From: Gina Miller (echoz@hotmail.com)
Date: Fri Apr 23 1999 - 20:53:22 MDT
Here's an article that is interesting considering our recent
conversations.
Source: American Academy Of Neurology (http://www.aan.com/)
Date: Posted 4/22/99
Gender-Specific Differences Found In Human Brain
Toronto (April 20, 1999) -- Men and women's brains are distinctly
different. While men have more neurons in the cerebral cortex, the
brain's outer layer, women have more neuropil, which contains the
processes allowing cell communication. Research showing these gender-
specific differences was presented during the American Academy of
Neurology 51st Annual Meeting April 17 -- 24, 1999, in Toronto.
"The cerebral cortex is responsible for voluntary movements,
perception of sensory input and of highly complex functions such as
memory, learning, reasoning and language," said Gabrielle de Courten-
Myers, MD, study author and associate professor of neuropathology at
the University of Cincinnati. "Males possess more tightly packed and
more numerous nerve cells (neurons) than females. Neurons send and
receive electrical signals that influence many functions of the body
and create thoughts and feelings. Females tend to have more neuropil,
the fibular tissue that fills the space between nerve cell bodies and
contains mainly nerve cell processes (synapses, dendrites and axons)
that enable neurons to communicate with numerous other nerve cells."
This research may explain previous findings that women are more prone
to dementing illnesses than are men. Although a man and woman may
lose the same number of neurons due to a disease, such as dementia,
the woman's functional loss may be greater because the cells lost are
more densely connected with other neurons. Added de Courten-Myers,
"Conversely, in males, the 'functional reserve' may be greater as a
larger number of nerve cells are present, which could prevent some of
the functional losses."
Although these gender-specific variations cause tangible differences
in how the brain functions, one type is not "better" or "worse" than
the other. Said de Courten-Myers, "It seems reasonable to assume that
specific functions may benefit from the presence of more cells while
others may be enhanced by a larger number of connections between
them. A better understanding of these issues may potentially affect a
wide spectrum of human activities such as health care, psychology and
teaching."
The researchers measured the cortex thickness and counted nerve cells
from various sites within the healthy brains of 17 deceased subjects
(10 males and seven females).
"The recognition of gender-specific ways of thinking and feeling --
rendered more credible given these established differences -- could
prove beneficial in enhancing interpersonal relationships." Said de
Courten-Myers, "However, the interpretation of the data also has the
potential for abuse and harm if either gender would seek to construct
evidence for superiority of the male or female brain from these
findings."
The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 15,000
neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to
improving patient care through education and research.
Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by
American Academy Of Neurology for journalists and other members of
the public. If you wish to quote from any part of this story, please
credit American Academy Of Neurology as the original source. You may
also wish to include the following link in any citation:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/04/990422061106.htm
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Gina "Nanogirl" Miller
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