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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 13, 2026

Utilizing Electroencephalography Measurements for Comparison of Task-Specific Neural Efficiencies: Spatial Intelligence Tasks

Utilizing Electroencephalography Measurements for Comparison of Task-Specific Neural Efficiencies: Spatial Intelligence Tasks

Published on: August 9, 2016

Gender differences in multitasking reflect spatial ability.

Timo Mäntylä¹

¹Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden. timo.mantyla@psychology.su.se

Psychological Science

|March 7, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Multitasking performance varies by gender, with spatial ability playing a key role. Menstrual cycle phase can eliminate these gender differences in multitasking.

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Area of Science:

Cognitive Psychology
Neuroscience
Human Factors

Background:

Multitasking demands are increasing, particularly for women balancing paid and unpaid work.
Previous research has largely overlooked individual and gender-specific differences in multitasking capabilities.
Understanding these differences is crucial for addressing workplace and societal demands.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate individual and gender-related differences in multitasking performance.
To examine the roles of executive functioning and spatial ability in multitasking.
To explore the influence of the menstrual cycle on gender differences in multitasking.

Main Methods:

Two experiments were conducted involving participants completing multitasking sessions.
Tasks included gender-fair monitoring tasks, executive functioning (working memory updating), and spatial ability (mental rotation) assessments.
Performance was analyzed in relation to gender and menstrual cycle phase.

Main Results:

Males demonstrated higher monitoring accuracy than females.
Executive functioning and spatial ability independently predicted multitasking accuracy.
Spatial ability mediated the observed gender differences in multitasking performance.
Gender differences in multitasking and spatial ability were absent during the menstrual phase but present during the luteal phase.

Conclusions:

Multitasking performance is linked to spatiotemporal task coordination.
Observed gender differences in multitasking are significantly influenced by spatial ability.
Menstrual cycle phase can modulate gender-based disparities in multitasking and spatial skills.