Two- and three-dimensional mental rotation tasks lead to different parietal laterality for men and women

Int J Psychophysiol. 2003 Nov;50(3):235-46. doi: 10.1016/s0167-8760(03)00195-8.

Abstract

Thirty-two college students (16 male, 16 female) had EEG recorded during computerized two- and three-dimensional mental rotation tasks. The simple two-dimensional mental rotation task was associated with more left parietal than right parietal activation in men and more right parietal than left parietal activation in women. The complex three-dimensional mental rotation task was associated with greater right parietal than left parietal activation in both men and women. Men performed better than women on the three-dimensional task and there were no differences between men and women on the two-dimensional task. It was concluded that men and women may be using different neurological strategies on two- and three-dimensional mental rotation tasks.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Electroencephalography
  • Electrooculography
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Imagination / physiology*
  • Male
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology
  • Sex Characteristics