Mental representations of perspective and spatial relations from diagrams and models

In previous research (D. J. Bryant, B. Tversky, & N. Franklin, 1992; N. Fra nklin & B. Tversky, 1990), the authors showed that spatial knowledge convey ed by descriptions and direct experience induces participants to take the p erspective of a character surrounded by objects. In this study, the authors used models and diagrams to convey the same information. With models, as w ith descriptions and experience, participants adopted the character's persp ective (the spatial framework analysis). With diagrams, participants took a n outside perspective (the intrinsic computation analysis). Even when infor mationally equivalent, different depictions made salient different aspects of the world. When instructed, however, participants were able to take eith er the inside or the outside perspective in memory for both diagrams and mo dels. Depth cues in depictions also govern participants' perspective. When diagrams contained rich pictorial depth cues, participants used the spatial framework analysis, and when models were viewed without access to depth cu es, participants relied on the intrinsic computation analysis.