Sex influence on face recognition memory moderated by presentation duration and reencoding

It has been suggested that women have a better face recognition memory than men. Here we analyzed whether this advantage depends on a better encoding or consolidation of information and if the advantage is visible during short-term memory (STM), only, or whether it also remains evident in long-term memory (LTM).

We tested short- and long-term face recognition memory in 36 nonclinical participants (19 women). We varied the duration of item presentation (1, 5, and 10 s), the time of testing (immediately after the study phase, 1 hr, and 24 hr later), and the possibility to reencode items (none, immediately after the study phase, after 1 hr).

Women showed better overall face recognition memory than men (ηp² = .15, p < .05). We found this advantage, however, only with a longer duration of item presentation (interaction effect Sex ×

ηp² = .16, p < .05). Women's advantage in face recognition was visible mainly if participants had the possibility to reencode faces during former test trials.

Our results suggest women do not have a better face recognition memory than men per se, but may profit more than men from longer durations of presentation during encoding or the possibility for reencoding. Future research on sex differences in face recognition memory should explicate possible causes for the better encoding of face information in women.