Developmental Trajectories in Spatial Visualization and Mental Rotation in Individuals with Down Syndrome

Background. The analysis of developmental trajectories of visuospatial abilities in individuals with Down Syndrome (DS) remains an unexplored field of investigation to examine in depth. The study aimed to fill such a gap by examining changes in two visuospatial abilities: spatial visualization (the...

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Main Authors: Elizabeth Maria Doerr, Barbara Carretti, Enrico Toffalini, Silvia Lanfranchi, Chiara Meneghetti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-05-01
Series:Brain Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/5/610
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author Elizabeth Maria Doerr
Barbara Carretti
Enrico Toffalini
Silvia Lanfranchi
Chiara Meneghetti
author_facet Elizabeth Maria Doerr
Barbara Carretti
Enrico Toffalini
Silvia Lanfranchi
Chiara Meneghetti
author_sort Elizabeth Maria Doerr
collection DOAJ
description Background. The analysis of developmental trajectories of visuospatial abilities in individuals with Down Syndrome (DS) remains an unexplored field of investigation to examine in depth. The study aimed to fill such a gap by examining changes in two visuospatial abilities: spatial visualization (the ability to manage spatial stimuli) and mental rotation (the ability to rotate spatial stimuli). Method. Eighty-seven participants with DS, aged between 7 and 53 years (forty-seven males and forty females), completed spatial visualization and mental rotation tasks. Changes in these two abilities were analyzed in relation to chronological age and developmental level, the latter derived from Raven’s Colored Progressive Matrices. Results. Chronological age was linearly associated with spatial visualization performance, whereas mental rotation performance increased until 14 years of age and then decreased. Developmental level was linearly associated with increased performance in spatial visualization, the trend in mental rotation was segmented with an increase after 5 years of age. Furthermore, developmental trajectories in mental rotation depended on the rotation degree. Conclusion. Chronological age explains a modest quote of variance. Developmental level better describes changes in spatial visualization and mental rotation of individuals with DS.
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spelling doaj.art-387f49f55f2a4354baa5172af94b754f2023-11-21T19:02:57ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252021-05-0111561010.3390/brainsci11050610Developmental Trajectories in Spatial Visualization and Mental Rotation in Individuals with Down SyndromeElizabeth Maria Doerr0Barbara Carretti1Enrico Toffalini2Silvia Lanfranchi3Chiara Meneghetti4Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, ItalyDepartment of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, ItalyDepartment of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, ItalyDepartment of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, ItalyDepartment of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, ItalyBackground. The analysis of developmental trajectories of visuospatial abilities in individuals with Down Syndrome (DS) remains an unexplored field of investigation to examine in depth. The study aimed to fill such a gap by examining changes in two visuospatial abilities: spatial visualization (the ability to manage spatial stimuli) and mental rotation (the ability to rotate spatial stimuli). Method. Eighty-seven participants with DS, aged between 7 and 53 years (forty-seven males and forty females), completed spatial visualization and mental rotation tasks. Changes in these two abilities were analyzed in relation to chronological age and developmental level, the latter derived from Raven’s Colored Progressive Matrices. Results. Chronological age was linearly associated with spatial visualization performance, whereas mental rotation performance increased until 14 years of age and then decreased. Developmental level was linearly associated with increased performance in spatial visualization, the trend in mental rotation was segmented with an increase after 5 years of age. Furthermore, developmental trajectories in mental rotation depended on the rotation degree. Conclusion. Chronological age explains a modest quote of variance. Developmental level better describes changes in spatial visualization and mental rotation of individuals with DS.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/5/610developmental trajectoriesspatial visualizationmental rotationindividuals with Down syndrome
spellingShingle Elizabeth Maria Doerr
Barbara Carretti
Enrico Toffalini
Silvia Lanfranchi
Chiara Meneghetti
Developmental Trajectories in Spatial Visualization and Mental Rotation in Individuals with Down Syndrome
Brain Sciences
developmental trajectories
spatial visualization
mental rotation
individuals with Down syndrome
title Developmental Trajectories in Spatial Visualization and Mental Rotation in Individuals with Down Syndrome
title_full Developmental Trajectories in Spatial Visualization and Mental Rotation in Individuals with Down Syndrome
title_fullStr Developmental Trajectories in Spatial Visualization and Mental Rotation in Individuals with Down Syndrome
title_full_unstemmed Developmental Trajectories in Spatial Visualization and Mental Rotation in Individuals with Down Syndrome
title_short Developmental Trajectories in Spatial Visualization and Mental Rotation in Individuals with Down Syndrome
title_sort developmental trajectories in spatial visualization and mental rotation in individuals with down syndrome
topic developmental trajectories
spatial visualization
mental rotation
individuals with Down syndrome
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/5/610
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