Better Destination Memory in Females

Abstract

Destination memory refers to the ability to remember to whom one has sent information. The current study investigated gender differences in destination memory. Female and male participants were asked to tell proverbs to pictures depicting faces of female and male celebrities. Participants were later asked to decide to whom each proverb had been previously told. Results showed better destination memory (regardless of the destination's gender) in female participants than in male participants, a performance that was significantly correlated with verbal episodic memory. However, no own-gender bias was observed, as both female and male participants demonstrated similar memory for female and male destinations. Taken together, our findings suggest a relationship between females' superiority in destination memory and their better verbal episodic memory. The absence of an own-gender bias in destination memory is interpreted an evolutionary need to maintain social contacts with all genders.