Professor Petra Jansen, of The University of Regensburg

Will speak on: Motor abilities and gender differences in mental rotation

Abstract:

This talk focuses on two major topics in the field of mental rotation research, the process of imaging an object turned around (Shepard & Metzler, 1971): a) the existence of possible sex differences favoring males and b) the relation to motor abilities. It will be shown that the topic of possible sex differences in chronometric mental rotation tasks is far away from being understood. Furthermore, studies are presented which indicate a relation between motor abilities and mental rotation. They will be discussed in line with the so-called embodiment cognition approach.