The Improvement of Mental Rotation Performance in Second Graders after Creative Dance Training

Abstract

The study presented here investigated the influence of creative dance training on mental rotation performance. Two groups of second graders solved a paper-pencil mental rotation test and a motor performance test. Afterwards one group received five weeks of normal physical education lessons, while the other group received five weeks of creative dance training. At the end of the training period all children solved the mental rotation again. The results show that the dance-training group improved their mental rotation performance more than the physical education group. Further studies should investigate whether this positive effect of creative dance training transfers to cognitive, social, and emotional skills, such as a possible enhancement of self-esteem.