Early Androgen Effects on Spatial and Mechanical Abilities: Evidence from Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

There is considerable controversy about the origins of sex differences in cognitive abilities, particularly the male superiority in spatial abilities. We studied effects of early androgens on spatial and mechanical abilities in adolescents and young adults with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). On tests of 3D mental rotations, geography, and mechanical knowledge, females with CAH scored higher than their unaffected sisters, and males with CAH scored lower than their unaffected brothers. Exploratory regression analyses suggest that androgens affect spatial ability in females directly and through male-typed activity interests. Findings indicate that early androgens influence spatial and mechanical abilities, and that androgen effects on abilities may occur in part through effects on sex-typed activity interests. Keywords spatial ability; mental rotation; mechanical ability; geography; cognition; sex typing; gender typing; sex differences; androgens; sex hormones; congenital adrenal hyperplasia Considerable interest surrounds the nature, origins, and consequences of sex differences in human cognitive abilities. There are no sex differences in overall intellectual ability, but there are differences in the pattern of cognitive abilities. Compared to the other sex, boys and men have better spatial, mathematical, and mechanical skills, whereas girls and women are more skilled in verbal fluency, writing, perceptual speed, and verbal memory (for reviews see Blakemore, Berenbaum, & Liben, 2009; Halpern, 2012).1 The largest cognitive sex difference is in spatial ability, with males outperforming females in most aspects, but the size of the difference varying across abilities. The largest spatial sex Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Sheri A. Berenbaum, Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802