Two- and three-dimensional mental rotation tasks lead to different parietal laterality for men and women.
Thirty-two college students (16 male, 16 female) had EEG recorded during computerized two- and three-dimensional mental rotation tasks. The simple two-dimensional mental rotation task was associated with more left parietal than right parietal activation in men and more right parietal than left parietal activation in women. The complex three-dimensional mental rotation task was associated with greater right parietal than left parietal activation in both men and women. Men performed better than women on the three-dimensional task and there were no differences between men and women on the two-dimensional task. It was concluded that men and women may be using different neurological strategies on two- and three-dimensional mental rotation tasks.
Department of Psychology, Armstrong Atlantic State University, 11935 Abercorn Street, 31419, Savannah, GA 31419, USA. robertjo@mail.armstrong.edu
Jonathan E
JE
Roberts
Martha Ann
MA
Bell
D000328:Adult; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004585:Electrooculography; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012727:Sex Characteristics