Preexposure effects in spatial learning: From gestaltic to associative and attentional cognitive maps

• Main Authors: Edward S. Redhead, José Prados
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sciendo 2002-01-01
• Series: Psicológica
• Online Access: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=16923104

In this paper a series of studies and theoretical proposals about how
 preexposure to environmental cues affects subsequent spatial learning are
 reviewed. Traditionally, spatial learning had been thought to depend on
 gestaltic non-associative processes, and well established phenomena such as
 latent learning or instantaneous transfer have been taken to provide evidence
 for this sort of cognitive mapping. However, reviewing the literature
 examining these effects reveals that there is no need to advocate for gestaltic
 processes since standard associative learning theory provides an adequate
 framework for accounting for navigation skills. Recent studies reveal that
 attentional processes play a role in spatial learning. The need for an
 integrated attentional and associative approach to explain spatial learning is
 discussed.