Mental Rotation, 3D Perception, and Practical Skill Development in Physiotherapy Students

NCT ID: NCT07241026

Last Updated: 2025-11-25

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 118 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2020-09-01
• Study Completion Date: 2025-09-30

Brief Summary

This study investigates the role of mental rotation and 3D perception abilities in shaping the practical skill performance of physiotherapy and rehabilitation students. By exploring the relationship between spatial cognitive abilities and hands-on competencies, the research aims to provide insights that may improve educational strategies and clinical training outcomes.

Detailed Description

Practical skills are fundamental to physiotherapy and rehabilitation education, requiring students to accurately interpret anatomical structures, movement patterns, and therapeutic techniques in three-dimensional space. Cognitive abilities such as mental rotation and 3D perception are considered essential in processing spatial information and transferring theoretical knowledge into clinical practice. However, limited research has explored how these spatial abilities influence the acquisition and execution of practical competencies in physiotherapy training.

This study aims to assess the relationship between mental rotation ability, 3D spatial perception, and the practical performance of physiotherapy and rehabilitation students. Standardized spatial ability tests will be used alongside practical skill assessments to identify correlations between cognitive factors and clinical task execution. The findings are expected to contribute to curriculum design by highlighting the importance of integrating spatial training modules and potentially guiding student selection or tailored support strategies.

The aim of this study is to examine the impact of mental rotation and 3D perception abilities on the development and performance of practical skills in physiotherapy and rehabilitation students, with the goal of enhancing educational methods and optimizing clinical training outcomes.

Conditions

Educational Problems

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

Sham 3D spatial cognition training and mental rotation

Participants will receive a sham mental rotation and 3D spatial cognition program, consisting of non-spatial computerized tasks and general educational activities without targeted spatial training

Group Type: SHAM_COMPARATOR

Sham Spatial-Cognitive & 3D-Perception Training Program

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants will undergo a 60-minute training session, consisting of non-spatial computerized tasks, general cognitive exercises, and low-demand hands-on activities. Each session will begin with a 20-minute computer-based activity presenting neutral content, such as quizzes, word puzzles, or simple problem-solving tasks, without requiring 3D manipulation or mental rotation. This will be followed by a 20-minute module of general cognitive tasks, including memory or attention exercises unrelated to spatial orientation. The final 15-20 minutes will include low-intensity hands-on activities, such as organizing materials or following simple step-by-step instructions, designed to match the duration and engagement of the intervention arm without targeting spatial cognition. Training will be delivered 3 days per week for 8 weeks.

3D spatial cognition training and mental rotation

Participants will receive a structured mental rotation and 3D spatial cognition training program, consisting of immersive virtual reality (VR) practice, computerized rotation tasks, and hands-on spatial exercises

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Spatial-Cognitive & 3D-Perception Training Program

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants will undergo a 60-minute training session, consisting of immersive 3D/VR practice, computerized mental rotation tasks, and hands-on spatial exercises. Each session will begin with a 20-minute VR-based activity in which students interact with anatomical models and 3D objects, rotating and orienting them to match different views and cross-sections. This will be followed by a 20-minute computerized module, where participants complete adaptive mental rotation tasks of varying angular disparity, including both object-based and body-posture items. The final 15-20 minutes will include practical spatial exercises, such as assembling 3D anatomical puzzles, reach-and-place tasks, and proprioceptive orientation drills.Training will be delivered 3 days per week for 8 weeks.

Interventions

Spatial-Cognitive & 3D-Perception Training Program

Participants will undergo a 60-minute training session, consisting of immersive 3D/VR practice, computerized mental rotation tasks, and hands-on spatial exercises. Each session will begin with a 20-minute VR-based activity in which students interact with anatomical models and 3D objects, rotating and orienting them to match different views and cross-sections. This will be followed by a 20-minute computerized module, where participants complete adaptive mental rotation tasks of varying angular disparity, including both object-based and body-posture items. The final 15-20 minutes will include practical spatial exercises, such as assembling 3D anatomical puzzles, reach-and-place tasks, and proprioceptive orientation drills.Training will be delivered 3 days per week for 8 weeks.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Sham Spatial-Cognitive & 3D-Perception Training Program

Participants will undergo a 60-minute training session, consisting of non-spatial computerized tasks, general cognitive exercises, and low-demand hands-on activities. Each session will begin with a 20-minute computer-based activity presenting neutral content, such as quizzes, word puzzles, or simple problem-solving tasks, without requiring 3D manipulation or mental rotation. This will be followed by a 20-minute module of general cognitive tasks, including memory or attention exercises unrelated to spatial orientation. The final 15-20 minutes will include low-intensity hands-on activities, such as organizing materials or following simple step-by-step instructions, designed to match the duration and engagement of the intervention arm without targeting spatial cognition. Training will be delivered 3 days per week for 8 weeks.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Willingness to participate and provide written informed consent
• Normal or corrected-to-normal vision

Exclusion Criteria

• History of neurological or musculoskeletal disorders affecting upper-limb function or spatial cognition
• Severe visual impairments that cannot be corrected
• History of epilepsy, severe motion sickness, or vestibular disorders
• Participation in other spatial-cognition or VR-based training programs within the last 6 months
• Use of medications affecting cognitive function or balance

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 30 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Abant Izzet Baysal University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Ramazan KURUL

Assc. Prof

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

ramazan kurul, phd

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Abant Izzet Baysal University

Locations

Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation

Bolu, , Turkey (Türkiye)

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Other Identifiers

AIBU-FTR-RK-13

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id