Testosterone and male spatial ability

Researchers looked at 35 studies that included data about the territorial ranges and spatial abilities of 11 species of animals: cuttlefish, deer mice, horses, humans, laboratory mice, meadow voles, pine voles, prairie voles, rats, rhesus macaques and talastuco-tucos (a type of burrowing rodent). They found that in eight out of 11 species, males demonstrated moderately superior spatial skills to their female counterparts, regardless of the size of their territories or the extent to which males ranged farther than females of the same species. The average superiority of males over females in spatial navigation may be a side effect of testosterone. (Previous studies have shown that women who take testosterone tend to see an improvement in their spatial navigation skills, he said.)