Adam and Eve, the man and the woman, are different anatomically, emotionally and by nature. But did you know the differences between a man and a woman does not end there? There are interesting differences between the male brain and the female brain?
The brain of a man and a woman are structured differently?
Yes, due to the differences in their brain, their logical reasoning, perception, analysis, emotions and the sense of sound and space are distinct. Fundamentally their brain varies by virtue of chemistry, processing, activity, and structure.
Here are 12 amazing differences between a male brain and a female brain.
1. Structure
Male brain is 10% large in size with more volume while females have thicker cortices. Unlike popular belief, this has no effect on intelligence and smartness. But a lot of people attribute more brain volume in men to intelligence and thicker cortices in women to smartness.
Men have 14 larger brain regions, while women have 10 larger brain regions. Men’s brain show more variation in the volume of each brain region and the dimensions of each cortex. Whereas, women’s brain have consistency in brain region size and cortical thickness. Men need more neurons to control their greater muscle mass and larger body size, thus generally have a larger brain.
Despite so many differences, scientists are fairly positive that male and female brains share more similarities than differences. Because the structural differences aren’t quite as profoundly noticeable as you might think. But, one area in which they do differ is the inferior parietal lobule, which tends to be larger in men.
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2. Problem-solving
Yes, I know girls are notorious for their gossips and bitching about everything wrong with their girlfriends. And the reason for that is the female brain cannot classify or process a particular problem.
Males, on the other hand, can classify the problems compartmentalize them and then solve each of them individually. Also, men tend to see issues and resolve them directly, due to the strong connections between the “perception” and “action” areas of their brains. On the other hand, women might be more inclined to combine logic and intuition when solving a problem.
So, girls next time you have something to bitch about your boyfriend, you know who to go to? Your male best friend, instead of your female best friend. Seems cool right, eh? 😉
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3. Communication and speech
The reason why every time she wins a debate with you, Or can better reason with your child than you can is because she is a better communicator. I am sure she can bargain like a pro, while you stand in the sideline and admire her skill. Well, she is many many times better at articulating words, putting her point across than you!
And the scientific explanation for this is that: In the male brain, the left hemisphere is more functional than the right. While in the female brain both the right and the left hemispheres are evenly functional. Unlike men, women have more verbal centres in their brain, typically on both the left and right side.
Men can better understand verbal cues but not body language, language cues, and other methods of communication. Because the part of the brain that picks up on language cues and works when using them is thinner in male brains compared to female ones.
So, men are struggling to understand subtle nuance in language and are less inclined to speak in many situations. But women are good at communicating and socializing with others. Women have more word and memory centres so they can describe a story more vividly and draw from different senses or speak things in details.
So she has powers in both her hemispheres unlike you! 😉
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4. Analytical skills
The male brain is larger in size than the female. The extra space in the male brain makes it easier for them to compartmentalize or analyze a problem better. Men, for this reason, are said to have better problem-solving and decision-making skills.
Men had stronger connections within cerebral hemispheres while the young women had stronger connections between hemispheres. Back of the human brain handles perception and the front of the brain handles action; the left hemisphere of the brain is associated with logical thinking, while the right side of the brain begets intuitive thinking.
Male brains may be optimized for motor skills, and female brains may be optimized for combining analytical and intuitive thinking. So, it can be said that women are slightly less analytical than men.
5. Language and vocabulary
Often in a disagreement or fight, you have difficulty in understanding what new word your girl said. Your girl knows how to use words more articulately than you. Want to know the reason why?
In the female brain, the verbal centers are located on both sides, while in the male they are located only at one side. Also in a normal conversation between a man and a woman, the man uses fewer words to narrate about a particular incident. This is also the reason why girls are more talkative than guys. Girls are good at languages for this reason as well.
Two sections of the brain responsible for language were found to be larger in women than in men, hence, women typically excel in language-based subjects and in language-associated thinking.
Men process language in their dominant hemisphere, whereas women process language in both hemispheres. Men are at higher risk of developing dyslexia or other language problems. If women have dyslexia, they are more likely to compensate for it.
6. Mathematical problems and equations
Do you remember that guy in high school, whom you went to each time to get stuck at a maths? Well, I will most definitely admit the guys in high school were better at maths than me.
And this was because the parietal lobule which is concerned with performing mathematical calculations and retention of numbers is larger in size in the male brain. Women have a thicker parietal region of the brain, which hinders the ability to mentally rotate objects–an aspect of spatial ability
7. Territorial and ambitious
I know each time your guy goes also macho alpha on you for another guy gave you a too-large smile, you melt and swoon!
Now let’s get down to the nerdy part- The dorsal premammillary nucleus is larger in the male brain which makes them territorial and ambitious.
8. Emotional sensitivity
Women typically have a larger deep limbic system than men, which allows them to be more in touch with their feelings and better able to express them, which promotes bonding with others. Because of this ability to connect, more women serve as caregivers for children.
The emotional differences is subjected to neurochemicals or hormones that are responsible for a lot of our moods. Men have high level of testosterone that boosts intimacy drive, but in some cases this hormone makes them lean more towards anger than calmness.
That doesn’t mean all men are aggressive, but tend to reach a stress limit quickly and may have trouble sitting quietly in one place. Men also have a higher level of serotonin, which helps mood regulation and inspires positive thinking.
On the other hand, women have high levels of oxytocin (which boosts female reproductive functions) and estrogen (that drives relationships, bonding, and socialization). This is why a woman is considered as a storehouse of emotions. She is not only emotionally equipped to handle her but your emotions as well.
The females can employ both logic and emotion while doing everyday tasks. Also, you would see she is more perceptive and receptive to emotions. This because the blood circulation in the female brain is more than the male brain.
It is the difference in the neurochemicals that more men are diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder, while more women receive a borderline personality disorder diagnosis. Men and women process the same neurochemicals differently. For example, serotonin (which is connected to happiness and depression) does not process the same in women. This could be the reason why women are more susceptible to anxiety and depression.
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9. Bonding and relationship
Women are caregivers, healers, and nurturers. Whenever you are sad or depressed, her hug makes you feel all is right in the world. And every time you see your infant bonding with your woman, you cannot help but marvel at her. Do you want a scientific explanation for that?
Here goes: The female brain produces higher levels of serotonin and oxytocin. The oxytocin is also released in the females during childbirth which helps in forming the bond between the baby and the mother.
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10. Brain chemistry
Women tend to have stronger brain connections, which could lead to better intuitive thinking, analyzing, and drawing of conclusions. On the other hand men have stronger connections from front to back, which allows heightened perception and boosts stronger motor skills.
The image below explains why – when women are asked to do particularly hard tasks, they might engage different parts of the brain. Men might over-engage just one part of the brain.
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11. Multitasking
How often did you have to yell at your husband for watching the soccer match so attentively, that he could not hear the baby crying in the next room or the doorbell ringing?
Lady, please know that he is simply not good at multitasking the way you are! While you can bake a cake, talk on the phone and at the same time keep an eye on your rambunctious toddler your man cannot. And the reason is very obvious his brain is not wired to do multitasking the way you do.
The female brain makes use of the white matter more than the male. White matter is linked to networking and helps brain centres to connect with grey matter. Thus, women can easily switch between tasks and are able to process multiple forms of sensory inputs at once.
Men use approximately seven times more of their brain’s gray matter than women do. Since grey matter focuses on processing specific actions and information in a very focused, singular manner, men aren’t good at multitasking.
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12. Lie detectors
Ah yes, I know you cannot lie to your wife because she is such a good lie detector! The reason she knows every time you lie on her face because she is a good face reader. A female brain observes the facial expression, body language and the words that come from the mouth. That’s why they are so good at detecting lies!
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13. Interests
Girls are conditioned to like soft toys, dolls, while boys are conditioned to like toy guns, trucks and so on. People assumed that these differences are more social than biological.
According to a study, young babies ranging in age from 9 to 17 months, the age where they rarely understand the difference between the male and female. Most children showed preferences for toys stereotypically marketed towards their gender. It may be that the human brain really does have those differences or maybe that it evolved to have them.
Now that you know where each of your sexes stands, put your brains to gear!
Happy braining!
References:
- Baron-Cohen, S., 2005, January. The essential difference: The male and female brain. In Phi Kappa Phi Forum (Vol. 85, No. 1, pp. 23-26).
- Joel, D., 2011. Male or female? Brains are intersex. Frontiers in integrative neuroscience, 5, p.57.
- Cosgrove, K.P., Mazure, C.M. and Staley, J.K., 2007. Evolving knowledge of sex differences in brain structure, function, and chemistry. Biological psychiatry, 62(8), pp.847-855.
- Barth, C., Villringer, A. and Sacher, J., 2015. Sex hormones affect neurotransmitters and shape the adult female brain during hormonal transition periods. Frontiers in neuroscience, 9, p.37.
- Crespi, B.J., 2016. Oxytocin, testosterone, and human social cognition. Biological reviews, 91(2), pp.390-408.
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