A geometric process for spatial reorientation in young children. Hermer, L. & Spelke, E. S. Nature, 370(6484):57-9, 1994.
doi  abstract   bibtex   
Disoriented rats and non-human primates reorient themselves using geometrical features of the environment. In rats tested in environments with distinctive geometry, this ability is impervious to non-geometric information (such as colours and odours) marking important locations and used in other spatial tasks. Here we show that adults use both geometric and non-geometric information to reorient themselves, whereas young children, like mature rats, use only geometric information. These findings provide evidence that: (1) humans reorient in accord with the shape of the environment; (2) the young child's reorientation system is impervious to all but geometric information, even when non-geometric information is available and is re-presented by the child–such information should improve performance and is used in similar tasks by the oriented child; and (3) the limits of this process are overcome during human development.
@Article{Hermer1994,
  author   = {L. Hermer and E. S. Spelke},
  journal  = {Nature},
  title    = {A geometric process for spatial reorientation in young children.},
  year     = {1994},
  number   = {6484},
  pages    = {57-9},
  volume   = {370},
  abstract = {Disoriented rats and non-human primates reorient themselves using
	geometrical features of the environment. In rats tested in environments
	with distinctive geometry, this ability is impervious to non-geometric
	information (such as colours and odours) marking important locations
	and used in other spatial tasks. Here we show that adults use both
	geometric and non-geometric information to reorient themselves, whereas
	young children, like mature rats, use only geometric information.
	These findings provide evidence that: (1) humans reorient in accord
	with the shape of the environment; (2) the young child's reorientation
	system is impervious to all but geometric information, even when
	non-geometric information is available and is re-presented by the
	child--such information should improve performance and is used in
	similar tasks by the oriented child; and (3) the limits of this process
	are overcome during human development.},
  doi      = {10.1038/370057a0},
  keywords = {Adult, Animals, Child, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Orientation, Preschool, Rats, Space Perception, Spatial Behavior, 8015596},
}

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