Cognitive mapping, in the words of Downs (geography, Pennsylvania State U.) and Stea (geography and planning, Southwest Texas State U.), "is a construct which encompasses those cognitive processes which enable people to acquire, code, store, recall, and manipulate information about the nature of their spatial environment." Intending the volume as an integrated introduction to the field of cognitive mapping, they present 19 solicited contributions that discuss overall theory, various aspects of cognitive representations of spatial environments, the development of spatial cognition, geographical and spatial orientation, and cognitive concepts of distance. As the paperbound edition of a work first published in 1973, the volume's emphasis on the review of the contemporary literature means that the collection may also serve as a snapshot of the state of the field 30 years ago. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR More Reviews and Recommendations

Tags: image and environment