类别空间关系加工系统和数量空间关系加工系统的分离 ——来自多领域的研究证据

Kosslyn认为人类的空间关系加工系统分为类别空间关系加工子系统和数量空间关系加工子系统，这两个子系统不仅存在功能上的分离，并且存在大脑神经水平的分离，这种神经水平的分离表现为两种空间关系加工的大脑半球偏向，即类别空间关系加工的左半球偏向与数量空间关系加工的右半球偏向。对两种空间关系加工的研究，涉及的领域从低水平的空间知觉，至表象、记忆、语言、行动及物体识别等，涉及的研究方法包括半视野速示法，神经网络模拟，PET, fMRI, ERP, rTMS，脑损伤病人的研究及比较动物研究。综合现有研究，虽然大多数研究中得到的脑半球偏向为两种加工子系统在神经水平的分离提供了证据，但不同研究中脑半球偏向的获得是相当不稳定的，并且受到研究方法因素的影响。尽管造成神经水平的分离似乎与大脑左右半球对具有不同感受野特征的神经元输出的偏向有一定的关系，但这仍需要进一步的研究证据

The Dissociation Between Categorical and Coordinate Spatial Relation Processing Systems: Evidence from Multi-Domain Studies

Kosslyn suggested that there are two distinct spatial relation processing systems which are Categorical spatial relation processing subsystem and Coordinate relation processing subsystem. As well as a functional dissociation between the two subsystems, there is a neural-level dissociation between the hardware of brain circuits involving this two types of processing, which can be indicated by brain hemisphere specialization. The left hemisphere is specialized for coding categorical spatial relations, whereas the right hemisphere is specialized for coding coordinate spatial relations. This article reviews studies extending from low-level spatial perception into multiple domains including spatial relation processing in visual mental imagery, memory, language, motor action and object identification etc., in which diverse methodologies are adopted: visual half field methodology, neural network simulation, PET, fMRI, ERP, rTMS, studies with brain damaged patients and comparative animal study. In general, it can be summarized that, although hemisphere specialization provides convergent evidence for the neural-level dissociation of categorical and coordinate spatial relation processing systems, the obtaining of hemisphere specialization in various studies is unstable and sensitive to methodological factors. The reason for the dissociation, however, is still open for debate, although it appeared to be linked with the hemispheric specialization for processing the output of neurons with different receptive field properties.