These volumes represent the proceedings of NATO Advanced Study Institute
on the topic of "Cognitive Processes and Spatial Orientation in Animal
and Man" held at La-Baume-les-Aix, Aix-en-Provence, France, in June-July
1985. The motivation underlying this Institute stemmed from the recent
advances and interest in the problems of spatial behavior. In
Psychology, traditional S-R concepts were found to be unsatisfactorY for
fully accounting for the complexity of spatial behavior. Coupled with
the decline in such an approach, has been a resurgence of interest in
cognitive types of concepts. In Ethology, investigators have begun to
use more sophisticated methods for the study of homing and navigational
behaviors. In the general area of Neuroscience, marked advances have
been achieved in the understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying
spatial behaviors. And finally, there has been a burgeoning interest and
body of knowledge concerning the development of spatial behavior in
humans. All of these factors combined to suggest the necessity of
bringing together scientists working in these areas with the intent that
such a meeting might lead to a cross-fertilization of the various areas.
Possibly by providing a context in which members of the various
disciplines could interact, it was felt that we might increase the
likelihood of identifying those similarities and differences in the
concepts and methods common to all groups. Such an identification could
provide the basis for a subsequent interdisciplinary research effort.