Fogel J, et al. - Researchers performed an investigation regarding the independent and interactive effects of sex and HIV serostatus on performance of a spatial learning and memory task in a sample of 181 individuals with a history of cocaine dependence. In this work, men showed faster times to completion on immediate recall trials compared with women and delayed recall was significantly poorer among HIV-infected compared with HIV-uninfected participants. Additionally, they identified a sex × serostatus effect on the total number of completed learning trials. Specifically, compared with HIV-infected women, HIV-infected men successfully completed more learning trials.

• Spatial learning and memory seemed to have critical relation with the integrity of hippocampal systems.
• As per functional MRI and neuropathological studies, HIV-seropositive individuals show prominent hippocampal circuitry effects.
• Potential spatial learning and memory deficits in this population needed investigation.
• In this work, the independent and interactive effects of sex and HIV serostatus on performance of a spatial learning and memory task in a sample of 181 individuals with a history of cocaine dependence were investigated.
• As per findings, men indicated faster times to completion on immediate recall trials compared with women and that delayed recall was significantly poorer among HIV-infected compared with HIV-uninfected participants.
• Additionally, researchers identified a sex × serostatus effect on the total number of completed learning trials.
• Specifically, compared with HIV-infected women, HIV-infected men successfully completed more learning trials.