Selection of Spatial Reference Directions Prior to Seeing Objects

Three experiments examined the temporal characteristics in selection of a spatial reference direction. Participants learned a layout of objects presented sequentially in a random order. An array of disks with a symmetric axis different from participants’ learning viewpoint was presented before, during, or after learning objects’ locations. The results showed that the symmetric axis determined selection of a spatial reference direction when participants perceived the disk array before or during, but not after, learning the objects’ locations. These results indicated that participants selected a reference direction prior to seeing objects.