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Motor imagery and engagement favour spatial reasoning
Francesco Ianì1,2, Walter Schaeken3, Ivan Nabil Ras4
1Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università degli studi di Torino, Via Verdi, 10, 10123, Turin, Italy. francesco.iani@unito.it.
Memory & Cognition
|December 27, 2022
Summary
Imagining moving objects in spatial reasoning tasks (dynamic engagement) significantly speeds up accurate inferences. This motor imagery effect was confirmed in experiments, highlighting its role in cognitive abilities.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Spatial Cognition
Background:
- Spatial reasoning is theorized to involve mental model construction.
- Sensory-motor imagery is known to enhance cognitive functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if imagining object movement (motor imagery) improves spatial reasoning.
- To explore the role of self-engagement versus observation in this process.
Main Methods:
- Experiment 1: Compared dynamic engagement (imagining moving objects) with static non-engagement (reading premises).
- Experiment 2: Introduced dynamic non-engagement (imagining someone else moving objects) and static engagement (observing objects).
Main Results:
- Participants in the dynamic-engagement condition showed faster accurate inferences.
- Experiment 2 revealed an interaction between motor imagery and engagement, reducing response times.
- Motor imagery and active self-engagement are key factors in enhancing spatial reasoning speed.
Conclusions:
- Actively imagining object manipulation enhances spatial reasoning performance.
- These findings have practical implications for improving cognitive training and learning strategies.
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