Difference between Male and Female Brain

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Abstract

This paper will examine the differences between male and female brain. In achieving this objective, the paper will discuss some of the reasons that make men and women do things in a different way, and why come up with completely different approaches to similar situations. Moreover, the paper will also explore why at later stages of life, women may tend to adopt similar approaches as men. It is important to mention that all psychological and mental actions taken by men are in many cases brain driven depending on how each one’s brain is wired.

Introduction

The common say that men are animals, popular with some women, actually ought to be blamed on brain and its functions. Actually when anyone refers to men as such, no one should take offense if the statement is interpreted to mean that men are emotionally hard wired. The big question you probably ought to be asking yourself is that why is it so? Men and women’s brain are wired to work different though with complementing purposes to make living harmonious. Neurological researches have continued to point out that there is slight difference in the size and functionality, and specialization in the male and female brain.

As we shall see, some neurologists attribute these differences to the earlier evolution period of development. They assert that during this period, a wild and daring male versus a compassionate female characterized the nature of early man (Cohen, 2003). These proponents of evolutionary brain specialization claim convincingly that given that the early man had to hunt for food in the wilderness, his nature of duty required that he set emotions aside to be able to kill for food and sometimes endure solitary life. Consequently, man developed to become naturally emotionally hard wired. The other side of the argument is that women became emotionally softer and good in languages (Larimore and Larimore, 2008) since they had to care for kids at home and be hospitable to their husbands when they returned from hunting expeditions.

Difference between Male and Female Brain

Scientist and behavioral psychologists were for a long time perplexed with the human brain and its role in the two sexes. Earlier researchers therefore did a commendable job in researching in this area. The results of these findings, some theoretical propositions, have become widely acceptable. Scientific researches on functions of parts of the brain later provided findings that are more convincing. It is now clear that men and women’s brain are structured different. To begin with, scientific research has found that men tend to use the left hemisphere of the brain more that the right hemisphere (Larimore and Larimore, 2008). This is in contrast to women who are able to put into use both the right and the left hemisphere of the brain. Because of this, men are generally good at carrying out activities that are predominantly coordinated in the left hemisphere of the brain. These is why men tend to solve their problems solving from a perspective that is task oriented as opposed to women who solve their problems from a creative and emotional perspective that encompasses good communication in the process.

Another difference between men’s and women brain is mathematical computations, an operation controlled from the inferior parietal lobule. This part of the brain has been found to be considerably larger in males than in females especially on the left side of the brain (Darlington, 2002). This section is thought to control mathematical computations and is believed to be the reason why men are able to solve advanced computations than women. Interestingly, inferior parietal lobule is larger on the right side in females than in males. Research found that it enables women to give attention to precise stimuli. Women are thus able to realize the baby is awake and crying more easily than men are.

Most importantly, the human brain controls the production of body hormones. During instances of stress, human body responds by producing oxytocin hormone to restore the body back through a negative feedback process. Women are able to deal with stress better than men are since the brain sends impulses for production of estrogen hormone, which enhances the action of oxytocin. However, men respond poorly to conditions of stress given that testosterone (make hormone) acts to reduce the effects of the hormone oxytocin. Besides, women are also better in languages than men are (Cohen, 2003). Women process language patterns from both sides of the brain while men only use the left hemisphere. Moreover, women are known to have comparatively superior limbic systems as opposed to males. They are thus able to express emotions of love and affection. They are thus good nurtures and caregivers given their empathizing tendencies. They are able to take of infants more than males.

In fact, some studies have shown that women have a larger hippocampus than males (Darlington, 2002). This part is responsible for expressing strong emotions and other functions like recalling very elaborate and fine details. It is no surprise, for instance, that while men will only remember a friend’s shirt as nice, women will notice that the dress had silver buttons around the collar and golden buttons running down, and two pockets of which one was slightly larger that the other. It is not by magic, that women are able to recall, but because of the way, their brain is wired.

To summarize, it is not doubtable to conclude that women are the best nurtures nature ever provided. They are able to take care of a family more than men are. However, it has been pointed out that since most of these brain coordinated nurture function are driven by hormones, there a possibility od a shift when women reach menopause. After menopause, women may develop mechanistic approach, as there may no production of specific hormones to sustain their tendency to love and nurture.

References

Cohen, S., (2003).The Essential Difference: Male and Female Brains and the Truth about Autism. New York: Basic Books.

Darlington, C., (2002). The Female Brain. New Orleans: CRC Press.

Larimore, W., and Larimore, B., (2008). His Brain, Her Brain: How Divinely Designed Differences Can Strengthen Your Marriage. New York: Zondervan.