Mental rotation is the ability to rotate objects in one’s mind. Large age-related decreases in accuracy and processing time are often found in studies using paper-and-pencil or computerized mental rotation tests. For older participants, these tests are often too difficult. In the present study, real models consisting of cube figures were used to assess the mental rotation performance of middle and older aged adults. It should be investigated whether these tests were comparable to paper-and-pencil or chronometric tests and if very old participants were able to solve them. Eighty-four participants (49 females) between 40 and 90 years took part and were divided into middle (40–68 years) and older aged (69–90 years) and groups with higher (with college degree) and lower education (without college degree). For accuracy, main effects of gender and age group as well as interactions of age group and education were found. Younger participants outperformed older ones only in the group with lower education. For processing time, a main effect of age group as well as an interaction of age group and education was found. The age-related cognitive decline in the higher educated group was moderate, while a large effect appeared for the group without college degree. Age and gender effects of our new test with real objects were comparable to paper–pencil and computerized tests. Furthermore, a protective effect of education on the cognitive decline in mental rotation performance is discussed.

心理旋转是在一个人的脑海中旋转物体的能力。在使用纸笔或计算机化的心理旋转测试的研究中，经常会发现与年龄相关的准确性和处理时间的大幅下降。对于年长的参与者来说，这些测试往往太难了。在本研究中，使用由立方体组成的真实模型来评估中老年人的心理旋转表现。应该调查这些测试是否与纸笔测试或计时测试相当，以及年长的参与者是否能够解决这些问题。84 名参与者（49 名女性）年龄在 40 到 90 岁之间，分为中年（40-68 岁）和老年（69-90 岁）和高学历（有大学学历）和低学历（没有大学学历）程度）。为了准确，发现了性别和年龄组的主要影响以及年龄组和教育的相互作用。仅在受教育程度较低的组中，较年轻的参与者表现优于年长的参与者。对于处理时间，发现了年龄组的主要影响以及年龄组和教育的交互作用。受过高等教育的人群与年龄相关的认知能力下降程度适中，而没有大学学历的人群则出现了很大的影响。我们对真实对象的新测试的年龄和性别影响与纸笔和计算机化测试相当。此外，还讨论了教育对心理旋转表现认知能力下降的保护作用。发现了年龄组的主要影响以及年龄组和教育的交互作用。受过高等教育的人群与年龄相关的认知能力下降程度适中，而没有大学学历的人群则出现了很大的影响。我们对真实对象的新测试的年龄和性别影响与纸笔和计算机化测试相当。此外，还讨论了教育对心理旋转表现认知能力下降的保护作用。发现了年龄组的主要影响以及年龄组和教育的交互作用。受过高等教育的人群与年龄相关的认知能力下降程度适中，而没有大学学历的人群则出现了很大的影响。我们对真实对象的新测试的年龄和性别影响与纸笔和计算机化测试相当。此外，还讨论了教育对心理旋转表现认知能力下降的保护作用。