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Introduction: Paper folding and punched hole tests are used to measure spatial abilities in humans. These abilities are relevant since they are associated with success in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). This study addresses the challenge of teaching spatial reasoning skills using an educational videogame, the Paper Folding Reasoning Game. Methods: The Paper Folding Reasoning Game is an interactive game which presents activities intended to help users train and understand how to fold a paper to get a specific shape (Part I) and the consequence of punching a hole on a folded paper (Part II). This educational videogame can automatically generate paper-folding-and-punched-hole questions with varying degrees of difficulty depending on the number of folds and holes made, thus producing additional levels for training due to its embedded reasoning mechanisms (Part III). Results: This manuscript presents the results of analyzing the gameplay data gathered by the Paper Folding Reasoning Game in its three parts. For Parts I and II, the data provided by 225 anonymous unique players are analyzed. For Part III (Mastermode), the data obtained from 894 gameplays by 311 anonymous unique players are analyzed. In our analysis, we found out a significant difference in performance regarding the players who trained (i.e., played Parts I and II) before playing the Mastermode (Part III) vs. the group of players who did not train. We also found a significant difference in players' performance who used the visual help (i.e., re-watch the animated sequence of paper folds) vs. the group of players who did not use it, confirming the effectiveness of the Paper Folding Reasoning Game to train paper-folding-and-punched-hole reasoning skills. Statistically significant gender differences in performance were also found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem-solving, creativity and spatial reasoning are high level abilities of cognitive systems with high potential for synergies. However, they have been treated separately by different fields. This special issue presents research work on these topics, aiming to observe their interrelations in order to create theoretical approaches, methodologies and computational tools to advance work on creativity and spatial problem-solving in cognitive systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A logical approach to compose qualitative shape descriptors (LogC-QSD) is presented in this paper. Each object shape is described qualitatively by its edges, angles, convexities, and lengths. LogC-QSD describes the shape of composed objects qualitatively adding circuits to describe the connections among the shapes. It also infers new angles and lengths using composition tables. Its main contributions are: (i) describing qualitatively the resulting boundary of connecting N shapes and (ii) its application to solve spatial reasoning tests. LogC-QSD approach has been implemented using Prolog programming language, which is based on Horn clauses and first order logic. The testing framework was SWI-Prolog on the LogC-QSD dataset. The obtained results show that the LogC-QSD approach was able to correctly answer all the questions in the LogC-QSD dataset, which involved compositions up to five shapes. The correct answer for 60 % of the questions was obtained in an average time of 2.45 · 10 - 4 s by comparing the concavities and right angles of the final QSD composed shape with the possible answers. The rest of the questions required a matching algorithm and they were solved by LogC-QSD in an average time of 19.50 · 10 - 4 s. Analysis of the execution times obtained showed that the algorithmic cost of LogC-QSD is lower than O (n 2) in the worst case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]