Spatial representations derived from route and survey descriptions: similarities and differences

A number of studies showed that individual differences in wayfinding ability and spatial representation have a relevant influence on envi- ronmental learning. In these studies, visual inputs (such as navigation,map learning) were frequently used. We extended the analysis to learning of spatial descriptions from different perspectives, i.e. survey (from bird’s eye view) and route (from a person’s point of view). In several studies, we explored the impact that visuo-spatial abilities and cognitive styles in spatial representation have in the comprehension and memorization of survey and route descriptions. Results showed that spatial abilities, such as spatial visualization and mental rotation, predicted the recall of survey more than that of route descriptions. Further, groups with higher spatial abilities had a better perfor- mance—with respect to their lower counterparts—in the verification of inferential sentences and map drawing subsequent to learning of spatial texts. Overall, our results suggest that: (i) spatial cognitive abilities and spatial preferences differently sustain mental represen- tations derived from survey and route descriptions and (ii) spatial preferences have a central role in determining the characteristics of that representation.