Kjønnsforskjeller innen romforståelse

Abstract

There are many myths about the differences of the brain and cognitive abilities between men and females. It is presumed that men exceed in viso-spatial cognition compared to women. This thesis aimed to investigate the scientific evidence regarding sex differences in spatial cognition, particularly regarding navigation and mental rotation. It is well established that navigation and spatial memory rely on temporal areas, including the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex in humans and animals, and that the parietal lobe is essential in mental rotation. However, it remains a matter of debate whether the cognitive abilities differ between the sexes. A literature search was performed in Pubmed, and all non-clinical trials published in the last decade, comparing the two sexes, were included. These criteria resulted in 32 articles, in which 25 investigated navigation, and 9 investigated mental rotation. Four articles investigated both navigation and rotation. Two articles used a method that did not correspond to either. In general, men and male animals performed better than women and female animals, in both navigation and mental rotation, confirming previous presumptions. The sex differences are apparent in children and increase through puberty. There is a possible interaction with sex hormones, as well as experience. It is therefore not clear to what extent, sex difference in spatial abilities is due to biological, environmental or cultural factors.