The ability of children to copy a complex figure was investigated by means of the Rey-Osterrieth complex figure and the corresponding methodology. The sample consisted of 420 children (boys and girls) aged 5½ to 12½ years. Responses indicate that the visuomotor ability involved in copying a complex figure increases with increasing age and that girls show significantly better performance than boys during the ages 8½ to 12½ years. The differences in performance can be attributed to differential neuropsychological strategies or functional differences that require further investigation.
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