Context : Surface differential rotation and other global surface flows on magnetically active stars are among the observable manifestations of the stellar dynamo working underneath .
Therefore , such observations are important for stellar dynamo theory and useful constraints for solar dynamo studies as well .

Aims : The active K1-giant component of the long-period RS CVn-type binary system \sigma Gem and its global surface flow pattern is revisited .

Methods : We refine the differential rotation law from recovering the spot migration pattern .
We apply a detailed cross-correlation technique to a unique set of 34 time-series Doppler images recovered using data from 1996/97 .
By increasing the number of the available cross-correlation function maps from the formerly used 4 to 17 we expect a more robust determination of the differential surface rotation law .
In addition , we present a new time-series Doppler imaging study of \sigma Gem using our advanced surface reconstruction code iMap for a dataset collected in 2006/07 .

Results : Results from the reprocessed cross-correlation study confirm that the star performs antisolar-type differential rotation with a surface shear \alpha of -0.04 \pm 0.01 , i.e. , almost a factor of two stronger compared to the previously claimed value .
We also confirm the evidence of a global poleward spot migration with an average velocity of 0.21 \pm 0.03 km s ^ { -1 } , in accordance with theoretical predictions .
From the new observations we obtain three subsequent Doppler images .
The time evolution of these images confirms the antisolar-type differential rotation of the same amount .

Conclusions :