Male and female brains differ in overall brain volume and in the volume and density of specific brain regions, according to research by Amber Ruigrok, John Suckling and Simon Baron-Cohen from the Department of Psychiatry at Cambridge University. The group reviewed 126 articles covering sex-based brain volumes and found that men have significantly greater overall volume: from 8-13 percent, as well as larger volumes in certain regions. Women have higher density and volume in some regions.
The team did not study the implications of the findings, which could extend into the study of mood disorders, autism and mental illness. These findings make it clear that sex cannot be ignored as a factor in ongoing brain research. ”We should no longer ignore sex in neuroscience research, especially when investigating psychiatric conditions that are more prevalent in either males or females,” says Ruigrok.
I humbly propose that sock-matching and the ability to ask for directions be considered as valid research topics.
Check out the news release at: http://bit.ly/1eQlCXF.