Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Role of Hippocampus in Memory

Role of Hippocampus in Memory

The hippocampus, a critical brain structure, plays an essential role in memory processing, particularly in the formation and retrieval of memory. This small, seahorse-shaped region is located within the medial temporal lobe, with one hippocampus in each brain hemisphere. Experimental studies involving lesions in the hippocampi of rats have demonstrated significant impairments in tasks such as object recognition and maze navigation, indicating the hippocampus involvement in both recognition and...

Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory

Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory

Memory is one of the most vital higher mental functions of the brain. Memory is closely related to learning because it enables us to retain information and experiences from our past to use them in our present life. It also helps us to remember facts, events, and skills, such as riding a bike or swimming. There are two types of memory — declarative memory, which involves memorizing facts or events, and procedural memory, which enables us to remember how to do something like writing or playing an...

Depth Perception and Spatial Vision

Depth Perception and Spatial Vision

Depth perception is the ability to perceive objects three-dimensionally. It relies on two types of cues: binocular and monocular. Binocular cues depend on the combination of images from both eyes and how the eyes work together. Since the eyes are in slightly different positions, each eye captures a slightly different image. This disparity between images, known as binocular disparity, helps the brain interpret depth. When the brain compares these images, it determines the distance to an object.

Lateralization

Lateralization

Brain lateralization refers to the division of mental processes and functions between the two hemispheres of the brain, a phenomenon that optimizes neural efficiency and underpins complex abilities in humans. This specialization allows each hemisphere to perform tasks where it has a comparative advantage, facilitating more refined cognitive capabilities across different domains.

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity reflects the brain's remarkable capacity to adapt and evolve, responding dynamically to learning, experiences, or injury by reorganizing its neural circuitry. This reorganization involves creating new neural connections and refining old ones through a series of biological processes that contribute to the brain's lifelong development and adaptability.

Anatomy of the Brain: Ventricles

Anatomy of the Brain: Ventricles

There are hollow fluid-filled cavities known as ventricles deep inside the human brain. There are two lateral ventricles, one in each cerebral hemisphere, and each has three different projections — the anterior, inferior, and posterior horns visible from the lateral side. A thin membrane called the septum pellucidum separates the two lateral ventricles. The slender third ventricle in the diencephalon is connected to each lateral ventricle via a channel called the interventricular foramen. The...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

From Quiet Quitting to Open Dialogue in Medical Education: Longitudinal Student Perspectives on the Factors Shaping Student Engagement.

Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges·2025

Same author

Response to: 'Rethinking flexibility in high-stakes assessments'.

Medical teacher·2025

Same author

Tracking response flexibility in high-stakes summative assessments: A longitudinal student perspective.

Medical teacher·2024

Same author

Designing a Workplace-Based Learning Environment for Learning Health Promotion: A Design-Based Research.

Perspectives on medical education·2024

Same author

Exploring workplace-based learning in distributed healthcare settings: a qualitative study.

BMC medical education·2024

Same author

Workplace-based learning about health promotion in individual patient care: a scoping review.

BMJ open·2023

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 14, 2026

Assessing Human Spatial Navigation in a Virtual Space and its Sensitivity to Exercise

Assessing Human Spatial Navigation in a Virtual Space and its Sensitivity to Exercise

Published on: January 26, 2024

Learning anatomy enhances spatial ability.

Marc A T M Vorstenbosch¹, Tim P F M Klaassen, A R T Rogier Donders

¹Department of Anatomy, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, The Netherlands. m.vorstenbosch@anat.umcn.nl

Anatomical Sciences Education

|January 26, 2013

Summary

Learning anatomy improves spatial ability, as measured by the mental rotation test (MRT). Medical students studying anatomy showed greater improvement on the MRT than students studying other subjects, suggesting spatial skills can be trained.

Keywords:

MRT gross anatomy education medical education mental rotation test spatial ability

More Related Videos

Assessing Spatial Learning and Memory in Small Squamate Reptiles

Assessing Spatial Learning and Memory in Small Squamate Reptiles

Published on: January 3, 2017

Exploring Deep Space - Uncovering the Anatomy of Periventricular Structures to Reveal the Lateral Ventricles of the Human Brain

Exploring Deep Space - Uncovering the Anatomy of Periventricular Structures to Reveal the Lateral Ventricles of the Human Brain

Published on: October 22, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 14, 2026

Assessing Human Spatial Navigation in a Virtual Space and its Sensitivity to Exercise

Assessing Human Spatial Navigation in a Virtual Space and its Sensitivity to Exercise

Published on: January 26, 2024

Assessing Spatial Learning and Memory in Small Squamate Reptiles

Assessing Spatial Learning and Memory in Small Squamate Reptiles

Published on: January 3, 2017

Exploring Deep Space - Uncovering the Anatomy of Periventricular Structures to Reveal the Lateral Ventricles of the Human Brain

Exploring Deep Space - Uncovering the Anatomy of Periventricular Structures to Reveal the Lateral Ventricles of the Human Brain

Published on: October 22, 2017

Area of Science:

Medical Education
Cognitive Science
Anatomy

Background:

Spatial ability is crucial for anatomy learning, with higher mental rotation test (MRT) scores correlating with better anatomy exam performance.
The reciprocal relationship between anatomy learning and spatial ability requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

To determine if studying anatomy enhances spatial ability.
To compare the spatial ability improvement in medical students studying anatomy versus educational science students studying research methods.

Main Methods:

A pretest and posttest design was employed using the mental rotation test (MRT) over one month.
Five hundred first-year students were divided into an intervention group (n=242, anatomy) and a control group (n=258, social science research methods).

Main Results:

The intervention group demonstrated significantly greater improvement in MRT scores compared to the control group.
Medical students initially scored higher on the MRT and showed a larger gain after studying anatomy.
Both groups exhibited improvement, indicating a potential test effect with repeated MRT administration.

Conclusions:

Studying anatomy can enhance spatial ability, as evidenced by improved mental rotation test performance.
Medical students possess higher baseline spatial ability than educational science students.
Anatomy education offers a reciprocal benefit, improving both anatomical knowledge and spatial skills.