Research ArticleOpen AccessGoogle Scholar indexed
The Improvement of Mental Rotation Performance in Second Graders after Creative Dance Training
Institute of Sport Science, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
Institute of Sport Science, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
Institute of Sport Science, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- 1 Institute of Sport Science, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- 2 Institute of Sport Science, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- 3 Institute of Sport Science, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
Copy link · social · email
Abstract
The study presented here investigated the influence of creative dance training on mental rotation per formance. Two groups of second graders solved a paper-pencil mental rotation test and a motor perform ance test. Afterwards one group received five weeks of normal physical education lessons, while the other group received five weeks of creative dance training. At the end of the training period all children solved the mental rotation again. The results show that the dance-training group improved their mental rotation performance more than the physical education group. Further studies should investigate whether this posi tive effect of creative dance training transfers to cognitive, social, and emotional skills, such as a possible enhancement of self-esteem.
KeywordsMental RotationSchool-Aged ChildrenMotor PerformanceCreative DanceRegular Sports Class
- Anguera, J. A., Reuter-Lorenz, P. A., Willingham, D. T., & Seidler, R. D. (2009). Contributions of spatial working memory to visuomotor learning. Journal of Neuroscience, 22, 1917-1930.
- Blasing, B., & Schack, T. (2012) Mental representation of spatial movement parameters in dance. Spatial Cognition & Computation, 12, 111-132. doi:10.1080/13875868.2011.626095
- Coubard, O. A., Duretz, S., Lefebvre, V., Lapalus, P., & Ferrufino, P. Practice of contemporary dance improves cognitive flexibility in aging. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 3, 1-12.
- Dror, I. E., Kosslyn, S. M., & Waag, W. L. (1993). Visual-spatial abilities of pilots. Journal of Applied Psychology, 78, 763-773. doi:10.1037/0021-9010.78.5.763
- Frick, A., Daum, M. M., Walser, S., & Mast, F. (2009). Motor processes in children’s mental rotation. Journal of Cognition and Development, 10, 18-40. doi:10.1080/15248370902966719
- Graf, C., Koch, B., Dordel, S., Schindler-Marlow, S., Icks, A., Schüller, A., Bjarnason-Wehrens, B., Tokarski, W., & Predel H. (2004). Physical activity, leisure habits and obesity in first-grade children. European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation: Official Journal of the European Society of Cardiology, Working Groups on Epidemiology & Prevention and Cardiac Rehabilitation and Exercise Physiology, 11, 284-290
- Hackney, M. E., & Earhart, G. M. (2010). Effects of dance on gait and balance in Parkinson’s disease: A comparison of partnered and non partnered dance movement. Neurorehailitation Neural Research, 24, 384-392. doi:10.1177/1545968309353329
- Hackney, M. E., & Earhart, G. M. (2010). Effects of dance on balance and gait in severe Parkinson disease: A case study. Disability Rehabilitation, 32, 679-684. doi:10.3109/09638280903247905
- Hegarty, M., & Kozhevnikov, M. (1999). Types of visual-spatial representations and mathematical problem solving. Journal of Educational Psychology, 91, 684-689. doi:10.1037/0022-0663.91.4.684
- Jansen, P., & Heil M. (2010). The relation between motor development and mental rotation ability in 5 to 6-year-old children. European Journal of Developmental Science, 4, 66-74.
- Jansen, P., Lange, L., & Heil, M. (2011). The influence of juggling on mental rotation performance in children. Biomedical Human Kinetics, 3, 18-22. doi:10.2478/v10101-011-0005-6
- Jansen, P., Schmelter, A., Kasten, L., & Heil M. (2011). Impaired mental rotation performance in overweight children. Appetite, 56, 766-769. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2011.02.021