When it comes to human cognition, the way men and women visualize the world has long been a subject of scientific fascination. A newly published article titled “Sex differences in the development of object imagery abilities across age groups,” authored by Maria Kozhevnikov, Alessia Bonavita, and Laura Piccardi, offers fresh insights into this topic.

Recently published in the prestigious journal Scientific Reports, this research explores a lesser-known aspect of visual cognition: how we mentally visualize the color, shape, and texture of objects.

Spatial Abilities vs. Object Imagery: Understanding the Difference

In the field of cognitive psychology, sex differences in spatial abilities—such as the capacity to mentally rotate objects and manipulate them in space—are well-documented. These differences typically emerge around the age of 13, with males consistently showing a distinct advantage in response speed over females.

However, until now, very little was known about sex differences in the development of object imagery ability. While spatial ability is about where an object is and how it moves, object imagery is about what the object looks like—specifically, the ability to mentally visualize its detailed appearance in terms of color, shape, and texture.

The Role of Dorsal and Ventral Brain Pathways

Neuroscience evidence shows that the brain processes these two visual tasks through entirely different neural networks. Spatial processing relies heavily on the dorsal pathway, whereas object imagery is associated with the ventral pathway. Because these pathways develop differently, the research team hypothesized that the development of sex differences would also vary significantly between these two cognitive domains.

A Groundbreaking Study Across Multiple Age Groups

To test this hypothesis, the researchers examined the development of three core components of object imagery ability: shape, color, and texture. The study was designed to track how these abilities evolve as people grow.

Methodology and Sample Demographics

The researchers conducted a massive evaluation across four different age groups: 13, 14, 15, and adults aged 18–35. The study analyzed a highly diverse sample, including:

• 514 secondary school students from Singapore.

• 323 adult participants from the National University of Singapore.

Participants were administered a rigorous series of spatial and object imagery tests to measure their performance and cognitive development.

Key Findings: The Female Advantage in Visualizing Shape and Texture

The results of the tests provided a fascinating contrast to what is typically seen in spatial ability studies.

The data revealed that females significantly outperformed males in texture and shape imagery. Unlike spatial abilities, where a male advantage appears during adolescence, the female advantage in object imagery showed a completely different trajectory.

A Distinct Developmental Pattern

What makes these findings truly remarkable is their stability. The female advantage in shape and texture imagery remained consistent across all evaluated age groups—from 13-year-olds to adults—and was independent of their academic or professional specializations. This suggests that object imagery follows a unique developmental pattern that is entirely distinct from spatial ability.

These findings open new doors in cognitive neuroscience, helping us better understand how sex differences shape the way we mentally visualize the world around us.

External Resources & Read the Full Study:

• Read the complete article on Scientific Reports:Nature.com - s41598-026-37983-0