Evaluation of the Cognitive Process during Mental Imaging of Two- or Three-Dimensional Figures

The reaction time and the accuracy in the brain images of 2D or 3D figures were studied. The image task for the frame of a 3D object from 2D figures (2D- 3D task) in the brain had the longest reaction time (p, the probability value of a statistical hypothesis test, < 0.01); the accuracy of this task was decreased compared to that of the other tasks. The reaction time in the 2D-3D task had a significant difference compared with that in the mental image of three 2D figures mainly requiring working memory (p < 0.05). Because of the effective view of the simple 3D object compared with the 2D-3D task, illustration of a 3D shape will be an effective method in a field requiring quick judgment based on high accuracy, such as clinical assessment.