Neurofunctional Organization of Working Memory on the Basic Characteristics of Visual Space in Males and Females

Abstract

Thirty eight subjects (19 males and 19 females) performed the working memory task on orientations. In males, the higher sensitivity of the early occipito-temporal negativity N150 to the match/mismatch between current and stored orientations indicates the more effective early detection of changes in orientations. A higher amplitude of the P200 component of the occipital-temporal ERPs and central positivity of 400–500 ms in males compared to females is considered as indicator of the higher selective attention to orientations and the potential possibility of retaining in memory a larger information about the spatial properties of the environment. In was found a statistically significant relationship between the reaction time of the working memory performance and assessments of navigational behavior strategies according self-report questionnaires. It was suggested that the more effective visual-spatial working memory on the orientations is the important biological factor underlying the more effective navigation strategy that based on global spatial environmental characteristics.