Abstract: Research on how do people learn the layout of some-scale space has been an important filed in spatial cognition study. Deep researches on spatial memory and retrieval of physical environment not only help us to understand human spatial behavior, but can provide useful data or support for interface design, information presentation in virtual spatial environmental. This article reviewed current theories of spatial memory from theory of intrinsic reference system, the coordinate system model of retrieval, spatial situation model and spatial category model.

Key words: spatial memory, intrinsic reference system, coordinate-system model of retrieval, spatial situation model, spatial category model