MENTAL ROTATION AT 7 YEARS - RELATIONS WITH PRENATAL TESTOSTERONE LEVELS AND SPATIAL PLAY EXPERIENCES

Biological and social-experiential factors appear to play a role in th e male advantage in spatial abilities. In the present study, relations among prenatal testosterone levels, spatial play experiences, and men tal rotation task performance were explored in 7-year-old boys and gir ls. A positive correlation was observed between prenatal testosterone levels and rate of rotation in girls. The findings were less clear for boys, but suggested the opposite pattern of results. Relations betwee n spatial play preferences and mental rotation task performance were n ot observed in children of either sex. These findings are consistent w ith the hypothesis that testosterone acts on the fetal brain to influe nce the development of spatial ability. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.