Doctoral Dissertation Research: Neurological Role of Cartographic Visual Contrast in Geospatial Cognition

博士论文研究：地图视觉对比在地理空间认知中的神经学作用

• 批准号: 2132412
• 负责人: Amy Lobben
• 金额: $ 2.95万
• 依托单位: University of Oregon Eugene
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2022-05-15 至 2023-10-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2132412&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Doctoral; Dissertation; Research; Neurological; Role

The use of maps is commonplace in many aspects of daily life given the widespread use of mobile devices for navigation and increased availability of geospatial data on web platforms. It is important to understand how to design maps that communicate information effectively and have high usability. This project studies how map design affects the ability to understand the spaces and places represented in maps via fMRI brain scanning – a method used to see responses in our brains while looking at maps. This project uses brain scanning to better observe and study how the design of maps affects the spatial decision-making process in our minds. Ultimately, the insight from this research has the potential to change how maps are designed and tailored for different applications. This project will contribute to training of graduate students in geospatial design and cognitive science.Map makers and researchers argue that cartographic visual contrast, the measure of how objects on a map stand out, is important for ensuring that maps are easily read and understood. However, there is no consensus on how to designing maps with good contrast. This matter is complicated by different interpretations of visual contrast in map design. This research uses neuroscientific understandings to reframe visual contrast theories by conducting a traditional map design interaction study coupled with an fMRI brain scanning experiment. Participants’ brain activities are observed while they complete map interaction tasks under different visual contrast conditions. Data are analyzed to identify the areas of the brain relevant for different map interaction tasks. The analysis searches for any potential mediating effects resulting from different map visual contrast conditions. The result of this research helps to modernize and anchor an important map design concept within current design science literature. This also research expands what we know about parts of the brain that are important for map interaction.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

鉴于移动设备导航的广泛使用以及网络平台上地理空间数据可用性的增加，了解如何设计能够有效传达信息并具有高可用性的地图非常重要。研究地图设计如何影响通过功能磁共振成像大脑扫描来理解地图中所表示的空间和地点的能力——一种用于在查看地图时查看大脑反应的方法。该项目使用大脑扫描来更好地观察和研究地图的设计。影响我们的空间决策过程最终，这项研究的见解有可能改变针对不同应用的地图设计和定制方式。该项目将有助于研究生地理空间设计和认知科学的培训。地图制作者和研究人员认为，制图视觉对比度，衡量地图上物体的突出程度对于确保地图易于阅读和理解非常重要，但是，由于对地图视觉对比度的不同解释，目前还没有达成共识。这项研究利用神经科学的理解来进行设计。通过进行传统的地图设计交互研究，结合功能磁共振成像大脑扫描实验，观察参与者在不同视觉对比条件下完成地图交互任务时的大脑活动，从而重新构建视觉对比理论。该分析寻找不同地图视觉对比条件产生的任何潜在中介效应，这项研究的结果有助于在当前的设计科学文献中实现重要的地图设计概念的现代化和锚定。对地图交互很重要的大脑部分。这个奖项通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，NSF 的法定使命被认为值得支持。