Training effect on sex-based differences in components of the Shepard and Metzler mental rotation task
Abstract Background Spatial ability has been reported to indicate sex-based differences in humans, mainly assessed by Shepard and Metzler mental rotation task (SM-MRT). Most performances in earlier studies have been evaluated by the mean value of reaction time and/or accuracy. The performance indexe...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Journal of Physiological Anthropology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40101-022-00314-z |
| _version_ | 1828098591407734784 |
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| author | Tomoaki Kozaki |
| author_facet | Tomoaki Kozaki |
| author_sort | Tomoaki Kozaki |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Spatial ability has been reported to indicate sex-based differences in humans, mainly assessed by Shepard and Metzler mental rotation task (SM-MRT). Most performances in earlier studies have been evaluated by the mean value of reaction time and/or accuracy. The performance indexes might not be sensitive measures of mental rotation. Sex-based differences in the performance might also be involved in the spatial experience of the subject at the time. This study observed variations in components of the SM-MRT over repetition. Methods Male (n = 17) and female (n = 17) subjects completed 20 days of repeating the SM-MRT. The slope and intercept of the function performance (reaction time) to the angular disparity are calculated; the slope of this function indexes the mental rotation (main-process), and the intercept indexes the other sub-processes. Results A significant main effect of sex was obtained on the slope. The intercept also showed a tendency toward statistical difference. The interactions between the sexes and the day were not significant for the indices. Statistical testing for coefficient of variations (CV) indicated no sex-based difference in the effect of the intercept throughout the experiment day. The CV of the slope, however, showed tendencies toward sex-based difference from days 7 to 12. Conclusions The difference between the sexes in performance on the slope was sustained throughout the experimental period. A few female subjects who demonstrated larger slope values than male subjects caused the sex difference. The learning rate of mental rotation may be an inherent spatial ability. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T08:04:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4cfe7eebcd5846c3ad25f0a9c19cb628 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1880-6805 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T08:04:42Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Physiological Anthropology |
| spelling | doaj.art-4cfe7eebcd5846c3ad25f0a9c19cb6282022-12-22T04:35:36ZengBMCJournal of Physiological Anthropology1880-68052022-11-014111910.1186/s40101-022-00314-zTraining effect on sex-based differences in components of the Shepard and Metzler mental rotation taskTomoaki Kozaki0Fukuoka Women’s UniversityAbstract Background Spatial ability has been reported to indicate sex-based differences in humans, mainly assessed by Shepard and Metzler mental rotation task (SM-MRT). Most performances in earlier studies have been evaluated by the mean value of reaction time and/or accuracy. The performance indexes might not be sensitive measures of mental rotation. Sex-based differences in the performance might also be involved in the spatial experience of the subject at the time. This study observed variations in components of the SM-MRT over repetition. Methods Male (n = 17) and female (n = 17) subjects completed 20 days of repeating the SM-MRT. The slope and intercept of the function performance (reaction time) to the angular disparity are calculated; the slope of this function indexes the mental rotation (main-process), and the intercept indexes the other sub-processes. Results A significant main effect of sex was obtained on the slope. The intercept also showed a tendency toward statistical difference. The interactions between the sexes and the day were not significant for the indices. Statistical testing for coefficient of variations (CV) indicated no sex-based difference in the effect of the intercept throughout the experiment day. The CV of the slope, however, showed tendencies toward sex-based difference from days 7 to 12. Conclusions The difference between the sexes in performance on the slope was sustained throughout the experimental period. A few female subjects who demonstrated larger slope values than male subjects caused the sex difference. The learning rate of mental rotation may be an inherent spatial ability.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40101-022-00314-zMental rotationGender differenceReaction time |
| spellingShingle | Tomoaki Kozaki Training effect on sex-based differences in components of the Shepard and Metzler mental rotation task Journal of Physiological Anthropology Mental rotation Gender difference Reaction time |
| title | Training effect on sex-based differences in components of the Shepard and Metzler mental rotation task |
| title_full | Training effect on sex-based differences in components of the Shepard and Metzler mental rotation task |
| title_fullStr | Training effect on sex-based differences in components of the Shepard and Metzler mental rotation task |
| title_full_unstemmed | Training effect on sex-based differences in components of the Shepard and Metzler mental rotation task |
| title_short | Training effect on sex-based differences in components of the Shepard and Metzler mental rotation task |
| title_sort | training effect on sex based differences in components of the shepard and metzler mental rotation task |
| topic | Mental rotation Gender difference Reaction time |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40101-022-00314-z |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tomoakikozaki trainingeffectonsexbaseddifferencesincomponentsoftheshepardandmetzlermentalrotationtask |