Representation of locomotor space by the blind

Abstract

Representation of locomotor space by early- and late-blind subjects and by blindfolded sighted subjects was studied within a perimeter where the direction and distance of landmarks had to be located. Subjects were guided along routes to be explored, both with and without the use of an ultrasonic echolocating prosthesis that enabled object localization. Without the prosthesis, early-blind subjects' performance was worse than that of visually experienced subjects, both in direction and in distance assessments. With the help of the prosthesis, early- and late-blind subjects' performance improved, especially in distance assessments; late-blinds' performance remained better than that of early-blinds. These results suggest that early-blinds' spatial representation would be the most impaired on routes requiring the mastering of euclidean concepts. © 1987 Psychonomic Society, Inc.