The Empirical Study Based on Graphic Fundamentals for Mental Rotation of Spatial Dimensions

• Main Authors: Shih-Fann Chao, 趙世範
• Other Authors: Yu L. Gingchi
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2012
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/31558948989742032767

博士 === 高雄師範大學 === 工業科技教育學系 === 100 === This study adopts graphics fundamentals to extend the application of the original mental rotation theories in plane and depth axis. Mental rotation is an important instrument to measure human subjects portraying real objects rotating to different orientations, the linear relations between all variables can be found from behavior data. However, current mental rotation appears to have some problems. For example, it has to consider diverse forms of pictures, including unidentifiable perspective, unidentifiable projection way, unidentifiable axis, gray level, shadow implication, etc. There is no standardized coordinates system that is able to quantize and portray spatial orientations of graphs. Instruments of measuring human subjects’ spatial capability are made, but their spatial orientations of graphic appearances contain some unclear disputes. This study aims at combining graphic fundamentals to solve the problems addressed above. The graphic appearance of mental rotation is redrawn by graphic projection, and its rotation direction follows the spatial dimension of the coordinates system. Experiments are employed to examine the process. Data collected from each experimental are analyzed with statistic approaches. The results are presented as the following: 1. In this study, through literatures collection and analysis that based on the fundamentals of graphics, summarized eight rules, by solve problem for the image of the graphics representation of the mental rotation. 2. Combination the rules and application of computer-aided drawing of CAD tools, according to developing the mental rotation library of different spatial dimensions. 3. The experiment confirmed in a two-dimensional plane, the degree variable of mental rotation has a positive association with the reaction time, in which a linear function is significant. In a two-dimensional plane, the degree variable of mental rotation has a negative association with the accuracy rate. When rotation degrees are higher, accuracy rates are lower. This could be a crucial factor for gauging the subjects’ mental rotation ability about a plane axis. 4. The experiment confirmed in a three-dimensional plane, the degree variable of all-axis of mental rotation has a positive association with the reaction time, in which a linear function is significant. In a three-dimensional plane, the degree variable of all-axis of mental rotation has a negative association with the accuracy rates. When rotation degrees are higher, the accuracy rates are lower. This could be a crucial factor for gauging the subjects’ mental rotation ability about a depth axis. 5. In a two-dimensional plane, the dependent variables of mental rotation, including the test of gender differences in reaction time and accuracy rate, do not have significant outcomes. In a three-dimensional plane, the dependent variables of all-axis of mental rotation, including the test of gender differences in reaction time, do not have significant outcomes. 6. In a two-dimensional plane, the degree variable of all-axis of mental rotation has a positive association with the reaction time, in which a linear function is significant. 7. In all three-dimensional plane, the degree variable of all-axis of mental rotation has a positive association with the reaction time, in which a linear function is significant. Like two-dimensional plane this is consistent with the study of Shepard et al. 8. In a three-dimensional plane, the dependent variables of Y-axis of mental rotation, the test of gender differences in accuracy rates is significant: that of the boys’ is higher than that of the girls. This is different from the outcomes of other experimental steps. 9. The EEG data of event-related potentials that by analysis and comparison of quantitative, this study found that different gender during the three-dimensional plane, the degree variable of Y-axis of mental rotation operation process, the brain activation regions have lateralization of gender. Girls during the three-dimensional plane, the degree variable of Y-axis of mental rotation operation process, its main focus on the regional activation of left frontal lobe of the brain. Boys during mental rotation operation process of Y-axis, the main active region was at the brain's left parietal lobe.