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Training Mental Rotation: A Comparison of Training Spatial Visualization and Working Memory. Shannon Fitzhugh Jason Chein Alexandra Morrison Nora Newcombe Thomas F. Shipley. Perception and Cognition with Spatial Representations. Training. What we know about training….
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Training Mental Rotation: A Comparison of Training Spatial Visualization and Working Memory Shannon Fitzhugh Jason Chein Alexandra Morrison Nora Newcombe Thomas F. Shipley
Perception and Cognition withSpatial Representations http://www.spatialintelligence.org
Training • What we know about training…. • Working Memory Training improves executive function and reading comprehension • Spatial Visualization Training improves Mental Rotation, help retain women in STEM disciplines (engineering) • What we don’t know about training…. • What is the mechanism? • Is the mechanism domain general (i.e. executive functioning) or domain specific (i.e. spatial ability) • Are the profiles of change the same for all groups of people? http://www.spatialintelligence.org
Experimental Design http://www.spatialintelligence.org
Methods • Results as Composite Z-Score • Verbal – average z-score for all verbal assessments (Nelson Denny, operation span) • Spatial – average z-score for all spatial assessments(Paper-and-pencil MRT-A, symmetry span, Paper folding (ETS), Surface development (ETS)) • Eye-tracking
Training Paradigms Feedback Feedback http://www.spatialintelligence.org “N” times – adaptive portion • Verbal WM training (adaptive complex span) Lexical decision Memory item Response “N” times – adaptive portion 4 s 1 s • Verbal STM training (adaptive simple span) No Processing Memory item Response • Spatial Visualization Training (progressive workbook;Sorby, 2003)
Measures: Nelson Denny Operation span http://www.spatialintelligence.org
Visualization Training Facilitates Encoding http://www.spatialintelligence.org
Eye Tracking: Gaze Change Working Memory Short Term Memory Spatial Visualization http://www.spatialintelligence.org
Conclusions • Memory training improves both verbal and spatial abilities (improving attention). • Visualization training improves spatial skills (Improving encoding) • Training effects and individual spatial abilities • WM improves performance on WM tasks for all groups and MRT performance for all groups • Spatial Training improves performance on spatial tasks for high and low ability only – non-rotators remain flat http://www.spatialintelligence.org