Abstract
This study explored gender differences in correct response rates and response times on a task involving left or right arrow selection and another involving the transformation of mental rotation of the hand. We recruited 15 healthy, right-handed men (age 24.5 ± 6.4) and 15 healthy, right-handed women (age 21.3 ± 4.9). For the tasks, we used pictures of left and right arrows and 32 hand pictures (left and right, palm and back) placed in cons (each at 45° from 0° to 315°). Hand and arrow pictures alternated and were shown at random. Participants decided as quickly as possible whether each picture was left or right. To compare the time taken for the transformation of mental rotation of the hand, we subtracted the average arrow response time from that for the left and right hand pictures for each participant. Correct response rates did not differ significantly between men and women or left and right for either arrow or hand pictures. Regardless of gender, the response time was longer for the left arrow picture than right arrow picture. The response time for the hand picture was longest for both men and women for pictures at rotation angles that were most difficult to align with participants’ hands. While there was no difference between men’s responses for left and right hand pictures, the responses of women were longer for left than right hand pictures and also than those of men. These findings suggest that both men and women mainly perform the hand mental rotation task with implicit motor imagery. On the other hand, the gender difference in performance might be explained by the difference in balance with other strategies, such as visual imagery, and by cognitive, neurophysiological, and morphological differences.
Highlights
Since RTs increase in proportion to the angular rotational difference between the figure pairs, it is thought that the figure MRT is completed by mentally rotating one of the figures and placing the two figures on top of each other
This study examined whether there were differences in responses to left and right arrows in a group of 15 healthy, right-handed men and 15 healthy, right-handed women
Similar to previous findings regarding differences between left and right on a choice response time task (CRTT) [24], our findings showed that RT was longer for the left arrow than right arrow
Summary
This task involves presenting participants with pairs of three-dimensional (3D) figures projected in two dimensions and having them decide whether the two figures are the same (with response time (RT) as the dependent variable of interest) [3]. Since RTs increase in proportion to the angular rotational difference between the figure pairs, it is thought that the figure MRT is completed by mentally rotating one of the figures and placing the two figures on top of each other. Results for RT and brain function measurements during this task show that participants may mentally rotate their own hand to place it on top of the displayed hand picture [4,5,6,7,8,9]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
