title: Spatial abilities across the adult life span.
abstract: The study investigates age-related effects across the adult life span on spatial abilities (testing subabilities based on a distinction between spatial visualization, mental rotation, and perspective taking) and spatial self-assessments. The sample consisted of 454 participants (223 women and 231 men) from 20 to 91 years of age. Results showed nonlinear age-related effects for spatial visualization and perspective taking but linear effects for mental rotation; few or no age-related effects were found for spatial self-assessments. Working memory accounted for only a small proportion of the variance in all spatial tasks and had no effect on spatial self-assessments. Overall, our findings suggest that the influence of age on spatial skills across the adult life span is considerable, but the effects of age change as a function of the spatial task considered, and the effect on spatial self-assessment is more marginal.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Psychology, School of Psychology, University of Padova.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Borella
authors.affiliation: Department of General Psychology, School of Psychology, University of Padova.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meneghetti
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Padova.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ronconi
authors.affiliation: Department of General Psychology, School of Psychology, University of Padova.
authors.forename: Rossana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Beni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012647:Self-Assessment; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult