Spatial Processing in Infancy Predicts Both Spatial and Mathematical Aptitude in Childhood

Despite considerable interest in the role of spatial intelligence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) achievement, little is known about the ontogenetic origins of individual differences in spatial aptitude or their relation to later accomplishments in STEM disciplines. The c...

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Published inPsychological science Vol. 27; no. 10; pp. 1291 - 1298
Main Authors Lauer, Jillian E., Lourenco, Stella F.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.10.2016
SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
Subjects
Achievement
Aptitude - physiology
Aptitudes
Child, Preschool
Childhood
Cognition - physiology
Cognitive ability
Female
First year
Humans
Individual differences
Individuality
Infancy
Infant
Information processing
Intelligence
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Mathematical Concepts
Mathematics
Memory
Memory, Short-Term - physiology
Pattern Recognition, Visual - physiology
Personality traits
Precursors
Predictive Value of Tests
Science and technology
Spatial memory
Spatial Processing - physiology
STEM education
Technology
Transformation
cognitive development
spatial cognition
symbolic mathematics
mental-transformation skill
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Summary:Despite considerable interest in the role of spatial intelligence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) achievement, little is known about the ontogenetic origins of individual differences in spatial aptitude or their relation to later accomplishments in STEM disciplines. The current study provides evidence that spatial processes present in infancy predict interindividual variation in both spatial and mathematical competence later in development. Using a longitudinal design, we found that children's performance on a brief visuospatial change-detection task administered between 6 and 13 months of age was related to their spatial aptitude (i.e., mental-transformation skill) and mastery of symbolic-math concepts at 4 years of age, even when we controlled for general cognitive abilities and spatial memory. These results suggest that nascent spatial processes present in the first year of life not only act as precursors to later spatial intelligence but also predict math achievement during childhood.
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ISSN:0956-7976
1467-9280
DOI:10.1177/0956797616655977