Spatial abilities across the adult life span.

The present study investigates age-related effects across the adult life-span on spatial abilities (testing sub-abilities based on a distinction between spatial visualization, mental rotation and perspective taking) and spatial self-assessments. The sample consisted of 454 participants (223 women and 231 men) from 20 to 91 years of age. Results showed non-linear age-related effects for spatial visualization and perspective taking, but linear effects for mental rotation; few or no age-related effects were found for spatial self-assessments. Working memory accounted for only a small proportion of the variance in all spatial tasks and had no effect on spatial self-assessments. Overall, our findings suggest that the influence of age on spatial skills across the adult life-span is considerable, but the effects of age change as a function of the spatial task considered, and the effect on spatial self-assessment is more marginal.