ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses questions about genetic, neurobiologic, socio-cultural, and environmental factors to examine their influence on the development of spatial ability. Spatial visualization is a complex, analytical skill that demonstrates the participant's ability to see and think in three dimensions, and to manipulate objects that are based on a specific spatial referent. Spatial ability is a theoretical construct that represents a form of cognitive functioning and is considered a component of overall intelligence but is not routinely assessed and used when making educational decisions. What is evident from research is that sex hormones can impact cognition. Emergent experiences in spatial thinking skills may be an important factor in ameliorating some of the sex differences that are noticed in later years between boys and girls, and may have an impact on later career choices. The distinction in psychology literature between constructs of ability and achievement is a blurry one. When people measure ability, they are always measuring achievement to some degree.
