Comparing Spatial Abilities of Collegiate Athletes in Different Sports

Abstract

Researchers indicated that androgen enhances spatial ability in women but inhibits it in men. Since studies also indicate that athletes have higher than normal levels of androgen, whether spatial perception scores differed for men and women in different sports was examined. Spatial tests (visualization and orientation) were given to 150 men and 150 women collegiate athletes in different varsity sports. Analysis showed the women scored significantly higher than the men. In basketball, a sport common to both sexes, women did significantly better but this was not found in the other mixed-sex sports (baseball, swimming, and track).