Brain sex theories keep coming back. And not as a patriarchal stereotype. Psychiatrist Maja Polikowska-Herman in an interview with MedTvoiLokony argued that the brains of men and women are different because they are affected by different hormones. This caused an avalanche of hatred. American scientists have just examined the brains of 27 thousand. people with the help of tomography. They proved that women’s brains in certain areas are more active than men’s. And it has consequences. Visible in our behaviors and problems in everyday life.
In the areas responsible for concentration, self-control and emotional processing, women’s brains are more active than men’s. This is what the results of research by scientists from Amen Clinics (USA) say, who using single photon emission tomography (SPECT study) compared the brain activity in over 26,5 thousand. people with mental problems: mood disorders, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or other disorders, e.g. attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as well as 119 healthy people. They checked blood flow in 128 areas of the brain while awake and performing a variety of cognitive tests.
They found that women’s brains were generally more active than men’s, especially in the prefrontal cortex for attention and impulse control, and in the limbic system involved in emotional processing. In men, the areas controlling visual information processing and motor coordination were more active.
«This is a very important study that helps understand gender differences in how the brain works. The measurable differences we identified in the male and female brains are important for understanding the gender burden of increasing the risk of developing certain disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease. The use of neuroimaging tools – such as SPECT, is essential for the development of precise treatments for the brain in the future, »says lead author of the study, psychiatrist Daniel G. Amen.
A few months ago, Dr. Maja Polikowska-Herman talked about the differences between the brains of men and women in MedTvoiLokony, and these statements sparked a heated discussion. The psychiatrist claimed that the differences were caused mainly by the influence of different hormones on the brains of men and women. We cite excerpts from that conversation:
“Women’s brains have more connections between the right and left hemispheres, and men have more connections between the front and back 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 (…). Women perform worse in stressful situations: at exams or during public speeches. For men, stress has a stimulating effect and overwhelms us. We fall from the hero’s position to zero. 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. Besides, they are more likely to suffer from Parkinson’s disease and addiction to alcohol or psychoactive substances. “
The Americans’ results can help understand why some disorders are more common in women and others in men. Women are more often diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, depression (a risk factor in the development of Alzheimer’s disease) and anxiety disorders. Meanwhile, men more often suffer from behavioral disorders, ADHD and are more prone to breaking the law, which means that they end up behind bars more often than women.
Greater activity in specific regions of the brain, for example, may suggest that women are more empathetic, more intuitive, cooperative and self-controlled, but are also more likely to develop depression, anxiety disorders, insomnia, and eating disorders. These are, of course, only statistics, we do not rule out that many women have a more “male” brain and that of men a “female” brain. We also do not encourage attempts to evaluate brains and bidding between the sexes.
Although Dr. Maja Polikowska-Herman made a reservation: “From an evolutionary point of view, we are just as important as women and men. Let us learn from each other and draw inspiration from each other’s differences. Contrary to appearances, our brains complement each other perfectly. Yes, they are not equal, but they are of equal value ”, however, this interview sparked a heated discussion both in MedTvoiLokony’s editorial office and among Internet users. You can read the whole conversation here: Storm in the brain
The results of the American study were published in the Journal of Alzheimers Disease.
Source: Journal of Alzheimers Disease, PAP, MedTvoiLokony