Sex and strategy effects on brain activation during a 3D-navigation task

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Sex differences in navigation strategies are well-documented.
• However, the underlying neural mechanisms and sex-specific brain network activation remain underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate sex differences in brain networks supporting distinct navigation strategies.
• To compare brain activation and functional connectivity during allocentric vs. egocentric and landmark-based vs. Euclidean navigation tasks in men and women.

Main Methods:

• Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to scan 36 men and 36 women during a 3D-navigation task.
• Participants were instructed to use specific reference frames (allocentric/egocentric) and strategies (landmark-based/Euclidean).
• Brain activation and hippocampal connectivity were analyzed based on sex and navigation strategy.

Main Results:

• Distinct brain networks were activated based on navigation strategy and sex.
• Men showed greater activation in frontal areas, while women showed greater activation in posterior regions.
• Specific differences included increased left inferior frontal gyrus recruitment in men for landmark-based navigation and differential hippocampal connectivity patterns between sexes.

Conclusions:

• The findings suggest sex-specific neural underpinnings for navigation strategies.
• Women may recruit verbal networks more, while men may rely more on spatial networks.
• This study provides evidence for distinct brain area activation related to navigation strategies in men and women.