Modality-specific spatial coordinates

The development of spatial coordinates may depend on the integration of information from different modalities, or may be based on modality-specific coding. On the first assumption, the blind would be handicapped in deriving adequate spatial concepts, and on the other, no such handicap need exist. When spatial orientation is the salient feature of the task, subjects appear to profit from the integration of information from two or more modalities. When shape is salient, subjects adopt modality-specific coding strategies.