Exploring Sex Differences in Numerosity Perception Using Dynamic Visual Stimuli: Insights into Cognitive Processing and STEM

Abstract

Numerosity perception, the innate ability to estimate the number of objects in a set without counting, plays a crucial role in cognitive science and has implications for addressing sex disparities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Despite its significance, research on sex differences in numerosity perception, particularly in dynamic visual contexts, is still limited. This study aims to address this gap by investigating sex differences in numerosity perception using 3D dynamic stimuli in a dual-task experiment. We found a significant underestimation of numerosity among females, a phenomenon not previously reported in adults. This suggests sex-based variations in numerosity perception, likely linked to differences in spatial cognition. The study also reveals how increased attentional load can negatively affect numerosity estimation, especially in females. Despite the limitation of a small participant group, this pilot research establishes a framework for more extensive future studies to substantiate these findings and deepen our understanding of sex-specific cognitive processing in dynamic environments.