A computational model of spatial imagery based on object-centered scene representation

Abstract

The hippocampus maintains the memory of object-place associations and also produces the ability of a scene expectation at a novel viewpoint. To implement such capabilities, an objects' distances and directions should be integrated as an allocentric space memory, while its neural dynamics have not been discussed. In this paper, we propose an object-centered scene representation as a component on object-place memory in the hippocampus. By using the representation, an object's distance and direction at the imagery viewpoint can be calculated as the difference between object-centered and imagery scenes. Moreover, the object-centered scene is applicable for the object-place memory retrieval at the novel location. It is suggested that the object-centered scene representation mediates between egocentric and allocentric space representation and supports the spatial imagery at the voluntary viewpoint. © 2009 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.