Mental Rotations Test

The Mental Rotations Test is a test of spatial ability by Steven G. Vandenberg and Allan R. Kuse, first published in 1978. It has been used in hundreds of studies since then.^[1][2]

A meta-analysis of studies using this test showed that men performed better than women with no changes seen by birth cohort.^[3] A close analysis of subjects taking the test revealed that humans do not only rely on spatial imagery to solve the puzzles, but also involve more complex strategies.^[2]

References

1. M. Peters, B. Laeng, K. Latham, M. Jackson, R. Zaiyouna, C. Richardson (1995). "A Redrawn Vandenberg and Kuse Mental Rotations Test - Different Versions and Factors That Affect Performance". Brain and Cognition.
2. Hegarty, Mary (June 2018). "Ability and sex differences in spatial thinking: What does the mental rotation test really measure?". Psychonomic Bulletin & Review. 25 (3): 1212–1219. doi:10.3758/s13423-017-1347-z. ISSN 1069-9384. PMID 28808983.
3. Voyer, Daniel (April 2011). "Time limits and gender differences on paper-and-pencil tests of mental rotation: a meta-analysis". Psychonomic Bulletin & Review. 18 (2): 267–277. doi:10.3758/s13423-010-0042-0. ISSN 1069-9384. PMID 21327340.