Non-Euclidean Navigational Strategies of Women: Compensatory Response or Evolved Dimorphism?

Abstract

The proposition underlying this study was that females' use of topographical, rather than Euclidean navigational strategies emanate from a separate evolved mechanism rather than a compensatory response due to lesser Euclidean abilities. In support of this contention, it was found that, in terms of ontogenetic development, females' advantages in object location memory emerged during the same age interval as their greater use of a landmark route learning strategy, while the male advantage in Euclidean abilities appeared during the same age interval as their greater use of an orientation route learning strategy.