Influence of operator orientation on relative organizational mapping and spatial compatibility

Following up on a study by Worringham and Beringer (1989) that examined the influence of operator orientation on visual-motor performance, Experiment 1 employed a choice reaction time paradigm in which participants had to mak e rapid, discrete movements with a lever in response to a discrete stimulus . In Experiment 2, participants had to synchronize rhythmic movements with an oscillating visual display. Operator orientation with respect to stimulu s display and response array locations was varied to examine the influence of global spatial relations. Display orientation was varied to examine the influence of spatial configuration. Mapping rules were varied to examine th e effects of spatial mapping. In Experiment 1, the spatial mapping that yie lded faster responses was dependent upon the stimulus display-response arra y configuration and the global relation. Under a parallel configuration, pa rticipants appeared to code the spatial aspects of the stimulus display and response in a manner that was unaffected by the global spatial relation. U nder an orthogonal configuration, spatial mapping effects were dependent up on the global relation. In Experiment 2, the global spatial relation did no t have an impact on the uniformity of co-ordination under different configu ration or mapping conditions. Spatial configuration influenced whether or n ot differences between spatial mapping rules emerged. Together, the results speak to the relative nature of stimulus-response coding that underlie com patibility phenomena. In addition, the results have potential importance fo r the design of human-machine systems that allow flexibility in operator or ientation.