Individual differences in cue utilization on spatial tasks.
Two studies examined individual differences in cue utilization for spatial tasks. Study 1 investigated sex and weight differences in the use of proprioceptive and tactile cues for negotiating a finger maze while blindfolded. The results indicate that females and overweight persons were more likely to use a tactile cue than a proprioceptive one, while the reverse was true for males. Also, the 16 females were more likely to use a tactile cue and less likely to use a proprioceptive cue than the 16 males were. These individual difference reflected an attentional bias on the part of male subjects and a response bias on the part of female and overweight subjects. Study 2 investigated sex differences in congenitally blind subjects' use of proprioceptive and exteroceptive cues when giving directions to get from one place to another. The results showed that the 5 males provided more proprioceptive than exteroceptive cues, while a trend in the opposite direction was observed for the 5 females.
D001835:Body Weight; D003463:Cues; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology; D009949:Orientation; D011434:Proprioception; D012737:Sex Factors; D013028:Space Perception; D014110:Touch