Effect of sex and joystick experience on pursuit tracking in adults

Using a joystick, adults (n = 39 males, 40 females in Experiment 1; it = 35 males, 40 females in Experiment 2; and n = 18 males, 18 females in Experim ent 3) performed a computerized pursuit tracking task. Contrary to previous ly reported findings, the males were not more accurate than the females whe n performance was adjusted for prior perceptual-motor experience. Although no sex differences were found in a speeded tracking task, in an inverted tr acking task the males exhibited a significant performance advantage; that a dvantage remained after several blocks of practice. Because participants' p erformance was adjusted statistically for prior perceptual-motor experience , the male advantage in inverted tracking was not related to experience. Ra ther, mon proficient inverted tracking performance was associated with high er S-dimensional mental rotations scores. In sum, sex differences in normal pursuit tracking may be better explained by differences in perceptual-moto r experience. Inverted tracking, however, may depend on proficiency with sp atial transformations.