NAVIGATION IN A VIRTUAL MAZE - SEX-DIFFERENCES AND CORRELATION WITH PSYCHOMETRIC MEASURES OF SPATIAL ABILITY IN HUMANS

This study used computer-generated (''virtual'') mazes to investigate sex differences in the efficiency of spatial route learning in humans, Correlations between maze performance and traditional psychometric me asures of spatial ability also were examined. Male and female subjects completed a total of five learning trials on each of two spatial maze s and completed a battery of spatial and verbal cognitive tests. As we ll as demonstrating the typical male advantage on psychometric measure s of spatial performance, robust sex differences favoring males were f ound for both the time required to solve the mazes (d = 1.59) and the number of spatial memory errors committed (d = 1.40). Highly significa nt positive correlations were obtained between scores on the paper and pencil tests and performance on the maze task, The results of the pre sent study are consistent with results from studies in other mammalian species suggesting a male advantage for spatial navigation through a novel environment. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.