3-D Mental Rotation Ability Testing with Mixed Reality

Mental Rotation ability is a key skill for success in many careers. Thus, accurate measurement of this ability is important. Three-dimensional holographic displays can help students process mental rotation stimuli easier and demonstrate their real performances without the limitations of two-dimensional representations. There are few studies measuring mental rotation ability in Mixed Reality environments. In this study, we transferred a mental rotation test, Purdue Spatial Visualization Test: Rotations (PSVT:R), into Mixed Reality. We compared the 2-D and 3-D versions of the test in terms of mental rotation performance and cognitive load with 47 participants. While the accuracy of 2-D and 3-D PSVT:R did not differ significantly, the 3-D test induced a lower cognitive load than the 2-D version. Gender difference was observed in the 2-D test but not in the 3-D test. 3-D PSVT:R is an authentic and reliable tool for measuring spatial ability. Moreover, it can be used for training purposes.