Different perspectives: Spatial ability influences where individuals look on a timed spatial test

Abstract

Learning in anatomy can be both spatially and visually complex. Pedagogical investigations have begun exploration as to how spatial ability may mitigate learning. Emerging hypotheses suggests individuals with higher spatial reasoning may attend to images differently than those who are lacking. To elucidate attentional patterns associated with different spatial ability, eye movements were measured in individuals completing a timed electronic mental rotation test (EMRT). The EMRT was based on the line drawings of Shepherd and Metzler. Individuals deduced whether image pairs were rotations (same) or mirror images (different). It was hypothesized that individuals with high spatial ability (HSA) would demonstrate shorter average fixation durations during problem solving and attend to different features of the EMRT than low spatial ability (LSA) counterparts. Moreover, question response accuracy would be associated with fewer fixations and shorter average response times, regardless of spatial reasoning ability. Average fixation duration in the HSA group was shorter than LSA (F(1,8) = 7.99; P = 0.022). Importantly, HSA and LSA individuals looked to different regions of the EMRT images (Fisher Exact Test: 12.47; P = 0.018); attending to the same locations only 34% of the time. Correctly answered questions were characterized by fewer fixations per question (F(1, 8) = 18.12; P = 0.003) and shorter average response times (F(1, 8) = 23.89; P = 0.001). The results indicate that spatial ability may influence visual attention to salient areas of images and this may be key to problem solving processes for low spatial individuals. Anat Sci Educ 10: 224-234. © 2016 American Association of Anatomists.

Time limits in testing: An analysis of eye movements and visual attention in spatial problem solving

“…While the work of Just and Carpenter demonstrated differences in eye movements and in approaches to mental rotation between ability‐based groups, the eye movement experiments by Roach et al () further confirmed and dissected the dichotomy between HMRA and LMRA. Through the use of specific performance measures (mean fixation duration, response latency and mean fixations per question) and an attentional salience measure, differences between the HMRA and LMRA groups were revealed (Roach et al, ). The “salience” measure (Table ) quantified where groups directed their attention as they performed a spatial test, the EMRT.…”

“…Salience distributions were generated according to the methodology described by Roach et al (2016Roach et al ( , 2017). Roach's quantitative analysis of salience was conducted using a methodology similar to the technique described by Lee et al (2011).…”

“…In a foundational study, Just and Carpenter demonstrated significant differences in mean response latency and in the frequency of back-and-forth eye movements (comparisons between two presented images) between individuals of high mental rotation ability (HMRA) and low mental rotation ability (LMRA) as they performed an untimed test of MRA (Just and Carpenter, 1985). While the work of Just and Carpenter demonstrated differences in eye movements and in approaches to mental rotation between ability-based groups, the eye movement experiments by Roach et al (2016Roach et al ( , 2017 further confirmed and dissected the dichotomy between HMRA and LMRA. Through the use of specific performance measures (mean fixation duration, response latency and mean fixations per question) and an attentional salience measure, differences between the HMRA and LMRA groups were revealed (Roach et al, 2016(Roach et al, , 2017.…”

Guiding Low Spatial Ability Individuals through Visual Cueing: The Dual Importance of Where and When to Look

“…When considering the inversion of agreement scores observed (Table ) in the No Guidance group, the scattered approach to visual search adopted by low MRA individuals when unguided is evident (Roach et al, , ). The ineffective approach employed by low skilled individuals is well documented in the literature in the context of visual search occurring during a game of chess, while interpreting a mammogram, and while driving (Krupinski, ; Chapman and Underwood, ; Charness et al, ).…”

“…All 16 sets of EMME cues were then assembled, and administered randomly in triplicate for a total of 48 questions. This constituted the guided EMRT that was administered with a time limit of 6 seconds per question (Roach et al, ) (Fig. ).…”