Viewpoint-related gender differences in a spatial recognition task

Abstract

The efficacy of active virtual reality based tasks to measure spatial memory is well known. Sometimes, studies have used recognition tests to assess memory retrieval. This process requires comparing the sample image with the representation built in the brain about the experimental context. The perspective of the image presented could also have an important role during testing. In this studywe develop a newspatial task based on videos and a spatial recognition test. Participants had to watch four videos where they had to remember one or three box locations. After, they had to decide whether or not any of the pictures shown in the spatial recognition task corresponded to correct spatial positions shown in the video. Images could be taken from similar or different viewpoints. Participants acquired the task in few trials and men performed better than women when deciding about spatial perspectives in the high demanding task. This approximation could be suitable for reducing the use of peripheral devices, decreasing the technological demands and simplifying the combination of other techniques like fMRI.