Effects of the visual experience on spatial updating of haptic scenes
Poster Presentation

Achille Pasqualotto
Trinity College Dublin

Fiona N. Newell
Trinity College Dublin

     Abstract ID Number: 116
     Full text: Not available
     Last modified: May 30, 2006
     Presentation date: 06/18/2006 4:00 PM in Hamilton Building, Foyer
     (View Schedule)

Abstract
In a previous study we reported that visual and haptic egocentric representations of scenes are updated with observer motion. Furthermore, our findings suggested that visual flow information plays an important role in updating both visual and haptic representations. To assess the role of visual flow, we tested haptic scene updating in persons who were congenitally or adventitiously blind. Specifically, our participants learned a configuration of novel objects through touch and scene recognition was subsequently tested. During testing, participants remained at the same position as learning or moved to a new position 60º away. The scene either remained in the same learning position or was rotated by 60º. The results showed that the adventitiously blind generally outperformed the congenitally blind group, suggesting a role of early visual experience in haptic scene perception. Furthermore, we found no evidence that the congenitally blind group could update the haptic representation of scenes with observer motion although adventitiously blind showed evidence of updating. These results suggest that the absence of visual experience interferes with scene updating, suggesting that early experience of visual flow mediates spatial updating. These findings may also suggest that congenital blindness impairs the integration of the cues arising from self-motion.