisual map elements for map use has hardly been explored so far. Within an interdisciplinary (cartography-cognitive psychology) research project, it is examined whether map users remember object-locations better if they do not just read the corresponding place names, but also listen to them as voice recordings. This approach is based on the idea that learning object-identities influences learning object-locations, which is crucial for map-reading tasks. The results of an empirical study show that the additional auditory communication of object names not only improves memory for the names (object-identities), but also for the spatial accuracy of their corresponding object-locations. The audiovisual communication of semantic attribute information of a spatial object seems to improve the binding of object-identity and object-location, which enhances the spatial accuracy of object-location memory.

Preprocessing of emotional visual information in the human piriform cortex

This study examines the processing of visual information by the olfactory system in humans. Recent data point to the processing of visual stimuli by the piriform cortex, a region mainly known as part of the primary olfactory cortex. Moreover, the piriform cortex generates predictive templates of olfactory stimuli to facilitate olfactory processing. This study fills the gap relating to the question whether this region is also capable of preprocessing emotional visual information. To gain insight into the preprocessing and transfer of emotional visual information into olfactory processing, we recorded hemodynamic responses during affective priming using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Odors of different valence (pleasant, neutral and unpleasant) were primed by images of emotional facial expressions (happy, neutral and disgust). Our findings are the first to demonstrate that the piriform cortex preprocesses emotional visual information prior to any olfactory stimulation and that the emotional connotation of this preprocessing is subsequently transferred and integrated into an extended olfactory network for olfactory processing.

Exploiting Illusory Grid Lines for Object-Location Memory Performance in Urban Topographic Maps

In order to be successful in spatial orientation tasks, people need to recall locations and configurations of spatial objects from their memory. This understanding of geographic space often arises from experience with cartographic media representing topographic and topological information by graphic symbols. Learning spatial information from graphic media is influenced by different perception-based grouping effects distorting the accuracy of spatial object-positions and their relations. Such geometric inaccuracies can be softened by adding a grid layer, which regionalizes the map and can be used as an additional orientation pattern. This grid layer usually consists of solid lines and overlays semantic information. The present paper reports the results of two empirical studies on object-location memory (OLM) performance. In these studies, the amount of visual detail of the grid layer was reduced. By positioning the grid layer below specific urban topographic objects (study 1), the grid pattern was graphically interrupted. These interrupted grid lines were completed by cognitive completion mechanisms (illusory grid lines) described in the Gestalt principles of closure and continuation. The second experiment examined the maximum grid line gap that is closed by cognitive line completion and keeps an advantage for OLM (study 2).

Hexagonal map grids – an experimental study on the performance in memory of object locations

ABSTRACT In various every day contexts, maps are used as media supporting orientation, wayfinding, and navigation tasks. To create highly accurate and reliable maps, cartographers must be aware of cognitive effects that occur when people process map information. Interdisciplinary research from cognitive psychologists showed that map graphics lead to spatial distortions in human spatial memory. These distortions can influence human orientation capacities. Recently, it was discovered that grid structures overlaid on maps help to correct spatial distortions in cognitive representations of geographic space. Square grids chunk a map into smaller units (regions). They guide map-viewing behavior, and their regular structure helps map users to recall learned locations of objects more accurately. The effects caused by square grids may also occur when overlaying other common kinds of geometries, such as hexagonal structures. The effects of hexagonal grid structures on memory of object locations were investigated in this map-experimental study. The study design is based on a recall-memory-paradigm, an established method of experimental psychology to measure performance in memory. The results show that hexagonal grid patterns can improve the performance.

Lexical olfaction recruits olfactory orbitofrontal cortex in metaphorical and literal contexts

HighlightsNeural representation of lexical olfaction in metaphorical and literal language.Metaphorical and literal olfactory sentences recruit secondary olfactory cortex.No evidence of piriform cortex activation by olfactory sentences.No evidence of emotion network activation by olfactory metaphors.Modality‐specific areas contribute to the neural representation of lexical meaning. ABSTRACT The investigation of specific lexical categories has substantially contributed to advancing our knowledge on how meaning is neurally represented. One sensory domain that has received particularly little attention is olfaction. This study aims to investigate the neural representation of lexical olfaction. In an fMRI experiment, participants read olfactory metaphors, their literal paraphrases, and literal olfactory sentences. Regions of interest were defined by a functional localizer run of odor processing. We observed activation in secondary olfactory areas during metaphorical and literal olfactory processing, thus extending previous findings to the novel source domain of olfaction. Previously reported enhanced activation in emotion‐related areas due to metaphoricity could not be replicated. Finally, no primary olfactory cortex was found active during lexical olfaction processing. We suggest that this absence is due to olfactory hedonicity being crucial to understand the meaning of the current olfactory expressions. Consequently, the processing of olfactory hedonicity recruits secondary olfactory areas.