Science of Spatial Learning

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I have been researching these kind of topics and that path has led me to this article. I am an engineering student at Kettering University, studying to become a Mechanical engineer. The reason of me studying this kind of subject is because I am able to recall all events in my "mind's eye" with vivid detail. I'm not syaing I can look at a picture with vasts amounts of detail and remember it, but I can remember anything about the environment and what happened in my experience of that memory. What is also very interesting to me is that while I am in conversation in the present, my mind is vividly picturing what the person is talking to me about. I have always thought this was "normal" until recently (I just turned 19) when my friends and/or peers cannot "see" images in their mind real time. What is more interesting is that my eyes are open and the mental image just pops into my mind. This article intrigues me because I have always been good in the math and science fields and ever since I was a child, I have been playing video games and played with toys that involve spatial thinking (toys like K'nects and legos). I am very curious as to why these mental visualizations are so vivid to me and project in my mind, almost as watching a movie live.

Lance Gross of MI 2:50PM January 11, 2013

Reading this made me vividly recall how spatial analytic skills were clearly manifest in one of my sons before he even spoke very much. At 2, he easily put together the Piet Hein cube puzzle sold as Soma (while I struggled). After putting the cube together he would pull it somewhat apart and rapidly reset pieces into new shapes (saying e.g’, “and this is a bridge”); it was as if he had a mental 3-D map of the interior and could reference it as if it were an eidetic image to rearrange the pieces.
He seems to use a spatial imaging approach to Sudoku and even Jumble puzzles. I am trying to learn from him. and your work encourages me that this is possible.
FYI, a long time ago I did a post-doc in Neuropsychology with Teuber and for some years did research and clinical work in that area.

Lenore K Morrell, Ph.D. of CA 10:39PM June 12, 2012

This is interesting, especially the part about spacial relations and language. Missing for me is how 3D art fits into this picture: working with clay, sculpture, knitting, weaving, sewing clothes, mold making and dance.

Ev Scholding of MA 10:14PM June 07, 2012

The GPS lady once left me in the middle of a desert town road - not near a thing. I went back to mental reckoning that day and since.

Mhu Cao of CA 7:52PM May 30, 2012

Bravo for this center! It is so true that we need to develop spatial thinking, including our policymakers in government!

Deepsea Dawn of CA 1:47PM May 21, 2012

Origami is undercover STEM. It greatly helps hone spatial skills. And many girls, in particular, are drawn to it. That makes a difference in bridging the gender gap in STEM early on.

Calista Frederick-Jaskiewicz of PA 10:27PM May 18, 2012