Cognitive sex differences: speed and problem-solving strategies on computerized neuropsychological tasks.
Skill, strategy, and laterality measures obtained through computerized neuropsychological tasks, a reaction time (RT) test, and a visuospatial problem-solving test, the Perceptual Maze Test, were analyzed in relation to sex and handedness of 56 high-school students. Boys were significantly faster than girls on most RT subtasks (including a response-inhibition task) and made more two-choice RT response errors for right-sided stimuli, which may be interpreted as resulting from a less cautious strategy. In maze performance, boys were superior to girls. An analysis of separate phases of the maze-solution process suggested that boys preferentially used an impulsive-global strategy. Girls, using a more reflective-sequential task-solving strategy, were significantly slower, without hitting more targets. Compared to all other groups, left-handed girls (strongly left-handed) had lower performance on maze tasks with no target information, particularly in left-sided solution pathways. Results were interpreted as reflecting differences in hemispheric competence and activation patterns between the sexes. Signs of a less differentiated lateralization and slight dysfunction of visuospatial skills in the left-handed girls were discussed.
Department of Psychology, University of Stockholm, Sweden.
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BA
Klinteberg
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SE
Levander
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Schalling
D000293:Adolescent; D003071:Cognition; D003201:Computers; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D007062:Identification, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008838:Microcomputers; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009949:Orientation; D011340:Problem Solving; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time; D014796:Visual Perception