Mueller Sven C, Jackson Carl P T, Skelton Ron W
School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, UK.
Behav Brain Res. 2008 Nov 21;193(2):209-15. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2008.05.017. Epub 2008 Jul 3.
Sex differences in human spatial navigation are well known. However, the exact strategies that males and females employ in order to navigate successfully around the environment are unclear. While some researchers propose that males prefer environment-centred (allocentric) and females prefer self-centred (egocentric) navigation, these findings have proved difficult to replicate. In the present study we examined eye movements and physiological measures of memory (pupillometry) in order to compare visual scanning of spatial orientation using a human virtual analogue of the Morris Water Maze task. Twelve women and twelve men (average age=24 years) were trained on a visible platform and had to locate an invisible platform over a series of trials. On all but the first trial, participants' eye movements were recorded for 3s and they were asked to orient themselves in the environment. While the behavioural data replicated previous findings of improved spatial performance for males relative to females, distinct sex differences in eye movements were found. Males tended to explore consistently more space early on while females demonstrated initially longer fixation durations and increases in pupil diameter usually associated with memory processing. The eye movement data provides novel insight into differences in navigational strategies between the sexes.
人类空间导航中的性别差异是众所周知的。然而，男性和女性为了在环境中成功导航而采用的具体策略尚不清楚。虽然一些研究人员提出男性更喜欢以环境为中心（以客体为中心）的导航方式，而女性更喜欢以自我为中心（以自我为中心）的导航方式，但这些发现很难被重复验证。在本研究中，我们检查了眼动和记忆的生理测量指标（瞳孔测量法），以便使用莫里斯水迷宫任务的人类虚拟模拟来比较空间定向的视觉扫描。12名女性和12名男性（平均年龄 = 24岁）在一个可见平台上接受训练，并且必须在一系列试验中找到一个不可见的平台。除了第一次试验外，在所有试验中，参与者的眼动被记录3秒，并且要求他们在环境中确定自己的方位。虽然行为数据重复了之前关于男性相对于女性空间表现更好的研究结果，但在眼动方面发现了明显的性别差异。男性在早期往往会持续探索更多空间，而女性最初表现出更长的注视持续时间以及通常与记忆处理相关的瞳孔直径增加。眼动数据为男女之间导航策略的差异提供了新的见解。
