Men have better sense of direction than women, study suggests

Science Daily ^ | December 7, 2015

[sparklite2]

Using fMRI, the researchers saw that men in the study took several shortcuts, oriented themselves more using cardinal directions and used a different part of the brain than the women in the study.

But when women got a drop of testosterone under their tongue, several of them were able to orient themselves better in the four cardinal directions.

[miss marmelstein]

Maybe they do. But why is it when they drive and they get lost, they refuse to stop for directions? A woman drags out the map.

[Uncle Miltie]

If my ex knew where North was, she couldn’t find South.

Really.

[cripplecreek]

Between myself and my 4 sisters I would definitely have to say its true.

[fwdude]

Don’t need a study for this. Whenever I ask a woman if they live north or south of XXX freeway, NOT A SINGLE ONE can tell me.

[NorthMountain]

A woman drags out the map.

I have met few women who could put that map to any use. In fairness, I have met many men who also could not put that map to any use.

[Georgia Girl 2]

I totally believe this. Women (including me) drive by way of monuments. ie. go 2 miles and turn at the Baptist church then left at the Kroger.

Men are directional ie go SW on Harbinger Street for 2 miles and then turn north on Hiccup Rd. etc.

I can find my way anywhere if you just tell me how to get there but reading a map no way. :-)

[Snickering Hound]

[LibertarianLiz]

I remember some years ago, the Brits did a study on this; and, what they found was that men use directions such as North, South, etc. Women use landmarks; turn left at the Dennys, or something like that.

When you give directions to a woman using landmarks, they understand directions as well as men, who use directions such as north, or south.

So, men and women's brains are different. No matter what those bone-y assed feminists in Manhattan would like us to believe.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Now that’s just sexist. /s

[Uncle Miltie]

Strangely, my best friend (who is a woman) has a perfect sense of ordinal direction, but cannot correctly identify left versus right. Her brain freezes, and she comes up with NO ANSWER. Not Right, not Left, just nothing .....

But she knows exactly where South East is right now. And she can turn from any ordinal direction to any ordinal direction. Just don’t ask her if that was a left or a right.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

I think my bladder always knows which way is North to Lake Erie!

[LibertarianLiz]

If my ex knew where North was, she couldn’t find South.

LOL. I have told people that if you turn me around real fast, three times, in my own living room, I would be lost.

[DannyTN]

We’re really never lost. We know that we are bounded by interstates to our east, west north and south. And usually we are bounded in a much smaller area.
We’re somewhere inside those boundaries, and we have a general idea of what direction we are going.

But a good woman that doesn’t nag and can read a map, is nice to have. A GPS also works pretty well but it does nag a little.

[Uncle Miltie]

Stand in the place where you live
Now face north
Think about direction
Wonder why you haven’t before

Now stand in the place where you work
Now face west
Think about the place where you live
Wonder why you haven’t before

If you are confused, check with the sun
Carry a compass to help you along
Your feet are going to be on the ground
Your head is there to move you around

So stand in the place where you live
Now face north
Think about direction
Wonder why you haven’t before

Now stand in the place where you work
Now face west
Think about the place where you live
Wonder why you haven’t before

Your feet are going to be on the ground
Your head is there to move you around
If wishes were trees, the trees would be falling
Listen to reason, season is calling

Stand in the place where you live
Now face north
Think about direction
Wonder why you haven’t before

Now stand in the place where you work
Now face west
Think about the place where you live
Wonder why you haven’t before

If wishes were trees, the trees would be falling
Listen to reason, reason is calling
Your feet are going to be on the ground
Your head is there to move you around

So stand (Stand!)
Now face north
Think about direction
Wonder why you haven’t before

Now stand (Stand!)
Now face west
Think about the place where you live
Wonder why you haven’t

Stand in the place where you live
Now face north
Think about direction
Wonder why you haven’t before

Now stand in the place where you work
Now face west
Think about the place where you live
Wonder why you haven’t before

Stand in the place where you are
Now face north
Stand in the place where you are
Now face west
Your feet are going to be on the ground
(Stand in the place where you are)
Your head is there to move you around, so stand

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

I’m an excellent map reader. That does not translate into being good at “sensing” direction. If I know where I am, have a map, I can go anywhere. But why bother? I have a GPS that tells me step by step what to do.

My husband loved maps but was only so so at directions. They problem with men is that they are unwilling to ask because they are unwilling to admit they don’t know.

[Responsibility2nd]

Ever been to Branson, MO?

My wife was reading the map and we were on the Yellow route and she was adamant about where I should drive.

I knew we were headed in the opposite direction. I also knew better than to argue with her right then.

[Georgia Girl 2]

As long as you get there is what matters. Whenever I’m meeting one of my girlfriends somewhere the first thing they say something like “do you know where the Home Depot on Highway so and so is? The we go from there. No problem. :-)

[NorthMountain]

I have a GPS that tells me step by step what to do.

That's nice.

Until the battery dies.

GPS is wonderful; it's a poor substitute for awareness.

[max americana]

The only time women have a better direction is when they know the closest shoe sale and the name of the store without GPS.