Individual Differences in Cue Utilization on Spatial Tasks

Abstract

Two studies examined individual differences in cue utilization for spatial tasks. Study 1 investigated sex and weight differences in the use of proprioceptive and tactile cues for negotiating a finger maze while blindfolded. The results indicated that females and overweight persons were more likely to use a tactile cue than a proprioceptive one, while the reverse was true for males. Also, the 16 females were more likely to use a tactile cue and less likely to use a proprioceptive cue than the 16 males were. These individual differences reflected an attentional bias on the part of male subjects and a response bias on the part of female and overweight subjects. Study 2 investigated sex differences in congenitally blind subjects' use of proprioceptive and exteroceptive cues when giving directions to get from one place to another. The results showed that the 5 males provided more proprioceptive than exteroceptive cues, while a trend in the opposite direction was observed for the 5 females.