Mental rotation performance in children with hydrocephalus both with and without spina bifida.

The mental rotation ability in children with hydrocephalus and those with both hydrocephalus and spina bifida in comparison to healthy controls was investigated in this study. All groups performed a chronometric mental rotation test. Compared to children with hydrocephalus, children with both spina bifida and hydrocephalus showed an impaired mental rotation performance, demonstrated by slower reaction times. No significant performance difference was found between children with spina bifida and healthy controls. Error rates were comparable between groups indicating that the impaired mental rotation performance in children with both spina bifida and hydrocephalus is primarily due to motor impairment.