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. 2024 Nov 25;19(11):e0314270.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0314270. eCollection 2024.

Sex differences persist in visuospatial mental rotation under 3D VR conditions

Oliver L Jacobs  1 , Katerina Andrinopoulos  2 , Jennifer K E Steeves  2 , Alan Kingstone  1
Affiliations

Sex differences persist in visuospatial mental rotation under 3D VR conditions

Oliver L Jacobs et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

The classic Vandenberg and Kuse Mental Rotations Test (MRT) shows a male advantage for visuospatial rotation. However, MRTs that have been adapted for use with real or physical objects have found that sex differences are reduced or abolished. Previous work has also suggested that virtual 3D objects will eliminate sex differences, although this has not been demonstrated in a purely visuospatial paradigm without motor input. In the present study we sought to examine potential sex differences in mental rotation using a fully-immersive 3D VR adaptation of the original MRT that is purely visuospatial in nature. With unlimited time 23 females and 23 males completed a VR MRT designed to approximate the original Vandenberg and Kuse stimuli. Despite the immersive VR experience and lack of time pressure, we found a large male performance advantage in response accuracy, exceeding what has typically been reported for 2D MRTs. No sex differences were observed in response time. Thus, a male advantage in pure mental rotation for 2D stimuli can extend to 3D objects in VR, even when there are no time constraints.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. A screenshot of stereo vision afforded in the VR head-mounted display.
The image on the left was displayed to the left eye and the image on the right was displayed to the right eye. Note that the stimuli appear as 2D blocks because the image is a 2D reproduction of the VR scene.
Fig 2
Fig 2. The VR adaptation of the stimuli for trial 1.
The image is a monocular picture from the VR task. The target, or key stimulus, is circled in yellow. Participants are asked which two of the four exemplars to its right are the same as the target. The participant here has indicated object 1 as matching the key which renders it yellow.
Fig 3
Fig 3. A plot depicting proportion correct as a function of sex.
Dots indicate individual values. Error bars represent standard error.
Fig 4
Fig 4. A plot of total response time as a function of sex.
Dots indicate individual values. Error bars represent standard error.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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