Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2026

Assessing Human Spatial Navigation in a Virtual Space and its Sensitivity to Exercise
Published on: January 26, 2024
Spatial abilities across the adult life span
Erika Borella1, Chiara Meneghetti1, Lucia Ronconi2
1Department of General Psychology, School of Psychology, University of Padova.
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.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Cognitive Development During Adulthood
Depth Perception and Spatial Vision
Biological Influences on Intelligence
Revisionist Views of Adolescent and Adult Cognition
Three Developmental Domains
Physical Development
Physical processes, also known as maturation, encompass the biological changes that occur across an individual's life. These changes begin with genetic inheritance and continue through various stages, including growth in height and weight,...
Lateralization

