Mental Rotation Ability And Geometry Of Projective Capacity Of Experimental Research

Spatial cognition is an important constituent of human intelligence structure. The study of the ability to process spatial information not only has significant theoretical meaning to the understanding of human ability of spatial cognition, but also has important application value. Many invention activities in modern science are closely associated with the representation transition of spatial cognition. Applications of Spatial cognition have found their value in information processing of small-scale spatial information, as well as in that of large-scale spatial information. Spatial cognition has played an important role in traditional cognitive ability and has been an important part of social cognition and information processing of social structure.The research focuses on the capability of direct projection of solid figures, together with the relatively mature capability of mental rotation. This research helps understand some characteristics of information processing during spatial cognition, and lay the foundation for further exploration of the mechanism of spatial information processing. Data from this research project could also be used to deduce the general rules in spatial cognition development and to guide educational practices. This research finds its theoretical foundations from both cognitive organization analyzing principle of global-first in topological perception theory and mental rotation theory.The results suggest: ① Maths grades is closely related to mental rotation, and subjects whose maths grade are high have high correctness rate of mental rotation. The reaction time of mental rotation differs between ages. Students in senior high school use less time than students in junior high school. There is no difference between gender on correctness rate and reaction time of mental rotation. ②For middle school students, the familiarity of material used in mental rotation can affect the correctness rate and reaction time. Familiar material can make the effect of angle difference more clear, while the effect of angle of unfamiliar material is not significant. ③Middle school students would perceive the global-first topological invariance of the solid figure when they make the projection, and then the local property or components. When the biggest outline looking down has the same plane across the figure, the velocity of projection is fast and the correctness is high, no matter how much different geometrical figures like angle, line segment, size and length are in Euclidean Geometry; While the biggest outline looking down is in the different planes across the object, the cognition of local property is earlier than that of global property and the whole mental operation process will be more laborious and take more time. ④The difference of projection correctness rate within the subjects mainly is related to the age difference. The older the subjects are, the higher the correctness rate is. The academic achievement and the gender have no significant relation with correctness rate. ⑤Mental rotation capability can, to some extend, predict the correctness rate of projection. The correctness rates of subjects whose mental rotation marks are high are higher than those of subjects whose mental rotation marks are low. However, mental rotation capability is not related to reaction time of projection.