How To Improve Spatial Skill: Converging on Mechanism

Alexandra Morrison

Temple University

Acknowledgements

Nora Newcombe Tim Shipley

Alexandra Morrison Shannon Fitzhugh

Graduate Students

Research Staff

Danielle EaganMike DemersDominique Dumay Adrienne Villagomez

Jason Chein

Spatial Intelligence Learning Center & Temple University Neurocognition Lab

3 Questions

• Why Train Spatial Skills?

• How can we train spatial skills?

• What are the results of different training approaches?– In progress data

Why Spatial?

How did you get to San Diego for Aera?

Pack a Suitcase?

Navigate a busy airport?

Read a map?

Why Spatial? Scientific Thought and Communication

• STEM Disciplines– Science– Technology– Engineering – Math

Why Spatial?Predicts choice of STEM Major

– Higher spatial ability is associated with choice of STEM major (Hedges and Chung)

• Controlling for IQ & SES• Equal in gender

– SATM also related to choice of STEM discipline (Shae, Lubinski, & Benbow, 2001)

How can we train spatial skills?

• Two Approaches

– Strategy 1: Train Spatial Skills– Domain Specific Approach

– Strategy 2: Train shared mental resources– Domain general Approach

Approach 1: Train Domain Specific Skills• Can train spatial skills by

1. Familiarizing participants with spatial stimuli A. geometric shapesB. Shepard-Metzler Cubes

2. Practice spatial Transformations

Approach 1: Example of Domain Specific Spatial Training

• Wright, Thompson, Ganis, Newcombe, & Kosslyn, 2008

– Trained in either mental rotation or paper folding– Transferred to nontrained spatial but not verbal

task– Results domain specific but not task specific

Approach 2:Domain General Training

• Repetitive mental exercise improves general cognitive abilities

• Small scientific literature supports this

Approach 2: Domain General Cognitive Training

An emerging science of cognitive training …

Demonstrates1. Performance also relies on general cognitive abilities2. General cognitive abilities are both malleable &

trainable.

Approach 2: Working Memory Training

WM

Language Comp.

VerbalReasoning

SpatialReasoning

Problem Solving

FluidIntelligence

• WM capacity is a domain-general resource

• WM capacity predicts performance in a broad range of tasks(e.g., Kane et al., 2004)

• Successfully trained• Klingberg, 2002 & 2005

• Vaerhaghen, 2004

• Jaeggi, 2008

Working Memory vs. Short Term Memory

• Working Memory (WM)– Simultaneous storage and processing

• Short Term Memory (STM)– Storage only

What do we find when we compare types of training?

• Our goals1. Look at the malleability of spatial skills

2. Contrast different Cognitive Training ParadigmsDomain Specific

Spatial Visualization Training

Verbal Short Term Memory Training

Domain GeneralVerbal Working Memory Training

3. Determine Transfer Patterns

Training Methods Overview

Pre-test of cognitive skill level

Spatial Visualization Training

Working Memory TrainingPost-test of cognitive

skill level

Short Term Memory Training

Cognitive Assessment Battery

– MRT-A (Peters, 1995)– Solid Object Mental Rotation Test (Fitzhugh, Shipley, Newcombe & Dumay

(in prep.)– Spatial/Verbal STM

• Storage only

– Spatial/Verbal WM• Storage + processing

– Verbal Reasoning• Non-sense syllogisms, Inference

– Cognitive Control• Stroop

– Spatial Reasoning• Paper Folding, Surface Development

– Reading Comprehension• Nelson Denny

Training Regimes

• 5 days a week – 30 min per day• 4 weeks of training• Trained at home while guided by lab staff

Training Type 1:Spatial Visualization Training

• Domain Specific Spatial Training

• Introduction to 3D Visualization (Sorby, 1996)– Focus on transforming 3D objects into 2D

representations• Isomorphic – 2D perspective rendering• Orthographic – 2D flat projections• Surface Development • Rotation about one axis

Working Memory TrainingC

Glib

XFoot

TPrust

PMile

• Domain general task

•Storage + Processing

•Adaptive Difficulty

Short Term Memory Training

• Domain Specific Verbal

• Storage only– 4s interval

• Adaptive difficulty

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Results of In Progress Study (n=91)

• Examine the following Questions: Do different types of training yield different

results?What is the impact of each training type on:

1. Spatial Skills2. STM (storage only) 3. WM (storage and information processing)

Differential Effects of Training

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Selective Attention (Stroop)

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Does the type of Training Matter?

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Which training types improve spatial skills?

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Mental Rotation (MRT-A)

SV WM STM

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Which Training types increase memory storage?

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Spatial STM

SV WM STM

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Which Training types improve storage and processing of information?

25

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d = .39

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*d = .44

d = .35d = .48

Summary – Spatial Visualization Training

– SV training transfers to other spatial measures• Mental Rotation• Surface Development • Spatial Working Memory

– No transfer to verbal tasks– Domain specific but not task specific!

Summary Working Memory Training

– WM training transfers to non-trained domains • WM training spatial visualization measures• Also transferred to cognitive control measure

Summary Short Term Memory Training

– Transfer to verbal tasks– Some Transfer to spatial tasks

• May approximate WM training at longer list lengths (Unsworth & Engle, 2007)

Future Directions

• Trivia Training Control Group• Examine eye movement data

– Looks like Spatial training and WM may improve by different mechanisms

• 3 month follow-up– Are improvements stable?

Thank You! • Nora Newcombe• Jason Chein• Tim Shipley• Shannon Fitzhugh• Danielle Eagan• Dominique Dumay• Mike Demers• Adrienne Villagomez

**This research was supported by a National Science Foundation grant to support the Spatial Intelligence and Learning Center (No. SBE0541957)