Sex Differences in Spatial Cognition Extend Beyond Vision: Insights From the Audio-Corsi Test

Abstract

Over the past several decades, substantial evidence has accumulated demonstrating sex differences in spatial abilities. Males outperform females in most visual tasks that require processing visuospatial information. Notably, in real-world contexts, this capacity also involves other sensory modalities, such as the auditory system. However, unlike visuospatial abilities, research on sex differences in auditory spatial abilities remains sparse. The present study investigated sex differences in an auditory spatial working memory task. Seventy-seven participants (41 female) completed the Audio-Corsi task, the well-established visual Mental Rotation Test (MRT), and a cognitive strategy questionnaire. Results revealed that males outperformed females on both the Audio-Corsi and the MRT. Interestingly, a significant relationship between performance on the Audio-Corsi and the MRT emerged, but only among females. Furthermore, to complete the Audio-Corsi, males reported employing the use of a holistic cognitive strategy more than females. These findings demonstrate that sex differences in spatial abilities extend across sensory modalities, encompassing both auditory and visual domains. They also underscore the distinct cognitive strategies employed by males and females in spatial processing. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of sex differences in spatial cognition.