Anatomy Dissection Course Improves the Initially Lower Levels of Visual-Spatial Abilities of Medical Undergraduates

Katerina Bogomolova, Beerend P. Hierck, Jos A. van der Hage, Steven E. R. Hovius

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Visual-spatial abilities are considered a successful predictor in anatomy learning. Previous research suggest that visual-spatial abilities can be trained, and the magnitude of improvement can be affected by initial levels of spatial skills. This case-control study aimed to evaluate (1) the impact of an extra-curricular anatomy dissection course on visual-spatial abilities of medical undergraduates and (2) the magnitude of improvement in students with initially lower levels of visual-spatial abilities, and (3) whether the choice for the course was related to visual-spatial abilities. Course participants (n = 45) and controls (n = 65) were first and second-year medical undergraduates who performed a Mental Rotations Test (MRT) before and 10 weeks after the course. At baseline, there was no significant difference in MRT scores between course participants and controls. At the end of the course, participants achieved a greater improvement than controls (first-year: increment 6.0 +/- 4.1 vs. increment 4.9 +/- 3.2; ANCOVA, P = 0.019, Cohen's d = 0.41; second-year: increment 6.5 +/- 3.3 vs. increment 6.1 +/- 4.0; P = 0.03, Cohen's d = 0.11). Individuals with initially lower scores on the MRT pretest showed the largest improvement ( increment 8.4 +/- 2.3 vs. increment 6.8 +/- 2.8; P = 0.011, Cohen's d = 0.61). In summary, (1) an anatomy dissection course improved visual-spatial abilities of medical undergraduates; (2) a substantial improvement was observed in individuals with initially lower scores on the visual-spatial abilities test indicating a different trajectory of improvement; (3) students' preferences for attending extracurricular anatomy dissection course was not driven by visual-spatial abilities.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)330-339
Number of pages10
JournalAnatomical Sciences Education
Volume13
Issue number3
Early online dateJul 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cadaver dissection
  • Gross anatomy education
  • Mental rotations test
  • Spatial abilities
  • Undergraduate education
  • Visual-spatial abilities

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