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Spatial Abilities and Pictures of Objects Recognized from Haptic Perception: Effect of Short Term Memory
Author(s) -
Langlois Jean,
Dagenais Yvan,
Martin Marcel,
Lemieux Renald,
Lecourtois Marc,
Yetisir Elizabeth,
Bellemare Christian,
Bergeron Germain,
Hamstra Stanley J.,
Wells George A.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.570.1
Subject(s) - haptic technology , haptic perception , memorization , perception , psychology , object (grammar) , mental rotation , stereotaxy , term (time) , cognitive psychology , cognition , artificial intelligence , computer science , physics , quantum mechanics , neuroscience
Objective As a basis for an application in anatomy education, vision‐based spatial abilities tests have been correlated with pictures of objects recognized from haptic perception. The objective of the current study was to determine the effect of short term memory on the recognition of pictures of objects from haptic perception. The hypothesis is that the use of short term memory has a negative effect on the performance. Methods A cohort of 48 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). In a one‐month rotation preparing for residency, the experiment was done within a one‐week drawing course before a one‐week applied anatomy course. Twenty‐five objects constructed from various shaped parts glued together were identified on a picture by participants after haptic perception. In the first exercise, participants could touch the object for up to two minutes while identifying the corresponding picture. In the second exercise, 30 seconds were allowed for haptic perception of the object, 15 seconds to memorize, and up to 75 seconds to identify the corresponding picture without any further haptic access to the object. The maximum score was 24 for each of MRTA and MRTC, 60 for SDT, and 25 for the picture score. Descriptive statistics included median and lower and upper quartiles. Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to correlate the picture score to MRTA, MRTC and SDT scores. Wilcoxon signed‐rank test was used to compare the picture score in the first and second exercise. Results The picture score in the first exercise [18 (12, 21)] was correlated with MRTA [14 (9, 17)], MRTC [9.5 (6.5, 12)] and SDT [44.5 (36, 53)] scores with a correlation of 0.427 (p = 0.0025), 0.539 (p < 0.0001) and 0.429 (p = 0.0024), respectively. Similarly, the picture score in the second exercise [10 (7, 13)] was correlated with MRTA, MRTC, and SDT scores with a correlation of 0.444 (p = 0.0014), 0.384 (p = 0.0064) and 0.323 (p = 0.0236), respectively. The picture score in the first and second exercise was different (p < 0.0001). Conclusion Haptics is involved in the handling of anatomical structures. Vision‐based spatial abilities tests were correlated with pictures of objects recognized from haptic perception. The use of short term memory was found to have a negative effect on the performance. These findings on haptic perception and short term memory have promising avenues for education in the anatomy laboratory. Support or Funding Information This study was supported by an internal grant from the Department of Surgery, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.