Spatial and Object Visualization Cognitive Styles: Validation Studies in 3839 Individuals

The well-established dissociation between the ventral object and dorsal spatial processing streams within the primate visual system suggests a contrast between object and spatial cognitive styles. We assessed the validity of this distinction using a self-report questionnaire in a sample of 3839 online participants, and laboratory cognitive tests in a subsample of 196. We found that (1) object and spatial processing preferences were virtually uncorrelated (r = –.05); (2) men, science majors, and people with videogame experience preferred spatial visualization, whereas women, humanities majors, and people with visual arts experience preferred object visualization; and (3) spatial visualizers performed better on tests of mental rotation and virtual maze navigation, whereas object visualizers performed better on a difficult test of picture recognition. The associations among the spatial measures were stronger than those among the object measures, which suggests that spatial visualization may be the more unitary cognitive ability and style. Individual differences in cognitive style may have implications for education.