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Spatial Cognition and Navigation

Works Count: 31708

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Description

This cluster of papers explores the importance of spatial ability in STEM domains, focusing on topics such as mental rotation, wayfinding, gender differences in spatial cognition, cognitive maps, and the use of landmarks in navigation. It also delves into the impact of spatial training on mathematics performance and the neural correlates of spatial tasks.

Keywords

Spatial Ability; STEM Education; Mental Rotation; Wayfinding; Gender Differences; Cognitive Maps; Navigation; Landmarks; Virtual Environment; Neuroimaging Studies

Hierarchy of features and ergativity

1976-04-14

Michael Silverstein

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The Development of Spatial Representations of Large-Scale Environments

1975-01-01

Alexander W. Siegel , Sheldon H. White

CHRONOMETRIC STUDIES OF THE ROTATION OF MENTAL IMAGES

1973-01-01

Lynn A. Cooper , Roger N. Shepard

Human Spatial Orientation

1967-09-01

Herbert L. Pick , I. P. Howard , W. B. Templeton

Visual proprioceptive control of standing in human infants

1974-05-01

David N. Lee , Eric Aronson

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A Redrawn Vandenberg and Kuse Mental Rotations Test - Different Versions and Factors That Affect Performance

1995-06-01

Michael Peters , Bruno Laeng , Keziah Latham +3 more

Eye fixations and cognitive processes

1976-10-01

Marcel Adam Just , Patricia A. Carpenter

Closed-form solution of absolute orientation using unit quaternions

1987-04-01

Berthold K. P. Horn

Finding the relationship between two coordinate systems using pairs of measurements of the coordinates of a number of points in both systems is a classic photogrammetric task. It finds applications … Finding the relationship between two coordinate systems using pairs of measurements of the coordinates of a number of points in both systems is a classic photogrammetric task. It finds applications in stereophotogrammetry and in robotics. I present here a closed-form solution to the least-squares problem for three or more points. Currently various empirical, graphical, and numerical iterative methods are in use. Derivation of the solution is simplified by use of unit quaternions to represent rotation. I emphasize a symmetry property that a solution to this problem ought to possess. The best translational offset is the difference between the centroid of the coordinates in one system and the rotated and scaled centroid of the coordinates in the other system. The best scale is equal to the ratio of the root-mean-square deviations of the coordinates in the two systems from their respective centroids. These exact results are to be preferred to approximate methods based on measurements of a few selected points. The unit quaternion representing the best rotation is the eigenvector associated with the most positive eigenvalue of a symmetric 4 × 4 matrix. The elements of this matrix are combinations of sums of products of corresponding coordinates of the points.

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Categories and particulars: Prototype effects in estimating spatial location.

1991-01-01

Janellen Huttenlocher , Larry V. Hedges , Susan Duncan

A model of category effects on reports from memory is presented. The model holds that stimuli are represented at 2 levels of detail: a fine-grain value and a category. When … A model of category effects on reports from memory is presented. The model holds that stimuli are represented at 2 levels of detail: a fine-grain value and a category. When memory is inexact but people must report an exact value, they use estimation processes that combine the remembered stimulus value with category information. The proposed estimation processes include truncation at category boundaries and weighting with a central (prototypic) category value. These processes introduce bias in reporting even when memory is unbiased, but nevertheless may improve overall accuracy (by decreasing the variability of reports). Four experiments are presented in which people report the location of a dot in a circle. Subjects spontaneously impose horizontal and vertical boundaries that divide the circle into quadrants. They misplace dots toward a central (prototypic) location in each quadrant, as predicted by the model. The proposed model has broad implications; notably, it has the potential to explain biases of the sort described in psychophysics (contraction bias and the bias captured by Weber's law) as well as symmetries in similarity judgments, without positing distorted representations of physical scales.

The malleability of spatial skills: A meta-analysis of training studies.

2012-06-05

David H. Uttal , Nathaniel G. Meadow , Elizabeth Tipton +4 more

Having good spatial skills strongly predicts achievement and attainment in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields (e.g., Shea, Lubinski, & Benbow, 2001; Wai, Lubinski, & Benbow, 2009). Improving spatial skills … Having good spatial skills strongly predicts achievement and attainment in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields (e.g., Shea, Lubinski, & Benbow, 2001; Wai, Lubinski, & Benbow, 2009). Improving spatial skills is therefore of both theoretical and practical importance. To determine whether and to what extent training and experience can improve these skills, we meta-analyzed 217 research studies investigating the magnitude, moderators, durability, and generalizability of training on spatial skills. After eliminating outliers, the average effect size (Hedges's g) for training relative to control was 0.47 (SE = 0.04). Training effects were stable and were not affected by delays between training and posttesting. Training also transferred to other spatial tasks that were not directly trained. We analyzed the effects of several moderators, including the presence and type of control groups, sex, age, and type of training. Additionally, we included a theoretically motivated typology of spatial skills that emphasizes 2 dimensions: intrinsic versus extrinsic and static versus dynamic (Newcombe & Shipley, in press). Finally, we consider the potential educational and policy implications of directly training spatial skills. Considered together, the results suggest that spatially enriched education could pay substantial dividends in increasing participation in mathematics, science, and engineering.

Human Visual Orientation

1982-01-01

R. Blake , Ian P. Howard

Visual Experience in Infants: Decreased Attention to Familiar Patterns Relative to Novel Ones

1964-10-30

Robert L. Fantz

A complex visual pattern presented for ten successive 1-minute exposure periods was fixated progressively less than comparable novel stimuli by infants 2 to 6 months old. This indicates the occurrence … A complex visual pattern presented for ten successive 1-minute exposure periods was fixated progressively less than comparable novel stimuli by infants 2 to 6 months old. This indicates the occurrence of recognition and habituation of visual responsiveness to specific patterns, and suggests that familiarization with the environment begins through visual exploration before more active exploration is possible.

The separability of working memory resources for spatial thinking and language processing: An individual differences approach.

1996-01-01

Priti Shah , Akira Miyake

The current study demonstrates the separability of spatial and verbal working memory resources among college students. In Experiment 1, we developed a spatial span task that taxes both the processing … The current study demonstrates the separability of spatial and verbal working memory resources among college students. In Experiment 1, we developed a spatial span task that taxes both the processing and storage components of spatial working memory. This measure correlates with spatial ability (spatial visualization) measures, but not with verbal ability measures. In contrast, the reading span test, a common test of verbal working memory, correlates with verbal ability measures, but not with spatial ability measures. Experiment 2, which uses an interference paradigm to cross the processing and storage demands of span tasks, replicates this dissociation and further demonstrates that both the processing and storage components of working memory tasks are important for predicting performance on spatial thinking and language processing tasks.

Gender differences in way-finding strategies: Relationship to spatial ability and spatial anxiety

1994-06-01

Carol Lawton

How are visuospatial working memory, executive functioning, and spatial abilities related? A latent-variable analysis.

2001-01-01

Akira Miyake , Naomi P. Friedman , David A. Rettinger +2 more

This study examined the relationships among visuospatial working memory (WM) executive functioning, and spatial abilities. One hundred sixty-seven participants performed visuospatial short-term memory (STM) and WM span tasks, executive functioning … This study examined the relationships among visuospatial working memory (WM) executive functioning, and spatial abilities. One hundred sixty-seven participants performed visuospatial short-term memory (STM) and WM span tasks, executive functioning tasks, and a set of paper-and-pencil tests of spatial abilities that load on 3 correlated but distinguishable factors (Spatial Visualization, Spatial Relations, and Perceptual Speed). Confirmatory factor analysis results indicated that, in the visuospatial domain, processing-and-storage WM tasks and storage-oriented STM tasks equally implicate executive functioning and are not clearly distinguishable. These results provide a contrast with existing evidence from the verbal domain and support the proposal that the visuospatial sketchpad may be closely tied to the central executive. Further, structural equation modeling results supported the prediction that, whereas they all implicate some degree of visuospatial storage, the 3 spatial ability factors differ in the degree of executive involvement (highest for Spatial Visualization and lowest for Perceptual Speed). Such results highlight the usefulness of a WM perspective in characterizing the nature of cognitive abilities and, more generally, human intelligence.

AN ISLET OF ABILITY IN AUTISTIC CHILDREN: A RESEARCH NOTE

1983-10-01

Amitta Shah , Uta Frith

An aspect of cognitive functioning in autistic children was investigated by comparing their performance on the Children's Embedded Figures Test with that of MA-matched normal and MA- and CA-matched mentally … An aspect of cognitive functioning in autistic children was investigated by comparing their performance on the Children's Embedded Figures Test with that of MA-matched normal and MA- and CA-matched mentally retarded non-autistic children. The autistic children were significantly more competent at this task than either group of control children, and also showed qualitatively different strategies. Since the performance of the autistic children was better than predicted from MA and commensurate with CA, it can be regarded as an islet of ability. This finding is discussed in terms of orientation and visualization factors involved in visuo-spatial abilities and is also related to cognitive deficit.

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The capacity for joint visual attention in the infant

1975-01-01

Mike Scaife , Jerome S. Bruner

The control of eye fixation by the meaning of spoken language

1974-01-01

Roger M. Cooper

Human spatial abilities: Psychometric studies and environmental, genetic, hormonal, and neurological influences.

1979-01-01

Mark G. McGee

The Child's Conception of Geometry

1960-11-01

Jim Richardson , Jean Piaget , Bärbel Inhelder +2 more

This volume from Piaget's laboratory in Geneva deals primarily with the development of notions of measurement and geometrical concepts like coordinates, angles, and areas. It is a companion piece to … This volume from Piaget's laboratory in Geneva deals primarily with the development of notions of measurement and geometrical concepts like coordinates, angles, and areas. It is a companion piece to The Child's Conception of Space.

Mental Rotation of the Neuronal Population Vector

1989-01-13

Apostolos P. Georgopoulos , Joseph T. Lurito , Michael Petrides +2 more

A rhesus monkey was trained to move its arm in a direction that was perpendicular to and counterclockwise from the direction of a target light that changed in position from … A rhesus monkey was trained to move its arm in a direction that was perpendicular to and counterclockwise from the direction of a target light that changed in position from trial to trial. Solution of this problem was hypothesized to involve the creation and mental rotation of an imagined movement vector from the direction of the light to the direction of the movement. This hypothesis was tested directly by recording the activity of cells in the motor cortex during performance of the task and computing the neuronal population vector in successive time intervals during the reaction time. The population vector rotated gradually counterclockwise from the direction of the light to the direction of the movement at an average rate of 732° per second. These results provide direct, neural evidence for the mental rotation hypothesis and indicate that the neuronal population vector is a useful tool for "reading out" and identifying cognitive operations of neuronal ensembles.

Differences in spatial knowledge acquired from maps and navigation

1982-10-01

Perry W. Thorndyke , Barbara Hayes‐Roth

Mental Rotation of Three-Dimensional Objects

1971-02-19

Roger N. Shepard , Jacqueline Metzler

The time required to recognize that two perspective drawings portray objects of the same three-dimensional shape is found to be (i) a linearly increasing function of the angular difference in … The time required to recognize that two perspective drawings portray objects of the same three-dimensional shape is found to be (i) a linearly increasing function of the angular difference in the portrayed orientations of the two objects and (ii) no shorter for differences corresponding simply to a rigid rotation of one of the two-dimensional drawings in its own picture plane than for differences corresponding to a rotation of the three-dimensional object in depth.

Magnitude of sex differences in spatial abilities: A meta-analysis and consideration of critical variables.

1995-01-01

Daniel Voyer , Susan D. Voyer , M. Philip Bryden

In recent years, the magnitude, consistency, and stability across time of cognitive sex differences have been questioned. The present study examined these issues in the context of spatial abilities. A … In recent years, the magnitude, consistency, and stability across time of cognitive sex differences have been questioned. The present study examined these issues in the context of spatial abilities. A meta-analysis of 286 effect sizes from a variety of spatial ability measures was conducted. Effect sizes were partitioned by the specific test used and by a number of variables related to the experimental procedure in order to achieve homogeneity. Results showed that sex differences are significant in several tests but that some intertest differences exist. Partial support was found for the notion that the magnitude of sex differences has decreased in recent years. Finally, it was found that the age of emergence of sex differences depends on the test used. Results are discussed with regard to their implications for the study of sex differences in spatial abilities.

A dissociation between mental rotation and perspective-taking spatial abilities

2004-02-07

Mary Hegarty , David Waller

Micro Experimental Laboratory: An integrated system for IBM PC compatibles

1988-03-01

Walter Schneider

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Emergence and Characterization of Sex Differences in Spatial Ability: A Meta-Analysis

1985-12-01

Marcia C. Linn , Anne C. Petersen

Sex differences in spatial ability are widely acknowledged, yet considerable dispute surrounds the magnitude, nature, and age of first occurrence of these differences. This article focuses on 3 questions about … Sex differences in spatial ability are widely acknowledged, yet considerable dispute surrounds the magnitude, nature, and age of first occurrence of these differences. This article focuses on 3 questions about sex differences in spatial ability: What is the magnitude of sex differences in spatial ability? On which aspects of spatial ability are sex differences found? and When, in the life span, are sex differences in spatial ability first detected? Implications for clarifying the linkage between sex differences in spatial ability and other differences between males and females are discussed. We use meta-analysis, a method for synthesizing empirical studies, to investigate these questions. Results of the meta-analysis suggest that sex differences arise on some types of spatial ability but not others, that large sex differences are found only on measures of mental rotation, that smaller sex differences are found on measures of spatial perception, and that, when sex differences are found, they can be detected across the life span.

Seeing and imagining in the cerebral hemispheres: A computational approach.

1987-01-01

Stephen M. Kosslyn

Visual recognition, navigation, tracking, and imagery are posited to share certain high-level processing subsystems. In the first part of this article, a theory of some of these subsystems is formulated. … Visual recognition, navigation, tracking, and imagery are posited to share certain high-level processing subsystems. In the first part of this article, a theory of some of these subsystems is formulated. This theory is developed in light of an analysis of problems that must be solved by the visual system and the constraints on the solutions to these problems; computational, neurological, and behavioral constraints are considered. In the second part, inferences about perceptual subsystems are used to develop a theory of how mental images are generated. Support for this theory is adduced from studies of split-brain patients and a review of relevant neuropsychological findings. In the third part, a computational mechanism is developed to account for how visual function becomes lateralized in the brain; this mechanism is used to predict how the hypothesized processing subsystems become lateralized. In the fourth part, some critical tests of the theory of lateralization of perceptual processing subsystems are reported, and in the fifth part the theory is extended to account for the lateralization of image-transformation subsystems. In the sixth part, the theory is used to account for the almost ubiquitous variability (both between subjects and within subjects) evident in the neuropsychological literature on lateralization. Finally, in the concluding part of the article, the computational-neuropsychological approach is discussed and evaluated.

Mental rotation and orientation-dependence in shape recognition

1989-04-01

Michael J. Tarr , Steven Pinker

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Music and spatial task performance

1993-10-01

Frances H. Rauscher , Gordon L. Shaw , Catherine N. Ky

The Child's Conception of Space

1957-05-01

Evelyn Lawrence , Jean Piaget , Baerbel Inhelder +2 more

The nature of space, whether an innate idea, the outcome of experience in the external world, or an operational construction has long been a source of philosophical and speculative psychological … The nature of space, whether an innate idea, the outcome of experience in the external world, or an operational construction has long been a source of philosophical and speculative psychological discussion. This book deals with the development of the child's notions about space.

Spatial ability for STEM domains: Aligning over 50 years of cumulative psychological knowledge solidifies its importance.

2009-11-01

Jonathan Wai , David Lubinski , Camilla Persson Benbow

The importance of spatial ability in educational pursuits and the world of work was examined, with particular attention devoted to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) domains. Participants were drawn … The importance of spatial ability in educational pursuits and the world of work was examined, with particular attention devoted to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) domains. Participants were drawn from a stratified random sample of U.S. high schools (Grades 9–12, N 400,000) and were tracked for 11 years; their longitudinal findings were aligned with pre-1957 findings and with contemporary data from the Graduate Record Examination and the Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth. For decades, spatial ability assessed during adolescence has surfaced as a salient psychological attribute among those adolescents who subsequently go on to achieve advanced educational credentials and occupations in STEM. Results solidify the generalization that spatial ability plays a critical role in developing expertise in STEM and suggest, among other things, that including spatial ability in modern talent searches would identify many adolescents with potential for STEM who are currently being missed.

Animation: can it facilitate?

2002-10-01

Barbara Tversky , Julie Bauer Morrison , Mireille Bétrancourt

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Dissociating Verbal and Spatial Working Memory Using PET

1996-01-01

E. E. SMITH , John Jonides , Robert A. Koeppe

Three experiments used position emission tomography (PET) to study the neural basis of human working memory. These studies ask whether different neural circuits underly verbal and spatial memory. In Experiment … Three experiments used position emission tomography (PET) to study the neural basis of human working memory. These studies ask whether different neural circuits underly verbal and spatial memory. In Experiment 1, subjects had to retain for 3 sec. either the names of four letters (verbal memory) or the positions of three dots (spatial memory). The PET results manifested a clear cut double dissociation, as the verbal task activated primarily left-hemisphere regions whereas the spatial task activated only right-hemisphere regions. In Experiment 2, the identical sequence of letters was presented in all conditions, and what varied was whether subjects had to remember the names of the letters (verbal memory) or their positions in the display (spatial memory). In the verbal task, activation was concentrated more in the left than the right hemisphere; in the spatial task, there was substantial activation in both hemispheres, though in key regions, there was more activation in the right than the left hemisphere. Experiment 3 studied only verbal memory, and showed that a continuous memory task activated the same regions as the discrete verbal task used in Experiment 1. Taken together, these results indicate that verbal and spatial working memory are implemented by different neural structures.

What minds have in common is space: Spatial mechanisms serving joint visual attention in infancy

1991-03-01

George Butterworth , Nicholas Jarrett

A series of experiments is reported which show that three successive mechanisms are involved in the first 18 months of life in ‘looking where someone else is looking’. The earliest … A series of experiments is reported which show that three successive mechanisms are involved in the first 18 months of life in ‘looking where someone else is looking’. The earliest ‘ecological’ mechanism enables the infant to detect the direction of the adult's visual gaze within the baby's visual field but the mother's signal alone does not allow the precise localization of the target. Joint attention to the same physical object also depends on the intrinsic, attention‐capturing properties of the object in the environment. By about 12 months, we have evidence for presence of a new ‘geometric’ mechanism. The infant extrapolates from the orientation of the mother's head and eyes, the intersection of the mother's line of sight within a relatively precise zone of the infant's own visual space. A third ‘representational’ mechanism emerges between 12 and 18 months, with an extension of joint reference to places outside the infant's visual field. None of these mechanisms require the infant to have a theory that others have minds; rather the perceptual systems of different observers ‘meet’ in encountering the same objects and events in the world. Such a ‘realist’ basis for interpersonal knowledge may offer an alternative starting point for development of intrapersonal knowledge, rather than the view that mental events can only be known by construction of a theory.

The Well-Worn Route and the Path Less Traveled

2003-03-01

Tom T. Hartley , Eleanor A. Maguire , Hugo J. Spiers +1 more

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Perceptual causality and animacy

2000-08-01

Brian J. Scholl , Patrice D. Tremoulet

Cognitive Strategies Dependent on the Hippocampus and Caudate Nucleus in Human Navigation: Variability and Change with Practice

2003-07-02

Giuseppe Iaria , Michael Petrides , Alain Dagher +2 more

The human brain activity related to strategies for navigating in space and how it changes with practice was investigated with functional magnetic resonance imaging. Subjects used two different strategies to … The human brain activity related to strategies for navigating in space and how it changes with practice was investigated with functional magnetic resonance imaging. Subjects used two different strategies to solve a place-learning task in a computer-generated virtual environment. One-half of the subjects used spatial landmarks to navigate in the early phase of training, and these subjects showed increased activation of the right hippocampus. The other half used a nonspatial strategy and showed, with practice, sustained increased activity within the caudate nucleus during navigation. Activation common to both groups was observed in the posterior parietal and frontal cortex. These results provide the first evidence for spontaneous variability and shift in neural mechanisms during navigation in humans.

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Playing an Action Video Game Reduces Gender Differences in Spatial Cognition

2007-09-24

Jing Feng , Ian Spence , Jay Pratt

We demonstrate a previously unknown gender difference in the distribution of spatial attention, a basic capacity that supports higher-level spatial cognition. More remarkably, we found that playing an action video … We demonstrate a previously unknown gender difference in the distribution of spatial attention, a basic capacity that supports higher-level spatial cognition. More remarkably, we found that playing an action video game can virtually eliminate this gender difference in spatial attention and simultaneously decrease the gender disparity in mental rotation ability, a higher-level process in spatial cognition. After only 10 hr of training with an action video game, subjects realized substantial gains in both spatial attention and mental rotation, with women benefiting more than men. Control subjects who played a non-action game showed no improvement. Given that superior spatial skills are important in the mathematical and engineering sciences, these findings have practical implications for attracting men and women to these fields.

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What determines our navigational abilities?

2010-02-09

Thomas Wolbers , Mary Hegarty

The intelligent use of space

1995-02-01

David Kirsh

CLOX: an executive clock drawing task

1998-05-01

Donald R. Royall , Jeffrey A. Cordes , Marsha J. Polk

<h3>OBJECTIVE</h3> To describe a clock drawing task (CLOX) designed to elicit executive impairment and discriminate it from non-executive constructional failure. <h3>SUBJECTS</h3> 90 elderly subjects were studied (45 elderly and well … <h3>OBJECTIVE</h3> To describe a clock drawing task (CLOX) designed to elicit executive impairment and discriminate it from non-executive constructional failure. <h3>SUBJECTS</h3> 90 elderly subjects were studied (45 elderly and well persons from the independent living apartments of a continuing care retirement community and 45 patients with probable Alzheimer's disease). The clock drawing performance of elderly patients was compared with that of 62 young adult controls. <h3>METHODS</h3> Subjects received the CLOX, an executive test (EXIT25), and the mini mental state examination (MMSE). The CLOX is divided into an unprompted task that is sensitive to executive control (CLOX1) and a copied version that is not (CLOX2). Between rater reliability (27 subjects) was high for both subtests. <h3>RESULTS</h3> In elderly subjects, CLOX subscores correlated strongly with cognitive severity (CLOX1:<i>r</i>=−0.83 <i>v</i> the EXIT25; CLOX2:<i>r</i>=0.85 <i>v</i> the MMSE). EXIT25 and MMSE scores predicted CLOX1 scores independently of age or education (<i>F</i>(4,82)=50.7, p<0.001;<i>R</i><sup><i>2</i></sup>=0.71). The EXIT25 accounted for 68% of CLOX1 variance. Only the MMSE significantly contributed to CLOX2 scores (<i>F</i>(4,72)= 57.2, p<0.001;<i>R</i><sup><i>2</i></sup>=0.74). CLOX subscales discriminated between patients with Alzheimer's disease and elderly controls (83.1% of cases correctly classified; Wilkes' lambda=0.48, p<0.001), and between Alzheimer's disease subgroups with and without constructional impairment (91.9% of cases correctly classified; Wilkes' lambda=0.31, p<0.001). <h3>CONCLUSIONS</h3> The CLOX is an internally consistent measure that is easy to administer and displays good inter-rater reliability. It is strongly associated with cognitive test scores. The pattern of CLOX failures may discriminate clinical dementia subgroups.

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Modeling Spatial Knowledge*

1978-04-01

Benjamin Kuipers

A person's cognitive map, or knowledge of large‐scale space, is built up from observations gathered as he travels through the environment. It acts as a problem solver to find routes … A person's cognitive map, or knowledge of large‐scale space, is built up from observations gathered as he travels through the environment. It acts as a problem solver to find routes and relative positions, as well as describing the current location. The TOUR model captures the multiple representations that make up the cognitive map, the problem‐solving strategies it uses, and the mechanisms for assimilating new information. The representations have rich collections of states of partial knowledge, which support many of the performance characteristics of common‐sense knowledge.

Visual images preserve metric spatial information: Evidence from studies of image scanning.

1978-01-01

Stephen M. Kosslyn , Thomas M. Ball , Brian J. Reiser

Four experiments demonstrated that more time is required to scan further distances across visual images, even when the same amount of material falls between the initial focus point and the … Four experiments demonstrated that more time is required to scan further distances across visual images, even when the same amount of material falls between the initial focus point and the target.Not only did times systematically increase with distance but subjectively larger images required more time to scan than did subjectively smaller ones.Finally, when subjects were not asked to base all judgments on examination of their images, the distance between an initial focus point and a target did not affect reaction times.Introspections about visual imagery very often include references to "scanning" across images.Kosslyn (1973) attempted to demonstrate that scanning of images is a functional cognitive process, and his experiment indicated that more time was required to traverse greater distances across mental images.However, in the course of scanning longer distances, 1 people in Kosslyn's experiment also passed over more parts of the imaged object.For example, in scanning from the motor to the porthole of an imaged speedboat, a person passed over the rear deck and part of the cabin; in scanning from the motor to the more distant anchor, one scanned over all of these parts plus the front deck and bow.Given this confounding, then, we have no way of knowing whether Kosslyn's results were a consequence of people actually scanning over a quasi-pictorial, spatial image.One could argue that the image itself was epiphenomenal in this situation and that the apparent effects of distance actually were a consequence of how

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Mental Rotations, a Group Test of Three-Dimensional Spatial Visualization

1978-12-01

Steven G. Vandenberg , A. R. Kuse

A new paper-and-pencil test of spatial visualization was constructed from the figures used in the Chronometric study of Shepard and Metzler (1971). In large samples, the new test displayed substantial … A new paper-and-pencil test of spatial visualization was constructed from the figures used in the Chronometric study of Shepard and Metzler (1971). In large samples, the new test displayed substantial internal consistency (Kuder-Richardson 20 = .88), a test-retest reliability (.83), and consistent sex differences over the entire range of ages investigated. Correlations with other measures indicated strong association with tests of spatial visualization and virtually no association with tests of verbal ability.

Spatial abilities at different scales: Individual differences in aptitude-test performance and spatial-layout learning

2005-11-15

Mary Hegarty , Daniel R. Montello , Anthony E. Richardson +2 more

Development of a self-report measure of environmental spatial ability

2002-09-09

Mary Hegarty

The Child's Conception of Space

1958-01-01

Lorraine Jensen , Jean Piaget , Bärbel Inhelder +2 more

How are visuospatial working memory, executive functioning, and spatial abilities related? A latent-variable analysis.

2001-12-01

Akira Miyake , Naomi P. Friedman , David A. Rettinger +2 more

Why axis inversion? Optimizing interactions between users, interfaces, and visual displays in 3D environments

2025-06-23

Jennifer E. Corbett , Jaap Munneke | Cognitive Research Principles and Implications

From video games to laparoscopic surgeries, differences in users' abilities to adapt to new control schemes can have significant, even deadly impacts on performance. Starting with the question of why … From video games to laparoscopic surgeries, differences in users' abilities to adapt to new control schemes can have significant, even deadly impacts on performance. Starting with the question of why some video game players invert the y-axis on their console controllers, this work aims to provide a foundation for future investigations of how control schemes can significantly impact performance. We argue that fragmented research across disciplines hinders a unified understanding of how the spatial relationships between users, interfaces, and visual displays affect performance. Therefore, we begin with a multidisciplinary literature synthesis, clarifying existing findings, and identifying methodological inconsistencies that contribute to conflicting results. We then explore the relationship between key behavioral and cognitive factors and y-axis inversion preference in a group of experienced 3rd person gamers. Based on these preliminary results, we propose a "general purpose" framework to systematically investigate how control inversion and visual input influence perception and performance across various movement goals. We demonstrate how this framework can be used to evaluate performance in the context of a common and challenging laparoscopic procedure, and how it can be generalized to assess and predict sensorimotor compatibility effects across a wide variety of real-world situations.

Aligning visual imagery to the operator improves geospatial situation awareness in a single-display 360-degree periscope concept

2025-06-23

Jason Bell , Zachary L Howard , Stephen Pond +5 more | Cognitive Research Principles and Implications

Technological advances mean that it is now possible to represent the entire 360° view of the horizon to a submarine periscope operator simultaneously, in strips on a single display, as … Technological advances mean that it is now possible to represent the entire 360° view of the horizon to a submarine periscope operator simultaneously, in strips on a single display, as opposed to the restricted view offered through a conventional periscope aperture. Initial research showing performance improvements for such panoramic displays is promising. However, that research has yet to consider the importance of alignment between the visual representation of the environment on the periscope display and the operator themselves (i.e. the visual field compatibility principle). Using a simulated periscope operator task, the current study assessed whether the degree of display-operator alignment influences periscope operator geospatial situation awareness (SA). Four increasingly misaligned display configurations and three different operator orientations (relative to simulated Ownship travel) were assessed. Trained novices (N = 83) were tasked with judging the position of contacts on their display by pointing a joystick at their "real-world" location to measure geospatial SA. Results revealed a strong influence of display-operator alignment on geospatial SA: an aligned display representing contacts in front of an operator at the top of the display and contacts behind an operator at the bottom of the display, produced better geospatial SA (faster, more accurate responses) than other, less aligned display configurations. Diffusion modelling indicated that greater display alignment improved geospatial SA by both increasing information-processing speed and decreasing the amount of evidence required to make decisions. We conclude that geospatial SA can be facilitated by panoramic designs that maximise the alignment of the display to the external world.

“Reading” a visual scene: The effect of spatially grounded expectations on memory.

2025-06-23

Willa M. Lane , Banjit Singh , Sasan Mournani +1 more | Journal of Experimental Psychology General

Inferences and expectations evoked by an experience support interpretation and are sometimes misattributed to the experience itself-a constructive error observed in multiple domains (e.g., memory for sentences, stories, and events). … Inferences and expectations evoked by an experience support interpretation and are sometimes misattributed to the experience itself-a constructive error observed in multiple domains (e.g., memory for sentences, stories, and events). Boundary extension (BE), memory beyond the edges of a view, may reflect this type of error (multisource model; Intraub, 2010). In contrast, it may simply reflect a spatial distortion involving good continuation of visible content (Bainbridge & Baker, 2020a). To explore this, we addressed an understudied aspect of BE: its content. In Experiment 1 (n = 156), participants predicted the unseen surroundings beyond close-ups of objects on continuous backgrounds and close-ups of objects cropped to eliminate a surrounding container. Expected-container and expected-continuation pictures were selected based on agreement across predictions. These were presented for 15 s each to naive participants, and the expanse and content of BE was assessed in recognition memory (Experiments 2a and 2b, total n = 394; Experiment 3, n = 184) and free recall (drawings: Experiment 4, n = 66). Expected containment elicited unprecedented false memory for unique content in BE and instances of alternative "readings" of the same views. Remembered expanse was constrained by expected containment, with this constraint being "released" when conditions favored false memory for the container rather than expectation alone (Experiment 2b). Results suggest that prior knowledge (e.g., learned contingencies, object-to-context associations) is leveraged during scene perception, contextualizing a view and simulating anticipated surroundings. These outcomes would have adaptive value for the observer during the dynamics of natural scene perception. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Seeing structure, losing sight: The case for morphological thinking in the age of integration

2025-06-20

Paola Falletta , Erica Tagliatti , Katia Cortese | The Anatomical Record

Human-centered design of VR interface features to support mental workload and spatial cognition during collaboration tasks in manufacturing

2025-06-20

Huizhong Cao , Francisco García Rivera , Henrik Söderlund +3 more | Cognition Technology & Work

Abstract Industry 5.0 revolution is prioritizing human-centricity and adapting technologies to augment shopfloor workers’ cognitive ergonomics. To provide a user-friendly, efficient virtual planning tool, virtual reality (VR) is adopted by … Abstract Industry 5.0 revolution is prioritizing human-centricity and adapting technologies to augment shopfloor workers’ cognitive ergonomics. To provide a user-friendly, efficient virtual planning tool, virtual reality (VR) is adopted by the industry to provide a virtual work environment for layout planning, design reviews, and training use cases. However, the user interface (UI) of VR programs is not yet standardized for universal design, and thus causes issues such as difficult scalable technology adoption due to high mental workload. Creating intuitive and accessible interfaces is a key challenge in VR. As the complexity of VR platforms grows, it is vital that users can effectively explore and engage with them. Improved UI design may improve the whole user experience, making VR more accessible, scalable, and attractive to a larger audience. Navigation in a VR environment can impose a significant mental workload on users, affecting their cognitive capacities, including layout perception, navigation, attention for collaboration, and response/completion time. This study aims to identify and assess the UI design features of a virtual work environment for manufacturing regarding mental workload, spatial navigation, and performance-based evaluation for human centricity. Three design features of typical mini maps examples, which are extracted from the literature and the gamification industry, are portability, tangibility, and dimensionality. By identifying the association between design features and user navigation experience, we may observe patterns for broader VR user interface standardization that address human factors. This study employed a qualitative approach to assess five different prototypes of interactive map designs, categorized into three design features, involving both students and industry practitioners, and resulting in 114 valid data collection sessions in the prototype-based experiment. Reducing mental workloads in VR interfaces can increase efficiency and user satisfaction in Industry 5.0 through intentional use of specific design features—portability proved to have the most significant impact, consistently reducing mental, physical and temporal demands, and frustration, while simultaneously improving performance, layout perception, navigation, and collaborative efficacy. The study provides effective design feature identification, highlighting the importance of user-centric approaches in VR development for cognitive ergonomics.

From spatial to social competence: The association between spatial ability and prosocial behaviour in childhood

2025-06-19

Dimitris I. Tsomokos , Eirini Flouri | British Journal of Developmental Psychology

Abstract This study investigated the nature of the association between spatial ability and prosocial behaviour in middle childhood. We used a general‐population longitudinal survey from the United Kingdom, which allowed … Abstract This study investigated the nature of the association between spatial ability and prosocial behaviour in middle childhood. We used a general‐population longitudinal survey from the United Kingdom, which allowed us to control for a wide range of area, family and child covariates, including early verbal ability and parenting, in a large sample ( N = 13,355, 51% male). The study's primary aim was to determine whether intrinsic‐dynamic spatial skills predicted prosocial behaviour and vice versa across ages 5 and 7 years. The results from cross‐lagged panel models with various levels of adjustment indicated that both paths were significant and equally strong. However, when also controlling for verbal ability and parenting practices, verbal ability (but not parenting) confounded the path from prosocial behaviour at age 5 to spatial ability at age 7. Therefore, only the path from spatial to social skills remained significant after adjustment for all confounders. Sex‐stratified analyses did not reveal significant differences between the paths for males and females. The present study contributes to our understanding of social and cognitive development in children, highlighting the impact of spatial skills across the social domain. The findings have implications for educational curricula in the early years and primary school.

Gemelli’s legacy in the knowledge of spatial orientation in flight

2025-06-18

Paola Verde , Laura Piccardi | Journal of the History of the Neurosciences

Agostino Gemelli, an Italian Franciscan physician and psychologist, was a pioneer in aviation psychology and spatial orientation research in the early twentieth century. This historical article explores Gemelli's groundbreaking contributions … Agostino Gemelli, an Italian Franciscan physician and psychologist, was a pioneer in aviation psychology and spatial orientation research in the early twentieth century. This historical article explores Gemelli's groundbreaking contributions to understanding spatial cognition, particularly in aviation contexts, decades before contemporary scientific findings. During World War I, Gemelli, a medical officer and pilot, focused on selecting pilots based on their attitudes rather than their physical abilities. His work predated crucial developments in spatial cognition, including concepts of field dependence/independence and environmental representation. Gemelli examined perception through Gestalt psychology, showing that people create mental images of space instead of just recording what they see. Gemelli critically analyzed spatial orientation, distinguishing between ground and aerial navigation and recognizing the complex interaction between internal cognitive characteristics and external environmental factors. He anticipated modern research on spatial representation, emphasizing the dynamic nature of spatial perception and individual differences in cognitive processing. This article highlights Gemelli's insights in relation to modern science, showcasing his keen understanding of spatial cognition, pilot skills, and perception. His contributions, largely ignored after World War II, were an important early exploration of the cognitive mechanisms behind spatial orientation and aviation psychology.

Individual differences in spatial navigation and working memory

2025-06-18

Alexa K. Bushinski , Thomas S. Redick | Intelligence

Evolving three decades of geometry learning strategies: A combination of bibliometric analysis and systematic review

2025-06-18

Musfirah Almubarak , Siti Mistima Maat , Muhammad Sofwan Mahmud | Eurasia Journal of Mathematics Science and Technology Education

Geometry is an essential part of mathematics education and understanding effective strategies for learning geometry is increasingly important. This study presents a combination of bibliometric and systematic review of research … Geometry is an essential part of mathematics education and understanding effective strategies for learning geometry is increasingly important. This study presents a combination of bibliometric and systematic review of research on geometry learning strategies, analysing on publication trends, main contributors, research topics and citation networks over the past three decades. Utilizing data from the Web of Science database, we reviewed 730 articles, identifying key themes through co-citation analysis and three major clusters: (1) Foundations of mathematics education and research methodology, (2) Spatial ability, cognitive development and STEM learning and (3) Early spatial and mathematical development in education. The study reveals that spatial reasoning is very important for understanding mathematics and training in spatial skills helps to improve problem-solving skills and achievements in STEM subjects. However, four gaps in the research were identified: limited research from Africa and Latin America, lack of long-term studies on spatial training effects, limited integration of AI and digital tools and limited interdisciplinary integration with cognitive psychology and neuroscience. The novelty of this study lies in mapping thirty years of intellectual development in geometry education by combining bibliometric and systematic review methods, offering new insights for improving teaching strategies and future research directions.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SPACE AND EDUCATION: THE ROLE OF PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS IN SUPPORTING CREATIVITY IN PRESCHOOL EDUCATION

2025-06-15

Özge Deval , Emel Başarık Aytekin , Bengisu Koyuncu | International Journal Of Turkish Literature Culture Education

Preschool educational environments that support creative potential contribute to children's social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development. This study analyzes the common characteristics of preschool spaces that foster creativity and aims … Preschool educational environments that support creative potential contribute to children's social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development. This study analyzes the common characteristics of preschool spaces that foster creativity and aims to develop a new spatial organization model. A qualitative research approach was adopted using a descriptive case study with a holistic single-case design. The study was conducted in a preschool in Kadıköy, Istanbul, with a purposive sample of 10 children and 3 teachers. Data were collected through the "Creative Learning Environment Assessment Scale" and open-ended interview forms. Findings indicate that spacious and flexible environments enhance children's creative development. Based on these results, a new spatial design model was developed to foster creativity in children, emphasizing the need to improve existing standards.

Exploring the potential malleability of spatial skills through anatomy teaching: A quantitative study among medical students

2025-06-13

Mandeep Gill Sagoo , Pak Yin Lam , Sharukesi Theivendran +1 more | Anatomical Sciences Education

Abstract Spatial skills, or spatial ability, is the ability to visualize and mentally manipulate three‐dimensional objects, and is essential to the study of anatomy. This study aims to investigate whether … Abstract Spatial skills, or spatial ability, is the ability to visualize and mentally manipulate three‐dimensional objects, and is essential to the study of anatomy. This study aims to investigate whether spatial skills required to infer cross‐sectional images could be improved through anatomy learning, as well as gender differences in spatial skills. First‐year medical students from 2016, 2018, and 2019 at King's College London undertook two online tests examining their ability to identify cross‐sections of various anatomical structures and geometric solids from the Santa Barbara Solids Test (SBST). Test 1 took place in October before anatomy teaching, and Test 2 in December after anatomy teaching on the abdomen and pelvis. Mean scores were compared between Test 1 and Test 2 using the paired t ‐test, and between male and female students using the chi‐squared test. Results demonstrate a trend toward improved performance in anatomical questions following anatomy teaching, although the extent of improvement was not consistent across cohorts. This trend remained evident even after exclusion of questions on the abdomen and pelvis. However, mean scores for SBST questions decreased significantly. No significant difference in spatial performance was observed between males and females. Our results suggest that spatial reasoning of anatomical cross‐sections could potentially be improved through anatomy teaching. Furthermore, improvements in spatial ability may be transferrable across body systems through the development and activation of mental schemas. However, they may not be transferrable to the broader domain of geometric solids, necessitating further research.

Father, mother, and toddler spatial talk in a favorite activity: Associations with gender, dominant language, and activity choice

2025-06-13

Mackenzie S. Swirbul , Orit Herzberg , Melissa E. Libertus +1 more | Cognitive Development

Measuring representational competence – analyses of dimensionality and the relationship to general content knowledge

2025-06-13

Sebastian Nickel , Steffen Brockmüller , William J. Boone +1 more | International Journal of Science Education

Cognitive maps integrating locations but missing orientations in across-boundary environments.

2025-06-12

Zhenghong Qi , Weimin Mou | Journal of Experimental Psychology General

People often struggle to accurately point to locations across boundaries, such as pointing to campus buildings while seated inside a lecture room. This difficulty challenges the existence of a cognitive … People often struggle to accurately point to locations across boundaries, such as pointing to campus buildings while seated inside a lecture room. This difficulty challenges the existence of a cognitive map with integrated representations of places across boundaries. In this project, we distinguished between a cognitive map comprising integrated representations of locations and one comprising integrated representations of orientations. We hypothesized that the across-boundary pointing difficulty might originate from a cognitive map lacking integrated orientations. Using an immersive virtual reality head-mounted display, participants were presented with panoramic photos taken indoors or outdoors of six campus buildings. After familiarizing themselves with their location as indicated by the panorama photo, participants were instructed to face a specific direction indicated by an arrow in the environment. They were then asked to point to five additional campus buildings. Participants' represented locations and headings for each testing view were calculated by maximizing the similarity between their pointing directions and their represented directions from a given location and heading. The results revealed that absolute pointing errors were significantly larger indoors than outdoors. This indoor-outdoor difference was primarily attributed to differences in estimating headings rather than differences in estimating positions. Furthermore, systematic positional shifts were observed in individual test views. These shifts were consistent between indoor and outdoor views of the same buildings but did not show consistency between indoor and outdoor views of different buildings. This suggests that individuals may develop a cognitive map of distorted but globally consistent representations of locations across boundaries. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Unlocking context-aware mobile map adaptation: a VR navigation user study

2025-06-12

Mona Bartling , Armand Kapaj , Bingjie Cheng +3 more | Cartography and Geographic Information Science

The Visual Analogue Scale—Dimensions of a Line

2025-06-10

Carolin Fröschle | Nuncius

Abstract In this paper, the Visual Analog Scale ( VAS ) is examined as a crucial yet still not well understood tool for measuring pain in medical settings. A historical … Abstract In this paper, the Visual Analog Scale ( VAS ) is examined as a crucial yet still not well understood tool for measuring pain in medical settings. A historical analysis is conducted, revealing how the VAS is deeply rooted in the parallel developments of pain measurement and graphically based evaluation. The unique visual aspects of the VAS and its inner workings as an image are identified and analyzed, showing that the scale is a highly complex instrument with distinct advantages that remain unleveraged. It is argued that the unsegmented horizontal line of the VAS , though seemingly straightforward, encapsulates a sophisticated mental process by which subjective pain experiences are “flattened” into a measurable form. It is shown that a misbelief in the nature of the VAS , caused by a lack of understanding, mediates a potentially problematic concept of pain. The need for greater awareness in medicine regarding the implications of representation is emphasized.

The Rapid Sense of Direction (R-SOD) Scale: A Brief Self-Report Tool to Identify Developmental Topographical Disorientation (DTD)

2025-06-09

Tejdeep Jaswal , Ford Burles , Giuseppe Iaria | Brain Sciences

Background/Objectives: Developmental Topographical Disorientation (DTD) refers to a condition in which individuals report getting lost in very familiar surroundings, since childhood, with no other cognitive complaints, and no brain injuries … Background/Objectives: Developmental Topographical Disorientation (DTD) refers to a condition in which individuals report getting lost in very familiar surroundings, since childhood, with no other cognitive complaints, and no brain injuries or neurological disorders. While the cognitive and neurological mechanisms underlying DTD are being investigated, to date, there is no tool available to the public and health practitioners for identifying this lifelong condition. Methods: Here, we used a decade of data (N = 3794) collected in healthy and DTD individuals to produce a short and reliable measure of self-reported sense of direction that could point to the presence of DTD. Results: We adopted a measure of internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) and identified four items of the well-known Santa Barbara Sense of Direction (SBSOD) Scale that retain its original strong internal consistency. These four items remain sensitive to the well-known effects of sex on spatial orientation and, importantly, to the presence of DTD, while maintaining the same pattern of association with a cognitive battery of computerized tasks measuring different spatial abilities. Conclusions: This four-item measure could be of practical use to obtain a rapid assessment of an individual’s self-reported sense of direction and help to identify the presence of DTD in the general population.

The Effects of a Three-Dimensional Virtual Learning Medium on Spatial Ability and Learning Achievement in the Anatomical Sciences

2025-06-01

Xiaoxiao Feng , Susan E. Powers , Lindsey E. Eberman +3 more | Thinking Skills and Creativity

The Influence of Wayfinding Strategy and Landmark Type on Wayfinding Performance in Virtual Reality Environments: Mediating Effect of Perceived Stress

2025-06-01

Jiale Liu , Kaiyue Zhong , Lei Zhu | Journal of Environmental Psychology

AR Speech Bubbles to Enhance Group Conversation Experiences for Individuals with Hearing Impairments

2025-05-31

Moon Jeong Kim , Dongwhan Kim | Archives of Design Research

The effect of vibrotactile feedback on performance, perception and trust when balancing in different analog g-levels

2025-05-31

Vivekanand Pandey Vimal , Paul DiZio , James R. Lackner | Experimental Brain Research

Cue relevance during navigation is a function of scale and experience

2025-05-31

Aaron R. Krochmal , Timothy C. Roth , Nathaniel T. Simmons | Animal Behaviour

Beyond the first glance: How human presence enhances visual entropy and promotes spatial learning

2025-05-30

Tracy Sánchez Pacheco , Debora Nolte , Sabine U. König +2 more | bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)

Spatial learning emerges not only from static environmental cues but also from the social and semantic context embedded in our surroundings. This study investigates how human agents influence visual exploration … Spatial learning emerges not only from static environmental cues but also from the social and semantic context embedded in our surroundings. This study investigates how human agents influence visual exploration and spatial knowledge acquisition in a controlled Virtual Reality (VR) environment, focusing on the role of contextual congruency. Participants freely explored a 1 km² virtual city while their eye movements were recorded. Agents were visually identical across conditions but placed in locations that were either congruent, incongruent, or neutral with respect to the surrounding environment. Using Bayesian hierarchical modeling, we found that incongruent agents elicited longer fixations and significantly higher gaze transition entropy (GTE), a measure of scanning variability. Crucially, GTE emerged as the strongest predictor of spatial recall accuracy. These findings suggest that human-contextual incongruence promotes more flexible and distributed visual exploration, thereby enhancing spatial learning. By showing that human agents shape not only where we look but how we explore and encode space, this study contributes to a growing understanding of how social meaning guides attention and supports navigation.

Enhancing Lower-Limb Simple and Choice Reaction Time and Spatial Orientation in Junior Basketball Players by Implementing Fitlight Technology in Sports Training

2025-05-30

Dana Bădău , Norbert Steff , Adela Bădău +1 more | Perceptual and Motor Skills

Our study aimed to improve the lower limbs’ simple and choice reaction times and reactive spatial orientation by practicing an experimental program using Fitlight technology in U14 and U16 junior … Our study aimed to improve the lower limbs’ simple and choice reaction times and reactive spatial orientation by practicing an experimental program using Fitlight technology in U14 and U16 junior basketball players. This research integrates three specific tests: the Lower Limb Reaction Test, the Lower Limb Choice Reaction Test, and the Spatial Orientation Reactive Test. These were designed to measure and improve players’ reactions to simple, choice, and spatial orientation through visual stimuli. An 18-week training program was implemented between the initial and final evaluation, emphasizing integrating basketball-specific technical and physical exercises using Fitlight technology. The subjects' sample consists of an experimental and control group with identical numbers of participants in both the U14 (18 subjects) and U16 (17 subjects) categories. SPSS was used for statistical analysis. The results indicate significant improvements with p < .05, Cohen’s d parameters with very high effect sizes (d > 1), in reaction times and spatial orientation for the experimental groups, highlighting the effectiveness of incorporating modern equipment in the sports training program. Analyzing the results of the experimental groups, we find that the most relevant age for the reactive development of spatial orientation with the help of Fitlight technologies implemented in the training process is U14, while the most relevant age for the reactive time of the lower limbs is U16. The study’s results highlight the experimental program’s positive impact in improving reactive reaction time in the lower limbs and spatial orientation of junior basketball players.

Explicit Instructions to Improve Spatial Visualization Skills of College Engineering Students

2025-05-29

Qian Wang , Yi Ding , Jiayi Wang +1 more | Journal of Civil Engineering Education

Wayfinding and navigation behaviours among pilgrim tourists on the St. Olav Ways in Norway

2025-05-27

Ole Edward Wattne , Linda Aandalen , Mattias Jansson

The impact of spatial skills on problem‐solving parsimony and solution quality in middle childhood

2025-05-27

Jonas Schäfer , Timo Reuter , Miriam Leuchter

Abstract Spatial skills are essential cognitive abilities that develop during middle childhood and play a crucial role in solving STEM problems. In this relation, however, important aspects of problem‐solving performance … Abstract Spatial skills are essential cognitive abilities that develop during middle childhood and play a crucial role in solving STEM problems. In this relation, however, important aspects of problem‐solving performance remain underexplored. Consequently, this study investigated whether spatial skills contribute to solution quality and parsimony in problem‐solving. The sample comprised 478 six‐ to eight‐year‐olds (219 female) who completed mental rotation, visuospatial memory and gear‐based problem‐solving tasks. In both problem‐solving tasks, spatial skills were associated with solution quality ( β = .27** or .39**, respectively) and partially with the number of operations ( β = −.06 or −.16*), indicating higher parsimony. Age was significantly linked to spatial skills and partially to parsimony but not to solution quality. These findings highlight the importance of spatial skills for different aspects of children's STEM‐related problem‐solving.

Influence of digital technologies on hikers' spatial behaviour and perception

2025-05-24

Julian Dietze

Mapping the Mind: Exploring Students' Visual-Spatial Thinking in Transformation Geometry

2025-05-22

Gelar Dwirahayu , Gusni Satriawati , Dindin Sobiruddin +2 more

This study investigates high school students’ visual-spatial thinking ability in the context of transformation geometry using a descriptive quantitative design. A total of 241 students from public and Islamic high … This study investigates high school students’ visual-spatial thinking ability in the context of transformation geometry using a descriptive quantitative design. A total of 241 students from public and Islamic high schools in Jakarta participated in the study, responding to a validated 40-item multiple-choice test assessing four key indicators: imagining, problem-solving, pattern seeking, and conceptualising. Results reveal that students generally performed at a medium level across all indicators, with the highest scores in imagining (M=62.97) and the lowest in conceptualising (M=47.05). These findings suggest that while students demonstrate some spatial reasoning capability, their conceptual understanding remains limited. The study highlights the importance of incorporating visualisation-focused strategies in geometry instruction to strengthen spatial reasoning and deeper comprehension of transformation concepts. Future research should explore the longitudinal impact of visual-spatial training and its role in developing higher-order geometrical thinking.

CONHECIMENTO GEOGRÁFICO NO ENSINO INFANTIL E FUNDAMENTAL DOS ANOS INICIAIS

2025-05-22

C. SILVA , Vládia Kelly de Araujo Souza , Djanní Martinho dos Santos Sobrinho | Saberes Revista interdisciplinar de Filosofia e Educação

Este artigo analisa como os professores do Seridó Potiguar que atuam no Ensino Infantil e Ensino Fundamental trabalham conteúdos geográficos. O objetivo é compreender as práticas pedagógicas durante o processo … Este artigo analisa como os professores do Seridó Potiguar que atuam no Ensino Infantil e Ensino Fundamental trabalham conteúdos geográficos. O objetivo é compreender as práticas pedagógicas durante o processo do ensino de geografia, a partir do perfil dos professores. Além disso, busca avaliar as metodologias utilizadas em sala de aula e identificar as estratégias metodológicas presentes no processo. Os principais pontos abordados no artigo são: a formação e experiência dos professores; os recursos metodológicos, didáticos e tecnológicos utilizados em sala de aula; e de que forma a BNCC contribui para o desenvolvimento das aulas. Portanto este artigo apresenta-se como relevante pela importância da investigação, destacando a necessidade e contribuições dos conhecimentos geográficos no Ensino Infantil e Fundamental dos Anos Iniciais, tendo em vista que o aluno necessita de uma construção reflexiva e prazerosa, enquanto o professor deve buscar práticas que estimulem essa aprendizagem crítica e lúdica, buscando amenizar as dificuldades dos alunos em relação aos conhecimentos geográficos.