Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
  1. Home
  2. Search

Refine search

Refine search

Access:
Content type:
Publication date:
Apply   From and To filters
Subject: Show more
Journals Show more
Publishers: Show more
Societies Show more
Series: Show more
Collections: Show more

Actions for selected content:

Select all | Deselect all
  • View selected items
  • Export citations
  • Download PDF (zip)
  • Save to Kindle
  • Save to Dropbox
  • Save to Google Drive

Save Search

You can save your searches here and later view and run them again in "My saved searches".

Please provide a title, maximum of 40 characters.
Cancel
×

3 results

  • 5 - Sex Differencesin Visuospatial Abilities

  • Edited by Priti Shah, Akira Miyake, University of Toronto
  • Book:
    The Cambridge Handbook of Visuospatial Thinking
    Published online:
    05 June 2012
    Print publication:
    18 July 2005, pp 170-212

  • Summary

    Abstract

    Sex differences are found in a variety of tests of visuospatial abilities ranging from standardized paper-and-pencil or computerized tasks to tests of way-finding ability and geographical knowledge. The size of those differences and their direction vary (although most tasks favor males) depending on the type of skill being tested and the age and background of research participants. Sex differences may relate to differences in processing strategies, discrete underlying processes (e.g., working memory capacity), or expectations. Factors such as neural structure or function, sex hormone exposure, formal and informal learning experiences, and societal stereotypes appear to contribute jointly to these differences. Suggestions for further research include the design of better tests of visuospatial abilities, development of educational programs to enhance visuospatial performance, and a better understanding of the cognitive components that underlie visuospatial abilities, as well as the relationship of visuospatial abilities to mathematics and other cognitive skills.