Reference frames are constructs that define the space between the two objects being spatially related. For example, in the sentence, “The coffee cup is below the coffee pot.”, we are interested in defining the space that corresponds to “below the coffee pot”, where coffee pot is considered the reference object.  The coffee mug is considered the located object.  Reference frames define this space by assigning values to a set of parameters that work together to configure the relevant space.  These parameters include the origin, distance, direction/orientation and spatial template.

Origin: The origin is the point on the reference object at which the reference frame is imposed. The critical question about origin involves determining which factors set its location - for example, geometric, functional.

Distance: The distance is the scale assigned to space between the reference object and the target. The critical question about distance involves identifying the units of measure, whether they are uniformly applied across the space and determining the factors that set this value.

Direction/Orientation: The direction/orientation specify which region of space around the reference object is of interest. “Below the coffee pot” could be defined on the basis of different sources of information (the coffee pot itself (more generally, intrinsic), the perspective of the viewer (more generally, relative) or environmentally (closer to the floor, for example) (more generally, absolute).  The critical questions about orientation/direction are determining whether they are separate parameters or whether they are hierarchically related; assessing which source of information is used to set these values across contexts and tasks, and identifying the process by which a given source is selected.

Spatial Template: The spatial template is the region that is circumscribed by the other parameters, and refers to the idea that spatial terms pick out more than just a single location in space. The critical question about spatial templates is identifying their size and shape, and determining which factors impact these settings.

RELEVANT PAPERS:

Carlson, L. A. & Hill, P. L. (in press).  Processing the presence, placement and properties of a distractor during spatial language tasks.  Memory & Cognition.

Carlson, L. A. & *Van Deman, S. (in press).  Inhibition within a reference frame during the interpretation of spatial language.  Cognition.

*Ashley, A. & Carlson, L. (in press).  Interpreting proximity terms involves computing distance and direction. Language and Cognitive Processes.

Carlson, L. A, Regier, T., †Lopez, B. & Corrigan, B. (2006).  Attention unites form and function in spatial language. Spatial Cognition and Computation, 6, 295-308.

Carlson, L. A. & †Kenny, R. (2006). Interpreting spatial terms involves simulating interactions. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 13, 682-688.

Carlson, L. A. & *Covey, E. S. (2005).  How far is near? Inferring distance from spatial descriptions. Language and Cognitive Processes, 20, 617-632.

Carlson, L. A. & *van Deman, S. (2004).  The space in spatial language.  Journal of Memory and Language, 51(3), 418-436.

Carlson, L. A. (2003).  Using spatial language.  Psychology of Learning and Motivation, 43, 127-161.

Carlson, L. A., West, R., Taylor, H. A., & †Herndon, R. (2002).    Neural correlates of spatial term use.  Journal of Experimental Psychology:  Human Perception and Performance, 28, 1391-1408.

Carlson, L. A. & Logan, G. D.  (2001).  Using spatial terms to select an object.  Memory & Cognition, 29, 883-892.

Regier, T. & Carlson, L. A. (2001).  Grounding spatial language in perception: An empirical and computational investigation.  Journal of Experimental Psychology:  General, 130, 273-298.  Order of authorship is arbitrary.

Carlson-Radvansky, L. A., & *Tang, Z. (2000).  Functional influences on orienting a reference frame.  Memory & Cognition, 28, 812-820.

Carlson, L. A. (1999). Selecting a reference frame.  Spatial Cognition and Computation, 1, 365-379.

Carlson-Radvansky, L. A., *Covey, E. S., & †Lattanzi, K. M.  (1999). "What" effects on "where":  Functional influences on spatial relations. Psychological Science, 10, 516-521.

Carlson-Radvansky, L. A. & *Jiang, Y. (1998). Inhibition accompanies reference frame selection.  Psychological Science, 9, 386-391.

Carlson-Radvansky, L. A., & Logan, G. D.  (1997). The influence of reference frame selection on spatial template construction. Journal of Memory and Language, 37, 411-437.

Carlson-Radvansky, L. A. & Radvansky, G. A. (1996).  The influence of functional relations on spatial term selection.  Psychological Science, 7, 56-60.

Carlson-Radvansky, L. A., & Irwin, D. E. (1995).  Memory for structural information across eye movements.  Journal of Experimental Psychology:  Learning, Memory and Cognition, 21, 1441-1458.

Carlson-Radvansky, L. A., & Irwin, D. E. (1994).  Reference frame activation during spatial term assignment.  Journal of Memory and Language, 33, 646-671.

Carlson-Radvansky, L. & Irwin, D. E. (1993).  Frames of reference in vision and language:  Where is above?  Cognition, 46, 223-244.