Modeling Spatial Abstraction during Mental Rotation
نویسندگان
چکیده
We present a computational model of mental rotation and shape comparison. The model posits that spatial abstraction, in which spatial details are removed to simplify a representation, is a key skill underlying spatial ability. Shapes are represented as collections of two-dimensional parts, and abstraction is applied by merging parts or ignoring certain part features. Using the model, we simulate a classic mental rotation experiment, demonstrating how abstraction explains the study’s key finding. Finally, we compare the part-based approach to a previous edge-based approach, demonstrating that the current approach better explains human shape comparisons.
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