<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><italic>Study aim:</italic> To assess the influence of juggling training on mental rotation performance in children.<italic>Material and methods:</italic> Two groups of girls aged 6 - 14 years were studied: experimental (EG; n = 26) and control (CG; n = 24). All girls solved a mental rotation task with 3-D block figures on computer screen (pre-test). After the initial test, EG girls participated in juggling training for 3 months; the CG girls participated in light strength training with theraband stretch bands. After 3 months, all girls solved the mental rotation task again (post-test). The post-pre differences in the mental rotation performance were recorded.<italic>Results:</italic> Children who learned juggling performed the mental rotation task significantly (p&lt;0.05 - 0.01) faster, in terms of reaction time, at non-zero angular disparity than their mates who were strength-trained.<italic>Conclusions:</italic> Since mental rotation skills enhance spatial imagination, problem solving and mathematical skills, it may be assumed that juggling training enhances also other cognitive domains and is worth implementing in the education process.</abstract>

Study aim: To assess the influence of juggling training on mental rotation performance in children.Material and methods: Two groups of girls aged 6 - 14 years were studied: experimental (EG; n = 26) and control (CG; n = 24). All girls solved a mental rotation task with 3-D block figures on computer screen (pre-test). After the initial test, EG girls participated in juggling training for 3 months; the CG girls participated in light strength training with theraband stretch bands. After 3 months, all girls solved the mental rotation task again (post-test). The post-pre differences in the mental rotation performance were recorded.Results: Children who learned juggling performed the mental rotation task significantly (p<0.05 - 0.01) faster, in terms of reaction time, at non-zero angular disparity than their mates who were strength-trained.Conclusions: Since mental rotation skills enhance spatial imagination, problem solving and mathematical skills, it may be assumed that juggling training enhances also other cognitive domains and is worth implementing in the education process.

The influence of juggling on mental rotation performance in children

Institute of Sport Science, University of Regensburg

Department of Anaesthesiology, Charité University of Medicine, Berlin

Institute of Experimental Psychology, University of Düsseldorf, Germany

Biomedical Human Kinetics

{"article-title":"The influence of juggling on mental rotation performance in children"}

Study aim: To assess the influence of juggling training on mental rotation performance in children.Material and methods: Two groups of girls aged 6 - 14 years...

The influence of juggling on mental rotation performance in children

Published Online: Mar 03, 2011

Page range: 18 - 22

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10101-011-0005-6

Keywords
Motor behaviour, Spatial performance, Juggling, Mental rotation, Children

This content is open access.

The influence of juggling on mental rotation performance in children

Published Online: Mar 03, 2011

Page range: 18 - 22

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10101-011-0005-6

KeywordsMotor behaviour, Spatial performance, Juggling, Mental rotation, Children

This content is open access.

Keywords
Motor behaviour, Spatial performance, Juggling, Mental rotation, Children