A typical test of spatial memory requires subjects to relocate a number of
objects in their original, previously studied positions. Tt has been argued
that this rest includes multiple separate processing components (Postma, A
., De Haan, E.H.F., 1996. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology 48A
(1), 178-199. Postma, A.: Izendoorn, R., De Haan, E.H.F.,., 1998. Brain and
Cognition 36, 334-345). One has to encode the precise positions occupied,
assign the various objects to the correct (relative) locations, and achieve
an integration of both types of spatial information. The present study exa
mined the presence of sex differences and the role of hormonal factors for
these selective components of spatial memory. A computerised, immediate (wo
rking) memory version of the test was used, comparing 23 males and 34 femal
es on three experimental conditions: positions only, object-to-position-ass
ignment, and the combined condition, requiring integration of the other two
components. In line with previous research (Postma et al., 1998) males sho
wed a selective advantage for fine-grained, metric positional reconstructio
n (i.e. positions-only). Interestingly, a within-subjects comparison in the
females only revealed a menstrual cycle effect for exactly the same dimens
ion of spatial memory. In the nonmenstrual phase, females were better than
during menstruation. This dearly implies a role for sex hormones in spatial
memory, even though a subsequent analysis of testosterone samples in saliv
a did not reveal a significant correlation with measures of spatial memory
in both males and females. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserv
ed.