Extending the model of cognitive estimation with spatial abilities

In everyday life we have to rely on cognitive estimation as exact knowledge is often lacking. The aim of our study was to examine if spatial abilities like mental rotation and visuocon-struction have substantial associations with cognitive estimation so that current models of cognitive estimation might have to be extended. We examined a healthy representative German sample (n = 50) with measures of cognitive estimation, mental rotation, visuoconstruction, and long-term memory. A confirmatory factor analytic model on variable level and cluster analysis on individual level revealed associations between spatial abilities and cognitive estimation which were not described previously in clinically oriented studies. Demographic characteristics like age, gender, and education should also be further examined in cognitive estimation. Contemporary models of working memory are not able to explain spatial manipulations