Predictors of Visuospatial Skill and the Role of Observational Drawing

Visuospatial skill, the ability to visualize and mentally manipulate information, is a process impacted by different factors like demographics, visual intelligence, and expertise in domains relying on these skills, such as visual arts or engineering. Here, we tested the unique contribution of drawing skills in predicting visuospatial performance while accounting for other factors, such as age and gender. Using a remotely and self-administered protocol, we tested visuospatial and drawing skills in 236 artists, visual and literary, aged 20 to 95 and located across the United States. Drawing accuracy and a measure of visual intelligence emerged as the strongest predictors of visuospatial skill. In addition, we provided further evidence for age-related differences that were driven by response times, along with gender differences in favor of men that were driven by accuracy. Visual arts expertise did not have a moderating effect on age or gender. Overall, the findings highlight the unique contribution of drawing skills to mental transformation performance.