Spatial Thinking: Characterization and Features of Development

A normal person is usually correctly oriented on the ground. In this, spatial thinking helps him. Without this item, our consciousness will be considered inferior. Strongly developed spatial thinking makes it possible to easily solve complex geometric problems. Three-dimensional thinking is necessary for people who have chosen professions such as engineer or architect.

A certain mental activity that helps create spatial images for a person is called spatial thinking.

You need to know that spatial intelligence depends on the abilities that are listed below:

• if you can build spatial images in your mind, then this is spatial intelligence;
• if you can mentally rearrange images, then you have developed spatial thinking.

In the mind of a person with the above qualities, the whole area is voluminous, that is, such an individual can embody in his mind a diagram of the place that is of interest to him. For example, guides who easily move around hard-to-reach spots must possess such skills.

Spatial thinking is a form of imaginative thinking.

When there is a transition of some visual images to others, one single image system arises.

If an individual can think in this system, he is endowed with a special gift that allows him to navigate in many life situations. Keep in mind that spatial thinking is formed much earlier than figurative thinking. Although it is believed that these concepts are inseparable and can replace each other.

When creating a spatial image, the basis of visualization is transformed. When the image is operated on, the image that has already been created is capable of mutating. This means that the transformation of images is inherent in the various stages of ontogenesis.

Sensomotor imaging develops throughout an individual's life. This process begins when real objects are stored in the child's memory. So the child gets an idea of ​​the world. Later in adolescence and youth, this direction is replaced by a world of concepts.

Thanks to the correct work of specialists in kids, spatial thinking quickly develops, and with it the abilities in mathematics appear and in the humanities.

No wonder neurophysiologists after research have proved that in early childhood, specific areas of the brain develop rapidly. The child who received training in a special program, able to retain their developed abilities for a long time and even save them for life.

To begin with, you can diagnose the presence of imaginative thinking yourself. To do this, you can conduct self-observation. To do this, you need to apply some introspection on the following points.

• Stand in a room with a large mirror. Try to look into it and understand the mirror image of indoor objects.
• Try to imagine an empty room, and then place objects in it, who are going to put there. Then mentally rotate the room 90 degrees. In this case, all things should remain in those places where you installed them for the first time.
• And here is another task. Answer your question: “Can you load the car trunk to the maximum?”
• Many often go on vacation to unfamiliar places. Try to imagine one of these places and mentally transfer the location of objects to the map.
• If you drive a car, you should know if you can park correctly, namely, to calculate the dimensions of the place where you intend to put your car.
• The easiest method that suits everyone. Look at the picture, then close your eyes and try to describe what is depicted on it. And then turn this image the other way (you can flip from top to bottom). All elements of the picture should remain in place.

After completing the above tasks, you can say that whether your imaginative thinking is developed or not. And one more interesting fact.

Next, check yourself again for orientation in space. To do this, also answer yourself some questions.

• Can you quickly determine the coordinate system?
• Can you roughly determine the distance that you travel from one point to another? For example, what distance do you cover when you go from home to work?
• Can you determine the latitude and longitude?
• How do you navigate in two- or three-dimensional dimension?
• How do you use various geographical symbols, images, as well as points, lines and arrows?

Also, know that space is this is the mutual arrangement of objects that are in some relationship to each other. Therefore, try to correlate the familiar crossroads that you constantly encounter along the way. And also answer the question: “Which neighboring region is on your right, and which is on your left?”

An adult can test himself on his own, and it is difficult for a child to cope with such a task. therefore Test the preschooler at the earliest opportunity using the methods presented below.

• You can choose any animal, for example, a dog. Let the child mentally hide it in a box or container. Items can be different in size, for example, a glass, a refrigerator, a booth. Ask a leading question: “Can I hide a large dog in a glass?”. The answer must be no. If you get a positive answer, then do a few more experiments. Then you will find out how strongly your child has imaginative thinking.
• When playing on the playground, ask your child to remember the location of objects nearby. Then turn it the other way and start asking questions: “On which side are the house, bench, slide, swing, etc.?”.
• You can also hide toys in an opaque bag and ask the child to touch to identify and name the hidden objects.

The problems associated with spatial thinking can be different. Everybody is here depends both on the person himself and on the quality of his life, as well as from various diseases.

Therefore, we consider the most visible and common causes.

• If the temporal regions of the brain are affected, then it’s difficult for a person to navigate the world around him due to impaired thinking and memory. These disorders do not allow a person to perform the usual tasks due to the fact that the individual initially receives distorted information. Therefore, in principle, it cannot navigate in space.
• Tumors of the brain of various kinds can also contribute to impaired mental activity.
• Various disorders affect spatial thinking very negatively.a. They give an impetus to the minimization of mental operations. The patient at the cellular level can not correctly perceive the environment, this applies to both people and objects. Alzheimer's disease or schizophrenia lead to such pathologies.
• Various psychoses do not allow a person to focus on information. As a result, he cannot streamline it. His brain does not perceive the surrounding reality realistically. Torn thoughts are observed, and there is no connection between logic and thinking. It turns out that there is no associative connection between objects and situations. The result is a violation of spatial thinking.
• The thinking of a healthy person is designed in such a way that it seeks a way out of the current situation, based on past experience. If thinking is disturbed, then a failure occurs in the entire system of consciousness.
• When a person cannot control his thoughts. He relies only on those events that are of value to him. Hence, his imaginative thinking is violated.
• Inability to abstract from surrounding discomfort can lead to various depressive disorders, resulting in a violation of spatial thinking.
• Various bad habits, such as smoking and alcohol, reduce the level of imaginative thinking.

Developing imaginative thinking is definitely necessary for both adults and preschoolers. Various techniques developed by specialists will help improve interhemispheric interaction. Consider exerciseswhich help make corrections that significantly improve visual thinking both in an adult and in a student, as well as in a teenager.

Training can be carried out regardless of your location. In this case, your brain will act as a simulator.

• When you go to work and are inside the bus salon, try to choose a travel companion whose image you will need to carefully consider and remember. Before falling asleep, describe the person in your mind. Try to remember all the details in his clothes and appearance. If he said anything, then also remember these words.
• Put an object in front of you (you can have a bright children's toy). Consider it carefully. Close your eyes and describe the subject in detail. Open your eyes and compare your image with the original.
• Think of the animal you like. Imagine it mentally and describe it in your mind. Then think about what benefit or harm this creature brings. If you have chosen a cat, then imagine how it catches mice, flippers near your legs. Imagine as if you were watching a documentary.

Preschool children still have a poor perception of some tasks. Therefore, to form imaginative thinking, apply other methods.

• We try to play the transformation of images. For example, a child depicts a fox, and after five minutes he must try on the image of a bunny.
• Reading stories must be accompanied by facial expressions, to gesticulate and apply a large number of emotions.
• It is necessary to ask the children to take turns writing various stories or fairy tales. Complement their stories with more colorful moments.
• You need to draw a lot. Give assignments to younger kindergarteners so that they draw any characters from fairy tales.
• Walking on the street, you can ask the children to associate clouds with anya cartoon hero or, for example, find an unusual tree and match it with a fictional hero.
• Make riddles.

The formation of spatial images occurs through interhemispheric interaction. Then you can solve the problem of geometric orientation. For example, you can draw objects that consist of lines and various shapes (a cube, a triangle, etc.).

Try to arrange the matches so that you get some kind of animal. Remove some of them and ask the child to restore the image with the help of missing sticks.

Solving tests is also an activity that helps develop imaginative thinking. For example, you can apply the following test. Draw a square and divide it into several involuntary parts. Select one of these parts and draw exactly on a separate sheet. Invite the child to find this part inside the triangle.

Also, a test called the “Cube Rotation” will help develop imaginative thinking. Draw a cube and mark one side with the letter A. Consider how the image follows. Then try to turn the cube in different directions in your mind. The reference point should be the letter A.

Various games help to develop spatial thinking in children. Try playing with the shadows. Go outside in sunny weather when the figures of children begin to cast shadows. Review each of them. Change your location and repeat the exercise. Let the children learn to determine the location of the parts of the body by the location of the shadow.

In addition to this simple technique, there are various constructors for development.

You can apply various games. For instance, the game "Find the Beasts". On special pictures, animals are hidden so that they cannot be immediately seen. Therefore to each the game participant will have to use mindfulness and imagination, before you manage to cope with the task.

First of all, this issue should concern those who choose a life path. The professions associated with imaginative thinking are diverse. One must not be mistaken with the choice.

Some are interested in high technology and various puzzles. Others have excelled in drawing and enjoy visiting exhibitions and theaters. Both of them have imaginative thinking.

That's why you need to know what type of thinking your intellect belongs to. Having learned this, you can easily choose a field of activity that you like and in which you can easily navigate.

There may be many examples.

Having these abilities, they paint pictures. Recently, such a trend has become fashionable, like 3D design. Without the above qualities, a person will not be able to compose three-dimensional images. In this case, creative imagination is the basis of the process.

The ability to operate with spatial images has mathematics. To represent an object and calculate its parameters, one must learn to move geometric figures in the mind with extreme accuracy. Only then can the correct calculations be made.

The same can be said of those who is engaged in geophysics. They need to imagine how tectonic plates move. But do not think that figurative thinking is peculiar only to people who are engaged in the exact sciences. Doctors, namely neurosurgeons, must necessarily know and represent the structure of the brain. Otherwise, they will not be able to navigate in all its areas.

Creative people should also have imaginative thinking. For example, a writer can never create a story if he does not draw a complete picture of what is happening in his head. Only after that he will be able to describe the plot and transfer it to paper. For imaginative thinking, imagination is necessary.