July 8th, 2024

New Research Finds Differences Between Male and Female Brains

A Stanford University study uncovers distinct male and female brain patterns with no overlap, challenging traditional gender differences. Findings suggest cognitive functions are influenced by unique factors, sparking discussions on gender-based brain disparities.

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New Research Finds Differences Between Male and Female Brains

A recent study from Stanford University reveals significant differences between male and female brains, with no overlap found between the two genders. The research rejects the idea of a continuum and highlights distinct patterns of brain connectivity predicting cognitive functions in each gender. While male brain characteristics accurately predicted male cognitive function, the same did not hold for females, and vice versa. These findings challenge previous notions of gender differences in the brain and suggest that cognitive functions in males and females are determined by profoundly different factors. The study utilized artificial intelligence techniques to analyze brain activity in over 1,500 young adults, showcasing distinct "fingerprints" of brain activity at rest for males and females. The researchers emphasize the importance of acknowledging these differences to avoid disadvantaging either gender. The study's implications have sparked discussions on the significance of understanding and addressing gender-based brain disparities.

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Link Icon 7 comments
By @logicprog - 5 months
So a [gigantic meta analysis](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014976342...) of thirty years of studies on sexed structural and functional differences in human brains found zero evidence of any differences, a completely overlapping distribution, but as soon as "big data AI" is used suddenly not only are there differences, there's literally zero overlap? Count me suspicious. I think I'm going to trust the meta-analysis of 30 years worth of wide-ranging scientific study over the brand new study that's just throwing whatever fad is currently in the vogue at the problem to see what happens.
By @grugagag - 5 months
Im surprised they didn’t find any differences between brains of various men. Or women.
By @aappleby - 5 months
"Male and female brains are so similar that it takes a dedicated AI to distinguish between the two."
By @dopylitty - 5 months
The article seems to conflate sex and gender while the study is paywalled so I can't tell how they defined male and female. The study does seem specific to sex and doesn't mention gender at all in the abstract.

Without those definitions it's basically saying "things we grouped a certain way ended up grouped that way" which isn't really a useful result.

By @mouse_ - 5 months
Interesting. Would also like to see a similar study conducted among non-binary and gender nonconforming people.