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On Egocentric and Allocentric Maps

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Spatial Cognition IX (Spatial Cognition 2014)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNAI,volume 8684))

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Abstract

The question as to whether spatial information is coded using an egocentric or an allocentric frame of reference has led to three prominent but competing models of spatial cognition being proposed. In this paper, these models are reviewed on theoretical rather than empirical grounds and are shown to be similar. While using these two different frames of reference produce equivalent maps, the action guiding property of egocentric maps means that these maps are best computed at the perceptual-motor level and the ease of updating an allocentric map means that these maps are best computed for representing the larger environment. However, the latter is simply too empowering and is not suitable as a “map in the head”. Based on a recent computational theory of perceptual mapping, we suggest an alternative – an allocentric trace of local environments visited rather than an allocentric map of the physical environment itself. Such a trace is egocentric and transient and has both a spatial and a temporal aspect. It provides a rich input that will allow different species to learn a different enduring representation of its environment, each tailored to their own needs for survival.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for AI Research, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand

    Wai Kiang Yeap

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  1. Wai Kiang Yeap
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Universität Bremen, Enrique-Schmidt-Str. 5, 28359, Bremen, Germany

    Christian Freksa  & Thomas Barkowsky  & 

  2. Department of Computer Science, Universität Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 52, 79110, Freiburg, Germany

    Bernhard Nebel

  3. University of California, 93106, Santa Barbara, CA, USA

    Mary Hegarty

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Yeap, W.K. (2014). On Egocentric and Allocentric Maps. In: Freksa, C., Nebel, B., Hegarty, M., Barkowsky, T. (eds) Spatial Cognition IX. Spatial Cognition 2014. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 8684. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-11215-2_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-11215-2_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-11214-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-11215-2

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

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