DOMINIC W. MASSARO, editor
University of California, Santa Cruz

Aging Invigorated Through Autobiography

A History of Geropsychology in Autobiography
Edited by James E. Birren and Johannes J. F. Schroots. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association, 1999. 362 pp. Paper, $29.95.

Spatial cognition is the study of physical and mental representations of space and the environment. The interdisciplinary organization of spatial cognition incorporates research, theory, and practice from a variety of fields. The underlying assumption of this focus is that contributions from the areas of psychology, computer science, neuroscience, linguistics, philosophy, and anthropology can all contribute to a comprehensive theory of spatial behavior and cognition. There are many potential benefits of studying cognition from different paradigmatic and methodological viewpoints. However, the challenges for interdisciplinary study are not insignificant. Successful scientific endeavors necessitate developing a communal, operational language. Integrating the findings from these diverse areas can prove difficult, and research programs examining similar issues from different paradigmatic perspectives often continue along divergent paths.