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Are developments in mental scanning and mental rotation related?
Marina C Wimmer1, Elizabeth J Robinson2, Martin J Doherty3
1University of Plymouth, School of Psychology, Cognition Centre, Plymouth, United Kingdom.
Plos One
|February 17, 2017
Summary
Mental scanning and mental rotation abilities emerge between ages 4-6. Despite similar development, these spatial cognition skills appear unrelated from early childhood, suggesting distinct underlying cognitive processes.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Mental scanning and rotation are key spatial cognition abilities.
- Previous research suggests these abilities may be related in adults and aging populations.
- Understanding their developmental trajectory in children is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental relationship between mental scanning and mental rotation in children.
- To determine if these abilities develop as a unified set or as independent skills.
- To examine age-related differences in performance from early childhood to adulthood.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 102 participants aged 4 to adult.
- Assessment of mental scanning and mental rotation accuracy and response times.
- Analysis of performance differences across age groups and task conditions.
Main Results:
- Both mental scanning and rotation abilities show development between ages 4 and 6.
- Four-year-olds did not differ in accuracy between scanning and non-scanning trials, unlike older participants.
- Response time patterns varied in 4-year-olds compared to older groups.
- Despite parallel development, mental scanning and rotation performances were found to be unrelated.
Conclusions:
- Mental scanning and mental rotation develop as distinct, unrelated abilities from early childhood.
- These findings extend previous research on adults, indicating early divergence of these spatial skills.
- Underlying cognitive mechanisms, like visual working memory and spatial coding, may differ for each ability.
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