Sex Differences in Spatial Performance as Related to Cerebral Lateralization.

Abstract

The extent to which sex differences on a mental iti_m_test were related to ocular dominance, landedness, and familial handedness was explored. The Vandenberg revisicn of the Shepard-Metzlar mental rotation. -test was administered to 206 college students. The test consisted of 20 criterion figures, each fcllowed by two correct and two incorrect alternative figbres. The correct alternatives were identical tc the criterion sample.but were presented in a rotated position. Immediately after finidhing the rotation test, subjects answered a questionnaire 'designed to assess their perceived cognitive strategy used in solving the spatial task. -r-tc-mim'amte-i-Immt-edruvs-7-aul-lweriii-al-htudeltreme7reerc-aleo assessed by questionnaire. The superior performance of males-on the mental rotation test was highly significant (1)=.0001). The most common strategy employed by both sexes in solving the spatial task . was mental picturing: however, females used significantly, more verbal '.strategies than males. Handednes, per se, was unrelated to spatial .performance, bvtmight handed females with familial 'sinistrality had lower spatial scores than those with to familial-sinistrality..More females than males were found to be .eft eye dominant: left eye dominance in females, but not in males, was associated with lower spatial scores. (Authcr/EL) ***********************************************************************' * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * ***********************************************************************