Open AccessEvolution and the hormonal control of sexually-dimorphic spatial abilities in humans
Author(s) -
David F. Sherry,
Elizabeth Hampson
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
trends in cognitive sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1879-307X
pISSN - 1364-6613
DOI - 10.1016/s1364-6613(97)01015-2
Subject(s) - sexual selection , spatial ability , sexual dimorphism , selection (genetic algorithm) , psychology , testosterone (patch) , evolutionary biology , foraging , sex characteristics , evolution of sexual reproduction , biological evolution , spatial organization , biology , developmental psychology , ecology , zoology , cognition , artificial intelligence , neuroscience , genetics , computer science , gene
A number of hypotheses have been proposed for the evolution of sex differences in spatial ability. Two of these hypotheses assume a sex-based division of labor in foraging during human evolutionary history, three propose sexual selection for spatial ability, and two suggest that human life history has imposed sex-specific selection on spatial abilities. We derive predictions from each of these models and test the predictions against recent data on the effects of hormones on spatial ability across the lifespan. Sexual selection for increased range size in males might be the evolutionary origin of the enhancing effects of testosterone on spatial ability, while the benefits of reduced mobility in women at different stages of reproduction could be the origin of the inhibitory effects of oestrogen on spatial ability.