Fig 1.
Overview of maps used as experimental stimuli.
The six urban maps used as test materials. Each map (scale used in the experiment: 1:10,000) is derived from ATKIS®-Basis-DLM (data source: Geobasis NRW 2016). The maps represent rural topographies in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany (see place names below the maps). The distinct objects (DOs) of each map are determined as a quantifying measure of map complexity. The average number of DOs and the object density (average DOs/600 cm2) are additionally determined.
Fig 2.
Activating the voice recordings of the place names in the audiovisual condition.
The figure shows how the auditory map elements can be activated in the encoding phase of the test trials. The cursor is used to navigate to the circular symbols representing the object-locations. After clicking on the circles, the recordings of the place names are played. Repetitions are allowed.
Fig 3.
Differences of hit rate (names)–visual vs. audiovisual.
Hit rate refers to the mean percentages of correctly recalled object-names (in %). * = p < .05.
Fig 4.
Spatial accuracy for audiovisual and visual conditions with correct and incorrect naming.
Spatial accuracy refers to the mean distance errors of correctly recalled object-locations (in px). The recall of an object-location was regarded as correct if the recalled location was within a linear distance of 0–35.5 px (0–1 cm) from the location of the object to be learned.
Fig 5.
Schematic sketch of how object-location memory may be enhanced by audiovisual communication.