Long-term cognitive and neurophysiological effects of mental rotation training
Abstract Mental rotation, a crucial aspect of spatial cognition, can be improved through repeated practice. However, the long-term effects of combining training with non-invasive brain stimulation and its neurophysiological correlates are not well understood. This study examined the lasting effects...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| Series: | npj Science of Learning |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-025-00309-2 |
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| author | Linlin Dong Yufeng Ke Xiaodong Zhu Shuang Liu Dong Ming |
| author_facet | Linlin Dong Yufeng Ke Xiaodong Zhu Shuang Liu Dong Ming |
| author_sort | Linlin Dong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Mental rotation, a crucial aspect of spatial cognition, can be improved through repeated practice. However, the long-term effects of combining training with non-invasive brain stimulation and its neurophysiological correlates are not well understood. This study examined the lasting effects of a 10-day mental rotation training with high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) on behavioral and neural outcomes in 34 healthy participants. Participants were randomly assigned to the Active and Shan groups, with equal group sizes. Mental rotation tests and EEG recordings were conducted at baseline, 1 day, 20 days, and 90 days post-training. Although HD-tDCS showed no significant effect, training led to improved accuracy, faster response times, and enhanced task-evoked EEG responses, with benefits lasting up to 90 days. Notably, task-evoked EEG responses remained elevated 20 days post-training. Individual differences, such as gender and baseline performance, influenced the outcomes. These results emphasize the potential of mental rotation training for cognitive enhancement and suggest a need for further investigation into cognition-related neuroplasticity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7e41d2c1076e45e5b79570d1e2b773f2 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2056-7936 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Science of Learning |
| spelling | doaj-art-7e41d2c1076e45e5b79570d1e2b773f22025-08-20T03:04:58ZengNature Portfolionpj Science of Learning2056-79362025-04-011011910.1038/s41539-025-00309-2Long-term cognitive and neurophysiological effects of mental rotation trainingLinlin Dong0Yufeng Ke1Xiaodong Zhu2Shuang Liu3Dong Ming4Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin International Joint Research Centre for Neural Engineering, and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Neural Engineering, Tianjin UniversityAcademy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin International Joint Research Centre for Neural Engineering, and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Neural Engineering, Tianjin UniversityAcademy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin International Joint Research Centre for Neural Engineering, and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Neural Engineering, Tianjin UniversityAcademy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin International Joint Research Centre for Neural Engineering, and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Neural Engineering, Tianjin UniversityAcademy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin International Joint Research Centre for Neural Engineering, and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Neural Engineering, Tianjin UniversityAbstract Mental rotation, a crucial aspect of spatial cognition, can be improved through repeated practice. However, the long-term effects of combining training with non-invasive brain stimulation and its neurophysiological correlates are not well understood. This study examined the lasting effects of a 10-day mental rotation training with high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) on behavioral and neural outcomes in 34 healthy participants. Participants were randomly assigned to the Active and Shan groups, with equal group sizes. Mental rotation tests and EEG recordings were conducted at baseline, 1 day, 20 days, and 90 days post-training. Although HD-tDCS showed no significant effect, training led to improved accuracy, faster response times, and enhanced task-evoked EEG responses, with benefits lasting up to 90 days. Notably, task-evoked EEG responses remained elevated 20 days post-training. Individual differences, such as gender and baseline performance, influenced the outcomes. These results emphasize the potential of mental rotation training for cognitive enhancement and suggest a need for further investigation into cognition-related neuroplasticity.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-025-00309-2 |
| spellingShingle | Linlin Dong Yufeng Ke Xiaodong Zhu Shuang Liu Dong Ming Long-term cognitive and neurophysiological effects of mental rotation training npj Science of Learning |
| title | Long-term cognitive and neurophysiological effects of mental rotation training |
| title_full | Long-term cognitive and neurophysiological effects of mental rotation training |
| title_fullStr | Long-term cognitive and neurophysiological effects of mental rotation training |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long-term cognitive and neurophysiological effects of mental rotation training |
| title_short | Long-term cognitive and neurophysiological effects of mental rotation training |
| title_sort | long term cognitive and neurophysiological effects of mental rotation training |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-025-00309-2 |
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