title: Time limits in testing: An analysis of eye movements and visual attention in spatial problem solving.
abstract: Individuals with an aptitude for interpreting spatial information (high mental rotation ability: HMRA) typically master anatomy with more ease, and more quickly, than those with low mental rotation ability (LMRA). This article explores how visual attention differs with time limits on spatial reasoning tests. Participants were assorted to two groups based on their mental rotation ability scores and their eye movements were collected during these tests. Analysis of salience during testing revealed similarities between MRA groups in untimed conditions but significant differences between the groups in the timed one. Question-by-question analyses demonstrate that HMRA individuals were more consistent across the two timing conditions (κ = 0.25), than the LMRA (κ = 0.013). It is clear that the groups respond to time limits differently and their apprehension of images during spatial problem solving differs significantly. Without time restrictions, salience analysis suggests LMRA individuals attended to similar aspects of the images as HMRA and their test scores rose concomitantly. Under timed conditions however, LMRA diverge from HMRA attention patterns, adopting inflexible approaches to visual search and attaining lower test scores. With this in mind, anatomical educators may wish to revisit some evaluations and teaching approaches in their own practice. Although examinations need to evaluate understanding of anatomical relationships, the addition of time limits may induce an unforeseen interaction of spatial reasoning and anatomical knowledge. Anat Sci Educ 10: 528-537. © 2017 American Association of Anatomists.
authors.affiliation: Department of Foundational Medical Studies, William Beaumont School of Medicine, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan.
authors.forename: Victoria A
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4020-2224
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Roach
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Group, Division of BioMedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.
authors.forename: Graham M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: James H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kryklywy
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Brain and Mind Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.|Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Corps for Research of Instructional and Perceptual Technologies, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Derek G V
authors.initials: DGV
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Corps for Research of Instructional and Perceptual Technologies, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Timothy D
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7102-2491
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000715:Anatomy / Q000193:education*; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D032882:Comprehension; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D053483:Eye Movement Measurements; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology*; D013336:Students, Health Occupations / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: STEMM; eye tracking; gross anatomy education; mental rotations ability; salience; spatial ability; spatial reasoning; spatial working memory