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Developmental Trajectories in Spatial Visualization and Mental Rotation in Individuals with Down Syndrome
Elizabeth Maria Doerr1, Barbara Carretti1, Enrico Toffalini1
1Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy.
Brain Sciences
|June 2, 2021
Summary
Developmental level, not chronological age, better explains changes in spatial visualization and mental rotation for individuals with Down syndrome (DS). This study tracked these visuospatial abilities in DS participants.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Genetics
Background:
- Investigating developmental trajectories of visuospatial abilities in Down syndrome (DS) is crucial but underexplored.
- This study addresses this gap by examining spatial visualization and mental rotation in individuals with DS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the developmental changes in spatial visualization and mental rotation abilities in individuals with Down syndrome.
- To determine the relationship between these visuospatial skills, chronological age, and developmental level.
Main Methods:
- Eighty-seven participants with DS (aged 7–53 years) completed spatial visualization and mental rotation tasks.
- Developmental level was assessed using Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices.
- Performance changes were analyzed against chronological age and developmental level.
Main Results:
- Spatial visualization performance showed a linear association with chronological age and developmental level.
- Mental rotation performance improved until age 14, then declined, with developmental level showing a segmented trend.
- Mental rotation trajectories were influenced by the degree of rotation required.
Conclusions:
- Chronological age accounted for a small portion of the variance in visuospatial abilities.
- Developmental level provided a better explanation for the observed changes in both spatial visualization and mental rotation in individuals with DS.
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