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

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.