Who We Are
The Spatial and Map Cognition Research Lab.
What We Do
Investigate spatial data acquisition, translation, understanding
and use.
Where We Do It
SMCRL is a part of the Department of Geography at the
University of Oregon - Eugene.
Welcome to the Spatial and Map Cognition Research Laboratory
- SMCRL -
The Spatial and Map Cognition Research Laboratory is housed in the Department of Geography at the University of Oregon. We are a research laboratory composed of students and faculty, under the direction of Dr. Amy Lobben. We engage in inter- and cross-disciplinary research in areas such as:
spatial data acquisition and use
spatial thinking
human-environmental interaction
map use
fMRI - functional magnetic resonance imaging
spatial and map task measurement
navigation
fMRI as a behavioral geography testing method
instrument assessment
tactile maps and mapping
neurological studies in spatial abilities and map use
visual search and visual variables
spatial memory
mental mapping
route planning
map 'phobia'
Research and methods include varied instrumentation (some created in the lab and some widely-used measures). We have developed a Flash-based test
delivery method that allows researchers to deliver testing instruments through the WWW and record and deliver subject responses directly
into an Access database. Most importantly, this delivery is flexible, allowing us (with reasonable ease) to change the instrument specifics,
but maintain the delivery and collection of data.
Please direct questions or inquiries to Amy Lobben, lobben at uoregon.edu
Research funding for various lab projects has been provided by:
National Eye Institute - National Institutes of Health
National Science Foundation - BCS-GRS
National Science Foundation - HRD-RDE
National Institute on Drug Abuse - National Institutes of Health
Department of Radiology - Michigan State University
Lewis Center for Neuro Imaging - University of Oregon
Please visit faculty and student project sections for more information on specific projects
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.