ABSTRACT

Mental representations of rotation were investigated in 3.5- to 5.5-year-olds (N = 74) using a multi-method approach. In a novel mental-rotation task, children were asked to choose one of two rotated shapes that would fit onto a counterpart. The developmental trajectory of mental rotation was compared to eye-tracking results on how the same children observed and anticipated circular object motion. On the mental-rotation task, children below age 4 performed above chance up to angles of 150°, and performance improved with age. Eye-tracking results indicated that mental representations of circular motion were largely developed by the age of 3.5 years. In contrast, perception of rotational motion and mental rotation of asymmetrical shapes continued to develop between 3.5 and 5.5 years of age.

摘要

使用多种方法对3.5 至 5.5 岁儿童 ( N = 74) 的旋转心理表征进行了调查。在一项新颖的心理旋转任务中，孩子们被要求从两个旋转形状中选择一个适合对应物的形状。将心理旋转的发展轨迹与眼动追踪结果进行比较，以了解同一儿童如何观察和预期圆形物体运动。在心理旋转任务中，4 岁以下的儿童在 150° 角内的表现高于机会，并且表现随着年龄的增长而提高。眼动追踪结果表明，圆周运动的心理表征主要在 3.5 岁时形成。相比之下，不对称形状的旋转运动和心理旋转的感知在 3.5 至 5.5 岁之间继续发展。