City Research Online

Abstract

In this study empirical evidence for prenatal androgens influencing spatial cognition was investigated in children. 27 girls with CAH and 23 boys with CAH. and 22 unaffected female and 22 unaffected male relatives aged from 3-11 years took part. Performance on two tests of visual-spatial ability (mental rotations and spatial perception), and two targeting tasks (ball throwing and dart throwing), was assessed. Performance was compared to examine whether aspects of spatial cognition are enhanced in girls with CAH, who have been exposed to high levels of androgens prenatally. The spatial tasks used have shown sex differences with boys outperforming girls in the general population.

Results revealed mixed findings. For visual-spatial ability, some differences were observed in unaffected children. Boys were faster than girls at spatial perception but not mental rotations and there were no significant differences in accuracy of performance for either task. In respect of targeting, boys were better than girls at dart throwing, but statistical significance was not quite reached for ball throwing. The findings for girls with CAH were less clear. CAH girls did not differ from unaffected girls in speed or accuracy of performance for spatial perception or mental rotations. For targeting. CAH girls' performance was better than unaffected girls’, and similar to that of unaffected boys. The performance of CAH boys did not differ from unaffected boys on any of the tasks.

Results suggest that targeting but not visual-spatial ability may be influenced by prenatal androgens. Results also suggest that aspects of visual-spatial functioning may be differentially sensitive to sex differences. Findings are discussed in relation to the impact of both hormonal and environmental factors on spatial cognition and to methodological limitations evident in the study of visual-spatial ability in young children.

Publication Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Departments:	School of Health & Psychological Sciences > Psychology

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