Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40123158›Full record

ArticleBrain and behavior2025

A Behavioral and fNIRS Comparative Study of Gender and Task Differences in Mental Rotation Among Primary Students.

Dandan Wu, Jinfeng Yang, Zhi Hong Wan, Yining Shen, Qianming Liu, Jinghui Zhang, Simin Cao, Hui Li

Abstract readComparative Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Brain and behavior, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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1citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

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3 · Its place in the literature

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1 citing paper in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Dandan WuDepartment of Early Childhood Education, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Jinfeng YangDepartment of Medical Imaging, Henan Provincial People's Hospital and People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
Zhi Hong WanDepartment of Early Childhood Education, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Yining ShenShanghai Institute of Early Childhood Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China.
Qianming LiuShanghai Institute of Early Childhood Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China.
Jinghui ZhangShanghai Institute of Early Childhood Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China.
Simin CaoShanghai Institute of Early Childhood Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China.
Hui LiDepartment of Early Childhood Education, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.

Funding

Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Ministry of Education, People's Republic of China SYSK202101National Natural Science Foundation of China 62277037
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThis study investigated the sex and task effects in mental rotation (MR) among Chinese primary school students, employing behavioral assessments and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) for a comprehensive analysis.

methodThe sample consisted of 62 Grade 4 and 5 students aged between 9.58 and 11.33 (M

findingsBehavioral data revealed no significant effects of sex or task type on the performance of MR1 or MR2. However, the fNIRS results demonstrated notable sex and task effects. Specifically, boys exhibited significantly higher brain activation in Brodmann Areas (BAs) 6, 9, and 46 than girls. In contrast, girls showed significantly more activation in BA 46 during the MR1 figure rotation task. This suggests that while behavioral tasks showed no differences, neuroimaging revealed underlying neural disparities.

conclusionThe discrepancy between behavioral and fNIRS findings reveals a tendency in behavioral studies to accept a false negative, resulting in Type II errors. While neuroimaging data indicate substantial differences not reflected in behavioral measures, this challenges the reliability of null results typically associated with traditional behavioral paradigms. This study highlights the critical need to integrate neuroimaging techniques to understand cognitive processes better. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of reevaluating conventional interpretations of behavioral data to ensure a more comprehensive view of mental function.

Indexed as

BrainImaginationBrain MappingChildFemaleHumansMaleRotationSex CharacteristicsSex FactorsSpectroscopy, Near-InfraredStudentsbehavioral measuresfNIRSgender effectmental rotationtask effectType II error

Identifiers

PMID40123158
PMCPMC11930892

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.