How do hormones affect the brains of men and women?

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Does women’s IQ drop after menopause, and does andropause drive men into dementia? Do the banal theories about the lords of Mars and the ladies of Venus make sense? We talk to Dr. Maja Polikowska-Herman, a psychiatrist, about the results of research on the influence of hormones on our brains. Woody Allen says the brain is his second favorite organ. It is worth following an example from this point. Regardless of your gender.

Zuzanna Opolska, MedTvoiLokony: Doctor, how is it with our brain? Small is beautiful, or maybe size matters?

Dr Maja Polikowska-Herman, psychiatrist: The theories that linked brain size to intelligence eventually crumbled. Besides, brains are simply proportional to our body structure, which is why men are usually larger. It’s just that the speed and efficiency of thinking is determined by myelin, i.e. white matter in the central nervous system. Unfortunately, the sad truth is that differences in size, wealth, or biochemical balance between the brains of both sexes are constantly being used as a tool to discriminate against women. And that is neither correct nor medically justified.

So what’s the difference between men’s and women’s brains?

Everything and nothing, one could say philosophically. The differences are mainly in the neural connections. Female brains have more connections between the right and left hemispheres, and men have more connections between the front and back parts of the brain. We are also different in particular structures, e.g. the corpus callosum and the hippocampus, responsible for episodic memory and emotions, have a greater volume in women. Men, on the other hand, have a larger amygdala, which determines the emotional response of the body, especially in a threatening situation. Another issue is the different way of organization – other areas of our brains are responsible for specific skills, and therefore we differ in the efficiency of performing specific tasks.

The justification can be found in the theory of evolution?

Yes, the male Homo erectus hunted antelopes and its female counterpart raised offspring. According to some theories, our ancestor Australopithecus was a murderous ape. He drove the enemy into a horn, stoned and torn him to shreds. Today, a man uses similar methods of fighting, but has different tools: manipulation and psychological violence.

And the woman?

He talks his opponent to death. Already female Homo erectus built a bond with the child through vocalization. The poorly developed vocal apparatus allowed him only to purr, scratch and buzz. Today, millions of years later, speech and the emotional response center are still the domain of women. We have better verbal fluency and a greater choice of words. For one female stutterer, there are between four and ten males. We outclass men when it comes to grammar and spelling. It is also easier for us to learn foreign languages.

Are we absolutely better in the area of ​​speech and language?

Men interpret the meaning of words better, we can check it in numerous language tests. In the category: “give a synonym to” they are unrivaled.

Apparently, we feel smells and tastes more strongly, but the best chefs are men?

In this case, it is not a matter of senses, but of organization and fitness. The chef has several sous-chefs below him, a ticking clock above him, and a room of hungry guests in front of him. Above all, he has to be a great strategist and make quick decisions. And it’s the men who play chess better and focus on tasks. We women have many advantages, but let’s agree that the strategy is not one of them.

Who among us has a better memory?

Nobody, we have the same memory, but we remember different things. Men – a specific event, and women – an emotional message. Every detail is important to us. We will not forget that six days ago at the intersection of Chmielna and Nowy Świat, at 19.45pm, our partner looked for a long-legged blonde. We will hold him accountable for this event for the rest of his life. In this context, our memory is lost, leading to constant confrontations, conflicts and escalation of problems. We remember better negative events that come back like a boomerang and “kill” good feelings.

What else is the weakness of women?

We fare worse in stressful situations: during exams or during public speeches. For men, stress has a stimulating effect and overwhelms us. We fall from the hero’s position to zero. Here again we refer to the disastrous effects of hormones and this “unfortunate” emotionality. We are lost in the fact that instead of going out to say our own thing – complete the task, we start to analyze and “deliberate” our speech in the context of absolutely the entire universe. And the man? He will come out, lay out, and leave the rostrum. Even a decade ago, it was believed that women were twice as likely to suffer from depression due to the oppressive male environment. Today we know that the neurochemistry of our brains is completely different. And we can associate fluctuations in hormones in women with the higher incidence of depressive disorders, and more precisely with the entire spectrum of affective disorders. This is partly due to the distinctness of the serotonin and dopamine producing systems, but also to the sex hormones, which are closely linked to each other. Men suffer from depression twice as often, but their symptoms are more severe. In addition, they are more often affected by Parkinson’s disease and addiction to alcohol or psychoactive substances.

What else can hormones decide?

They play a bigger role than we think. Their level in the prenatal period and up to the first year of life may determine not only interests and character traits, but also sexual preferences. Until a dozen or so years ago, it was believed that homosexuality was determined by environmental factors, and the adoption of a child by a gay couple influenced their orientation. Today we know that whether a boy will be homo or heterosexual is determined by testosterone production in the third trimester and immediately after birth. In this case, biology and genetics are the most important factors. Our brain is plastic, but it cannot be completely reorganized. Its cosmetic fixes are more real.

Men of the “hormonal swing” remind us at every step …

Indeed, in women, due to the ovulation-menstrual cycle, the level of sex hormones is constantly fluctuating, and this translates into our cognitive abilities and memory. Looking at your menstrual cycle is from day one to ovulation, your estrogen levels go up and down. And this is how our cognitive functions are shaped: memory, concentration, the ability to abstract or the ability to think logically. After ovulation, it is much better to give up exams, public speeches and job interviews, because then we will perform less well.

Research suggests that in middle age female memory and cognition decline?

Yes, and again, it is related to hormones, namely lowering estrogen levels. They increase blood flow in the brain, affecting its oxygenation and nourishment. Additionally, estradiol has the advantage of protecting neurons and helping to repair neuronal damage. Another beneficial effect of estrogens is the fact that they have a positive effect on various brain neurotransmitters, including serotonin, which ensures proper emotional functioning. Women entering the menopausal period can benefit from hormone replacement therapy to make up for deficiencies. Yes, we won’t stop the aging process, but we can delay the onset of cognitive decline. It is worth thinking about starting therapy in advance, turning on hormones a few years after the last menstruation will not help us. This aspect is often forgotten in the menopause. We are used to saying that menopause is just a hot flush, “light mood swings” and a time when we will not be able to have children. Meanwhile, it has dramatic effects on the whole organism. Increase in emotional disorders and cognitive disorders from mild to severe, such as dementia, including Alzheimer’s. This also has its economic consequences, because women, due to depression and cognitive disorders, are less efficient and professionally active. It doesn’t have to be that way.

Before our interview sounds like a scientific justification for divorce, let’s figure out how to communicate “beyond the brains”?

From an evolutionary point of view, we are just as important as men and women. But let’s not assume that the other side thinks, feels and understands as much as we do. Remember that men are better tactically and women are better in terms of emotions. Let’s learn from each other and draw inspiration from each other’s differences, and let’s not argue about the fact that he again did not remember the anniversary and the blue dress I was wearing. On the other hand, let’s not roll our eyes when our partner is emotional about things that seem irrelevant to us. Let’s try to look through her eyes, because maybe then our male black and white world will take on a little more color. And when we are to argue, because the differences between us are unacceptable, let us use the “art of arguing well”, which says clearly and distinctly: arguing about one thing. Don’t go back to the past, reproach everything, and don’t hold a grudge. If it’s a question of lost documents again, just talk about it. And at the end, let’s remember one thing that, contrary to appearances, our brains complement each other perfectly. Yes, they are not equal, but they are equal.

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* „The Predatory Transition From Ape to Man” Raymond Dart