Mental rotation task performance in relation to sexual and gender diversity in Thailand

Lindsey T Thurston; Lindsay A Coome; Malvina N Skorska; Diana E Peragine; Pongpun Saokhieo; Oranitcha Kaewthip; Suwat Chariyalertsak; Doug P VanderLaan

doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105428

Mental rotation task performance in relation to sexual and gender diversity in Thailand

Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2021 Nov:133:105428. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105428. Epub 2021 Sep 23.

Authors

Lindsey T Thurston¹, Lindsay A Coome¹, Malvina N Skorska², Diana E Peragine¹, Pongpun Saokhieo³, Oranitcha Kaewthip³, Suwat Chariyalertsak⁴, Doug P VanderLaan⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, L5L 1C6 ON, Canada.
² Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, L5L 1C6 ON, Canada; Child and Youth Psychiatry, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, M6J 1H4 ON, Canada.
³ Research Institute of Health Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Sriphum, Muang Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
⁴ Faculty of Public Health and Research Institute of Health Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Sriphum, Muang Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
⁵ Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, L5L 1C6 ON, Canada; Child and Youth Psychiatry, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, M6J 1H4 ON, Canada. Electronic address: doug.vanderlaan@utoronto.ca.

PMID: 34600175
DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105428

Abstract

Neurohormonal theory argues that organizational effects of hormone exposure influence sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as sex differences in visuospatial cognition. This study examined mental rotation task (MRT) performance in a diverse Thai sample (N = 980). Thai culture has several third genders: individuals assigned male at birth (AMAB) who are feminine and attracted to cis men (i.e., sao praphet song); individuals assigned female at birth (AFAB) who are masculine and attracted to feminine individuals (i.e., toms); AFAB individuals who are feminine and attracted to toms (i.e., dees); and sexual orientation categories similar to Western culture (e.g., gay, lesbian, bi). On the MRT, straight cis men outperformed straight cis women. Results were consistent with organizational effects among AMAB individuals, with straight cis men outperforming gay cis men and sao praphet song. Among AFAB individuals, however, only bi and lesbian cis women outperformed dees. Overall, support for neurohormonal theory was limited among AFAB individuals, but MRT performance among AMAB individuals was consistent with organizational effects. This study informs our understanding of visuospatial sex/gender differences and the applicability of neurohormonal theory across cultures.

Keywords: Gender identity; Mental rotation; Neurohormonal theory; Sexual orientation; Thailand; Visuospatial cognition.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Female
Gender Identity*
Humans
Male
Sexual and Gender Minorities* / psychology
Task Performance and Analysis*
Thailand