McNamara, T. P. (1986) Mental representations of spatial relations. Cognitive Psychology 18. 87--121.

@Article{,
  author = 	 {Timothy P. McNamara},
  title = 	 {Mental representations of spatial relations},
  journal = 	 {Cognitive Psychology},
  year = 	 {1986},
  OPTvolume = 	 {18},
  OPTpages = 	 {87--121},
}

Author of the summary: Jim Davies, 2001, jim@jimdavies.org

Cite this paper for:

• Use of spatial knowledge is fundamental for any complete theory of mental functioning. [88]
• cognitive map definition [91]
• locations in the same regions prime each other more than those in different regions, controlling for distance. [107]

• Form: analog/propositional
• Function: for configuration knowledge/ for semantic knowledge
• Structure: Hierarchical/Partially Hierarchical/Non-hierarchical
• Contents: distances/exact locations (processing/KR tradeoff)

Hierarchical theories: Increasingly more detailed info at lower levels. You can zoom in. Partially hierarchical theories have a hierarchy but can have connections crossing superordinates. [90]

As in Tolman (1948), who coined "cognitive map," it's not necessarily a map, but any mental representation of spatial knowledge. [91]

McNamara et al (1984): Ss recognizsed target cities faster when it was primed by a city close in route distance, even controlling for euclidean distance. [93]

Assumptions: [95]

• retrieval is automatic, based on spreading activation.
• activation is inversely proportional to distance to probe.
• retrieval time is related to activation. More activation means faster retrieval.

Summary author's notes:

• none