Manual training of mental rotation performance: Visual representation of rotating figures is the main driver for improvements

Abstract

Studies have demonstrated that manual and mental rotation show common processes. Training studies have shown that a manual and concurrent visual rotation improves mental rotation performance. In this study, we separated the visual rotation from the manual rotation. 121 participants were randomly assigned to visual training, manual rotation training, or manual training without rotational movement. Before and after the training session of 30 minutes, they had to solve a chronometric mental rotation test. Data were analyzed with linear mixed models and showed an improvement in mental rotation performance for all groups. However, this improvement did not differ between groups. Due to the independence of the form and occurrence of the manual activity, this suggests that it is not the motor activity but the concurrent visual rotation that leads to improvements in mental rotation tasks. Therefore, the visual component in mental rotation tasks has to be investigated in more detail.

Hand and Foot Selection in Mental Body Rotations Involves Motor-Cognitive Interactions

“…As in Study 1, we observed higher scores for head-down rotations than head-up rotations, which is consistent with the findings of several previous studies [ 17 , 31 , 32 , 33 ]. In Study 2, this effect was even amplified in the back view, which allows a simple egocentric perspective without the need of a vertical rotation necessary for head-up rotations in the front view.…”

“…The results of both studies provide a replication of previous mental body rotation studies [ 17 , 31 , 32 ], showing that the rotational angle strongly affects participants’ responses, not only in RTs but also in a combined measure of RT and ER. The LISA scores were higher (indicating worse performance) in head-down positions than in head-up positions.…”

“…Similar to the perspective factor, it is assumed that this results from an imagined rotation. Such rotations on the horizontal axis are more time consuming and produce more errors proportional to the rotational angle [ 17 , 31 , 32 , 33 ]. In the present study, LISAS were higher in head-down rotations than in head-up rotations.…”

“…In addition, experts in executing body rotations outperformed control participants only when making judgements about upside-down body positions, but not when making judgements about head-up body positions [ 17 , 30 ]. Furthermore, in experts and novices, response times and error rates increase with angular disparity from head-up positions [ 17 , 31 , 32 , 33 ] or with abstractness of the stimuli [ 30 ]. For instance, when using photographs rather than line drawing figures and stick figures, response times (RTs) were shorter for the more realistic photograph stimuli than the more abstract stimuli, particularly for experts in executing body rotations [ 30 ].…”

“…Hence, good performance is indicated by low LISA scores which indicate fast and correct responses. In comparison to analyses of RTs alone [ 37 ] or to separate analyses of RT and errors [ 17 , 30 , 31 , 32 ], the LISA score additionally tracks performance increments that are caused by (lacking) accuracy, as with a speed-accuracy trade-off [ 17 , 30 , 31 ].…”