Sex Differences and Similarities in Urban Home Ranges and in the Accuracy of Cognitive Maps

Sex Differences and Similarities in Urban Home Ranges and in the Accuracy of Cognitive Maps

Former research has examined potential human sex differences in spatial abilities or home range size. Both are assumed to have an adaptive function. In this study we combined the investigation of home range size in an urban environment and spatial abilities by accuracy analysis of cognitive maps. Pa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Evolutionary psychology Vol. 12; no. 4; pp. 814 - 826
Main Authors: Stephan, Pia, Jäschke, Johannes P. M., Oberzaucher, Elisabeth, Grammer, Karl
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01-10-2014
SAGE Publishing
Subjects:
Adult
Cognition
Female
Humans
Male
Original
Residence Characteristics
Sex Factors
Social Environment
Space Perception
Spatial Behavior
Urban Health
Young Adult
home range
Geometric Morphometric Methodology
spatial abilities
cognitive map
sex differences
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Summary:Former research has examined potential human sex differences in spatial abilities or home range size. Both are assumed to have an adaptive function. In this study we combined the investigation of home range size in an urban environment and spatial abilities by accuracy analysis of cognitive maps. Participants (n = 87) drew a sketch of their home range in Vienna depicting all places regularly visited in every-day life. We used the sketches' geographical locations to calculate the size of the home range. With the Geometric Morphometric Methodology, we quantified the accuracy of cognitive maps by measuring Euclidean distances between corresponding landmarks in the sketches and the geographical maps of home ranges. Our results showed a non-significant trend for men to have a larger home range. Overall, participants' cognitive maps were fairly accurate. However, men sketched their home range more precisely than women. Female map accuracy increased as a function of residency duration. In addition, accuracy of cognitive maps was influenced by home range size and number of frequently visited places. In summary, findings indicate that sex differences in home range size and spatial abilities may still persist in humans living in urbanized Western societies, but are also influenced by environmental experience.
ISSN:1474-7049
1474-7049
DOI:10.1177/147470491401200409