INTRODUCTION: Spatial abilities are essential for everyday functioning. The mental rotation task (MRT) has consistently shown one of the largest sex differences, typically favoring men. Some studies suggest that women’s MRT performance may vary across the menstrual cycle or with hormonal contraception use, however, findings remain inconsistent. Sex differences in MRT performance may partly reflect variation in strategy used, highlighting the need to integrate behavioral and neural evidence to understand underlying mechanisms.

AIM(S): This study examined mental rotation performance and its neural correlates while considering sex differences and women’s hormonal status.

METHOD(S): A total of 167 participants (35 men; 132 women across menstrual-cycle phases and contraceptive groups) completed a computerized MRT in which stimuli were presented at varying angular disparities (from 15° to 155°) while EEG was recorded. Accuracy and response times (RT) were analyzed alongside neural variables (rotation-related negativity (RRN) and global field power (GFP)). Salivary sex steroid concentrations were measured.

RESULTS: Mental rotation typically shows a gradual increase in RT and GFP, accompanied by decreasing RRN amplitude as angular disparity increases. Instead, both behavioral and neural measures showed nonlinear patterns: RT and GFP increased until ~75° before plateauing, whereas RRN amplitude decreased until ~55° and then remained constant. These patterns were consistent across sexes and hormonal groups and likely reflect transition from rotation to alternative strategies. Hormonal associations were minimal; however, testosterone showed a positive relationship with RRN amplitude in users of contraceptives with androgenic properties.

CONCLUSIONS: Together, these findings suggest that increasing angular disparity between figures in MRT evoke sex and women hormonal statuses independent changes in neural activity followed by adjustment in performance.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT: No external funding was received for this study.