title: Gender differences in navigational memory: pilots vs. nonpilots.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The coding of space as near and far is not only determined by arm-reaching distance, but is also dependent on how the brain represents the extension of the body space. Recent reports suggest that the dissociation between reaching and navigational space is not limited to perception and action but also involves memory systems. It has been reported that gender differences emerged only in adverse learning conditions that required strong spatial ability.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study we investigated navigational versus reaching memory in air force pilots and a control group without flight experience. We took into account temporal duration (working memory and long-term memory) and focused on working memory, which is considered critical in the gender differences literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found no gender effects or flight hour effects in pilots but observed gender effects in working memory (but not in learning and delayed recall) in the nonpilot population (Women's mean = 5.33; SD= 0.90; Men's mean = 5.54; SD= 0.90). We also observed a difference between pilots and nonpilots in the maintenance of on-line reaching information: pilots (mean = 5.85; SD=0.76) were more efficient than nonpilots (mean = 5.21; SD=0.83) and managed this type of information similarly to that concerning navigational space. In the navigational learning phase they also showed better navigational memory (mean = 137.83; SD=5.81) than nonpilots (mean = 126.96; SD=15.81) and were significantly more proficient than the latter group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is no gender difference in a population of pilots in terms of navigational abilities, while it emerges in a control group without flight experience. We found also that pilots performed better than nonpilots. This study suggests that once selected, male and female pilots do not differ from each other in visuo-spatial abilities and spatial navigation.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Verde
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Piccardi
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bianchini
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guariglia
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carrozzo
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Morgagni
authors.forename: Maddalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boccia
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Fiore
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tomao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D011939:Mental Recall; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012737:Sex Factors; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D055815:Young Adult