Spatial Abilities and Effect of Working Memory on Drawings of Objects from Haptic Perception
Authors: Langlois Jean , Dagenais Yvan , Martin Marcel , Lemieux Renald , Lecourtois Marc , Bernick Jordan , Bellemare Christian , Yetisir Elizabeth , Bergeron Germain , Hamstra Stanley J. , Wells George A. 
Published: November 2023

Objective

As a basis for an application in anatomy education, vision‐based spatial abilities tests have been correlated with drawings of objects from haptic perception. Decreasing haptic perception while increasing working memory has been found to decrease performance on drawings of objects from haptic perception. The objective of the current study was to correlate spatial abilities to the effect of working memory on drawings of objects from haptic perception.

Methods

A cohort of 24 medical graduates was enrolled in a prospective study. Ethics committee approval and written informed concent were obtained. Spatial abilities were measured with a redrawn Vandenberg and Kuse Mental Rotations Tests in two (MRTA) and three (MRTC) dimensions and a Surface Development Test (SDT). Experiment was done within a one‐month rotation preparing for residency. Eighteen objects constructed from 10 cubes glued together, similar to Shepard and Metzler's objects, were drawn by participants from haptic perception. Drawings were scored by one judge. Time performance was defined as the time to perform all drawings/number of correct drawing. The first and second exercise were done before and within a one‐week drawing course, respectively. In the first exercise, object could be touched by participants for up to seven minutes while drawing the object. In the second exercise, 30 seconds were allowed for haptic perception of the object, 15 seconds to memorize, and up to 375 seconds to draw the object without any further haptic access to the object. The maximum score was 24 for each of MRTA and MRTC, 60 for SDT, 18 for the drawing score, and 420 seconds for time performance. Descriptive statistics included median and lower and upper quartiles. Spearman's correlation coefficient (and associated p‐value) was used to correlate the change in drawing score and time performance to MRTA, MRTC and SDT scores.

Results

Correlations of change in drawing score between the first and second exercice [5 (4, 8.5)] with MRTA [10.5 (7.5, 14)], MRTC [8.0 (5, 10.5)] and SDT [44 (36, 46.5)] scores were − 0.371 (p = 0.0747), −0.454 (p = 0.0257) and −0.556 (p = 0.0048), respectively. Similarly, correlations of change in time performance between the first and second exercice [106 (27, 321) seconds] with MRTA, MRTC and SDT scores were −0.288 (p = 0.1716), −0.426 (p < 0.0378) and −0.439 (p = 0.0318), respectively.

Conclusion

Spatial abilities tests were correlated to the effect of working memory on drawings of objects from haptic perception. These findings imply a possible neural pathway between spatial abilities in the parietal lobe and working memory in the central executive lateral prefrontal cortex of brain.

Support or Funding Information

This study was supported by an internal grant from the Department of Surgery, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.