Individual Differences in Handedness Effects on Categorical versus Coordinate Spatial Processing
Abstract
The objective of this proposal is to determine a classification scheme best predictive of performance on categorical and coordinate spatial processing tasks as a function of individual differences in handedness. Tasking to achieve the objectives of the proposal include an effort to determine differences in categorical and coordinate spatial processing ability as a function of individual differences in handedness in human subjects. Using 3-dimensional ecologically valid stimuli, with full field of view and relevance for military applications, subjects will be tested with a battery of psychometric tests to determine their hand-use preference. Subjects will be classified into one of three handedness categories and will then perform several phases of learning/navigation in a virtual environment. In the proposed classification scheme, handedness can be conceptualized as a continuum incorporating both direction and degree of hand preference. Recent research by the proposer indicates important differences in cognitive performance between subjects using the proposed classification scheme, suggesting that this conceptualization of handedness may allow for increased precision in investigations of handedness, brain organization, and behavior relationships. During a learning phase, participants will navigate through a 3-dimensional, urban virtual environment. In this landmark-to-landmark learning task, participants will be instructed to navigate between successive landmarks. During the categorical testing phase participants are asked to make cardinal direction judgments between landmarks or are asked to indicate which overall environmental quadrant particular landmarks fall into. These measures are categorical in that they require information to be categorized regardless of exact metric distance. During the coordinate testing phase, the participant is ÔplacedÕ back into the environment at particular locations and shown the general direction of an occluded target landmark. Participants will be asked to estimate how far away the landmark is in that direction. Such a measure is coordinate in nature in that it requires estimation of metric information.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 12, 2017
- Source ID
- W911NF1610313
Entities
People
- Ruth Propper
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Montclair State University
- United States Army