Female advantage for spatial location memory in both static and dynamic environments

Brain Cogn. 2003 Nov;53(2):381-3. doi: 10.1016/s0278-2626(03)00149-0.

Abstract

A female advantage has previously been found for spatial location tests of object memory. Previous studies have used static, 2-D tasks to test this advantage. This study used a computerized adaptation of the game Concentration to test object location memory in both a static and dynamic array of 24 pairs of line drawings. The dynamic version of this task was used to better reflect the dynamic real world in which we usually use object location memory. Consistent with previous research, we observed a female advantage. This advantage was found to a similar extent in both the static and dynamic versions of the task. The female advantage for object location memory is a concrete advantage in spatial cognition that females show on the Concentration Task, regardless of the nature of the presentation environment.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Environment*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Memory / physiology*
  • Sex Factors
  • Space Perception / physiology*
  • Spatial Behavior / physiology*
  • Visual Perception / physiology