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Sex differences in spatial cognition: advancing the conversation.

Susan C Levine¹, Alana Foley¹, Stella Lourenco¹

¹Department of Psychology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.

Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. Cognitive Science

|January 31, 2016

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Research shows sex differences in spatial thinking, particularly mental rotation, emerge developmentally. Factors like biology, environment, and training influence these skills, with curriculum changes potentially benefiting all students in STEM.

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Area of Science:

Cognitive Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Neuroscience

Background:

Sex differences in spatial thinking, especially mental rotation, are well-documented but debated.
Understanding the developmental trajectory and influencing factors is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the literature on sex differences in spatial thinking.
To examine developmental emergence, contributing factors, malleability, and educational implications.
To identify future research directions.

Main Methods:

Comprehensive literature review of studies on sex differences in spatial cognition.
Analysis of developmental trends, biological and environmental influences, and training effects.
Exploration of curriculum-based interventions.

Main Results:

Sex differences in spatial skills emerge during development and vary in magnitude.
Biological and environmental factors interact to shape these differences.
Spatial skills are malleable, and training can reduce the sex difference.

Conclusions:

The development and influencing factors of sex differences in spatial thinking require further investigation.
Educational strategies, such as curriculum spatialization, show promise for enhancing spatial skills in all students and diversifying STEM fields.