Spatial Perception, Action, and Memory Lab John P. Spencer, Principal Investigator

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Lipinski, J., Schneegans, S., Sandamirskaya, Y., Spencer, J.P., & Schöner, G. (in press). A Neuro-Behavioral Model of Flexible Spatial Language Behaviors. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory & Cognition.

Spencer, J.P. & Buss, A.T. (in press). Finding a way out: Why developmental science does not need another 'ism'. Child Development Perspectives.

Spencer, J.P., Perone, S. & Buss, A.T. (in press). Twenty years and going strong: A dynamic systems revolution in motor and cognitive development. Child Development Perspectives.

Simmering, V.R., Triesch, J., Deák, G.O. & Spencer, J.P. (in press). To model or not to model? A dialogue on the role of computational modeling in developmental science. Child Development Perspectives.

Lipinski, J., Spencer, J.P. & Samuelson, L.K. (2010). Biased feedback in spatial recall yields a violation of delta rule learning. Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, 17, 581-588. [PDF]

Lipinski, J., Spencer, J.P. & Samuelson, L.K. (2010). Corresponding delay-dependent biases in spatial language and spatial memory. Psychological Research, 74, 337-351. [PDF]

Schutte, A.R. & Spencer, J.P. (2010). Filling the gap on developmental change: Tests of a dynamic field theory of spatial cognition. Journal of Cognition and Development, 11, 1-27. [PDF]

Lipinski, J., Simmering, V.R., Johnson, J.S. & Spencer, J.P. (2010). The role of experience in location estimation: Target distributions shift location memory biases. Cognition, 115, 147-153. [PDF]

Lipinski, J., Spencer, J.P., & Samuelson, L.K. (2010). It's in the eye of the beholder: Spatial language and spatial memory use the same perceptual reference frames. In L. Smith, M. Gasser, & K. Mix (Eds) The spatial foundations of language. Oxford University Press [PDF]

Schutte, A.R. & Spencer, J.P. (2009). Tests of the dynamic field theory and the spatial precision hypothesis: Capturing a qualitative developmental transition in spatial working memory. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 35, 1698-1725. [PDF]

Spencer, J.P., Dineva, E. & Smith, L.B. (2009). Comment on "Infants' Perseverative Search Errors Are Induced by Pragmatic Misinterpretation". Science, 325, 1624-a. [PDF]

Johnson, J.S., Spencer, J.P., & Schöner, G. (2009). A layered neural architecture for the consolidation, maintenance, and updating of representations in visual working memory. Brain Research, 1299, 17-32. [PDF]

Spencer, J.P., Blumberg, M.S., McMurray, B., Robinson, S.R., Samuelson, L.K., & Tomblin, J.B. (2009). Short arms and talking eggs: Why we should no longer abide the nativist-empiricist debate. Child Development Perspectives, 3, 79-87. [PDF]

Spencer, J.P., Samuelson, L.K., Blumberg, M.S., McMurray, B., Robinson, S.R., & Tomblin, J.B. (2009). Seeing the world through a third eye: Developmental systems theory looks beyond the nativist-empiricist debate. Child Development Perspectives, 3, 103-105. [PDF]

Perry, L.K., Samuelson, L.K., & Spencer, J.P. (2009). Aligning body and world: Stable reference frames improve young children's search for hidden objects. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 102, 445-455. [PDF]

Johnson, J.S., Spencer, J.P., Luck, S.J., & Schöner, G. (2009). A dynamic neural field model of visual working memory and change detection. Psychological Science, 20, 568-577. [PDF]

Spencer, J.P., Dineva, E., & Schöner, G. (2009). Moving toward a unified theory while valuing the importance of the initial conditions. In J.P. Spencer, M.S. Thomas, & J.L. McClelland (Eds.) Toward a Unified Theory of Development: Connectionism and Dynamic Systems Theory Re-Considered. New York: Oxford University Press.

Spencer, J.P., Perone, S., & Johnson, J.S. (2009). The dynamic field theory and embodied cognitive dynamics. In J.P. Spencer, M.S. Thomas, & J.L. McClelland (Eds.) Toward a Unified Theory of Development: Connectionism and Dynamic Systems Theory Re-Considered. New York: Oxford University Press. [PDF]

Spencer, J.P., Thomas, M.S., & McClelland, J.L. (Eds.) (2009). Toward a Unified Theory of Development: Connectionism and Dynamic Systems Theory Re-Considered. New York: Oxford University Press.

Spencer, J.P. & Perone, S. (2008). Defending qualitative change: The view from dynamical systems theory. Child Development, 79, 1639-1647. [PDF]

Simmering, V. (2008). Developing a Magic Number: The Dynamic Field Theory Reveals Why Visual Working Memory Capacity Estimates Differ Across Tasks and Development. Unpublished doctoral thesis.

Johnson, J.S., Spencer, J.P., & Schöner, G. (2008). Moving to higher ground: The dynamic field theory and the dynamics of visual cognition. In F. Garzón, A. Laakso, & T. Gomila (Eds.) Dynamics and Psychology [special issue]. New Ideas in Psychology, 26, 227-251. [PDF]

Simmering, V.R. & Spencer, J.P. (2008). Generality with specificity: The dynamic field theory generalizes across tasks and time scales. Developmental Science, 11, 541-555. [PDF]

Simmering, V.R., Schutte, A.R., & Spencer, J.P. (2008). Generalizing the dynamic field theory of spatial working memory across real and developmental time scales. In S. Becker (Ed.) Computational Cognitive Neuroscience [special issue]. Brain Research, 1202, 68-86. [PDF]

Simmering, V.R., Peterson, C., Darling, W. & Spencer, J.P. (2008). Location memory biases reveal the challenges of coordinating visual and kinesthetic reference frames. Experimental Brain Research, 184, 165-178. [PDF]

Feng, J., Spencer, J.P., Schöner, G., & Thelen, E. (2007). A novel technology for investigating the A-not-B error. Behavior Research Methods, 39, 911-919.

Johnson, J., Liu, L., Thomas, G., & Spencer, J.P. (2007). Calibration algorithm for eye tracking with unrestricted head movement. Behavior Research Methods, 39, 123-132. [PDF]

Simmering, V.R. & Spencer, J.P. (2007). Carving up space at imaginary joints: Can people mentally impose spatial category boundaries? Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 33, 871-894. [PDF]

Schutte, A.R. & Spencer, J.P. (2007). Planning discrete movements using a continuous system: Insights from a dynamic field theory of movement preparation. Motor Control, 11, 166-208. PDF]

Spencer, J.P., Simmering, V.R., Schutte, A.R., & Schöner, G. (2007). What does theoretical neuroscience have to offer the study of behavioral development? Insights from a dynamic field theory of spatial cognition. In J. Plumert & J.P. Spencer (Eds) The Emerging Spatial Mind (p. 320-361). Oxford University Press. [PDF]

Spencer, J.P. & Plumert, J.M. (2007). What makes thinking about development so hard? In J. Plumert & J.P. Spencer (Eds) The Emerging Spatial Mind (p. 375-386). Oxford University Press.

Plumert, J.M. & Spencer, J.P. (Eds.) (2007). The Emerging Spatial Mind. New York: Oxford University Press.

Simmering, V.R., Spencer, J.P., & Schöner, G. (2006). Reference-related inhibition produces enhanced position discrimination and fast repulsion near axes of symmetry. Perception and Psychophysics, 63, 1027-1046. [PDF]

Spencer, J.P., Clearfield, M., Corbetta, D., Ulrich, B., Buchanan, P., & Schöner, G. (2006). Moving toward a grand theory of development: In memory of Esther Thelen. Child Development, 77, 1521-1538. [PDF]

Spencer, J.P., Simmering, V.R., Schutte, A.R. (2006). Toward a formal theory of flexible spatial behavior: Geometric category biases generalize across pointing and verbal response types. [PDF]

Spencer, J.P. & Schutte, A.R. (2004). Unifying representations and responses: Perseverative biases arise from a single behavioral system. Psychological Science, 15, 187-193. [PDF]

Hund, A.M. & Spencer, J.P. (2003). Developmental changes in the relative weighting of gemoetric and experience-dependent location cues. Journal of Cognition and Development, 4, 3-38. [PDF]

Schutte, A.R., Spencer, J.P., & Schöner, G. (2003). Testing the dynamic field theory: Working memory for locations becomes more spatially precise over development. Child Development, 74, 1393-1417. [PDF]

Spencer, J.P. & Hund, A.M. (2003). Developmental continuity in the processes that underlie spatial recall. Cognitive Psychology, 47, 432-480. [PDF]

Spencer, J.P. & Schöner, G. (2003). Bridging the representational gap in the dynamic systems approach to development. Developmental Science, 6, 392-412. [PDF]

Spencer, J.P. & Thelen, E. (2003). Introduction to the special issue: Why this question and why now? Developmental Science, 6, 375-377. [PDF]

Spencer, J.P. & Thelen, E. (Eds.) (2003). Connectionism and dynamic systems theory: Are these really different approaches to development? [Special issue]. Developmental Science, 7, 375-447.

Schutte, A.R. & Spencer, J.P. (2002). Generalizing the dynamic field theory of the A-not-B error beyond infancy: Three-year-olds' delay- and experience-dependent location memory biases. Child Development, 73, 377-404. [PDF]

Spencer, J.P. & Hund, A.M. (2002). Prototypes and particulars: Spatial categories are formed using geometric and experience-dependent information. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 131, 16-37 [PDF]

Schutte, A.R. & Spencer, J.P. (2002). Generalizing the dynamic field theory of the A-not-B error beyond infancy: Three-year-olds' delay- and experience-dependent location memory biases. Child Development, 73, 377-404 [PDF]

Spencer, J.P. (2001). The essence of cognitive development. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 24, 62-63

Spencer, J.P., Smith, L.B., & Thelen, E. (2001). Tests of a dynamic systems account of the A-not-B error: The influence of prior experience on the spatial memory abilities of 2-year-olds. Child Development, 72, 1327-1346 [PDF]

Spencer, J.P. & Thelen, E. (2000). Spatially-specific changes in infants' muscle coactivity as they learn to reach. Infancy, 1, 275-302. [PDF]

Spencer, J.P., Vereijken, B., Diedrich, F.J., & Thelen, E. (2000). Posture and the emergence of manual skills. Developmental Science, 3, 216-233. [PDF]

Spencer, J.P. & Thelen, E. (1999). A multi-muscle state analysis of adult motor learning. Experimental Brain Research, 128, 505-516. [PDF]

Thelen, E. & Spencer, J.P. (1998). Postural control during reaching in young infants: A dynamic systems approach. Neuroscience and BioBehavioral Reviews, 22, 507-514. [PDF]

Thelen, E., Corbetta, D., & Spencer, J.P. (1996). The development of reaching during the first year: The role of movement speed. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 22, 1059-1076. [PDF]

Thelen, E., Corbetta, D., Kamm, K., Spencer, J.P., Schneider, K., & Zernicke, R.F. (1993). The transition to reaching: Mapping intention and intrinsic dynamics. Child Development, 64, 1058-1098. [PDF]