Relating allocentric and egocentric survey-based representations to the self-reported use of a navigation strategy of egocentric spatial updating

•Examined real-world route learning using sketchmaps, visuospatial tasks, and surveys.•Sketchmap, behavioral, and survey data implicated two subtypes of survey-based representations.•Designed a new Navigation Strategy Questionnaire with three highly reliable scales.•The new egocentric spatial updating scale well-predicted pointing-to-landmarks performance.•Sketchers of egocentric-survey sketchmaps reported the highest use of egocentric spatial updating strategy.

This study aimed to relate two different forms of survey-based representations encoded after real-world route learning to the differential use of allocentric and egocentric frames of reference, and a navigation strategy of egocentric spatial updating that focuses on the computations of self-to-object relations. Using sketchmaps and assessments of spatial and landmark knowledge, Study 1 implicated the existence of allocentric and egocentric survey-based representations that preserved survey knowledge of the environment based on the primary engagement of allocentric and egocentric frames of reference respectively. In Study 2, an egocentric spatial updating strategy scale was designed as part of a new self-report Navigation Strategy Questionnaire (NSQ), and validated with regards to relevant behavioral measures of spatial and landmark knowledge. Notably, egocentric-survey map sketchers reported the highest scores on this new scale among three groups of map sketchers, supporting the proposal that they were highly involved in egocentric spatial processing during route learning.