ERIC Number: EJ1428659
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-2731-5525
The Possible Impact of Segmenting Radiological Images on Students' Spatial Abilities
Jort Karstens; Lucas Boer; Thomas Maal; Dylan Henssen
Discover Education, v3 Article 83 2024
Visuospatial ability plays a crucial role in anatomy related study success as studies have shown that students with high scores on a mental rotation test (MRT) perform better on anatomy exams. We hypothesized that segmenting anatomical structures on radiological images might impact students' visuospatial abilities as measured by MRT scores. Second-year (bio)medical students who participated in a 10-week elective course were recruited for this study. All students completed an MRT questionnaire at the beginning of the elective course and another at the end of the elective course. During the elective course, students manually segmented radiological images (e.g., computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data) to construct extended reality models. In total, twenty-eight students (17 males, 25 studied medicine) provided consent to participate in this study. A significant difference in mean pre-test scores (mean: 14.46; SD: ± 4.36) and post-test scores (mean: 17.56; SD: ± 4.57) (paired samples t-test, t(27) = -8.30, P < 0.001) was observed. Males had significantly better MRT scores, both at the pre- and at the post-test MRT. The results from this study should be interpretated with some caution due to the lack of a control group. The use of image segmentation as a teaching method to help (bio)medical students, especially those with low visuospatial insights, should be further investigated In future studies with larger cohorts and using a case-control experimental design.
Descriptors: Radiology, Spatial Ability, Cognitive Tests, Medical Students, Scores, Undergraduate Students, Biomedicine, Anatomy, Elective Courses, Teaching Methods, Medical Education
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A