In
Lise Eliot's book, Pink Brain, Blue Brain: How Small Differences Grow into
Troublesome Gaps - and What We Can Do About It, she points out that there
are little differences between male and female brains at infancy. However, as
children begin to grow, differences develop in the brain. But why? Is it nature
or nurture? Eliot points out as the older children become, and more differences
arise in the female brain versus the male brain, it is harder to assume that
these differences arise only from their genes and hormones. Their life
experiences also play a role. Eliot goes on to say it is dangerous for
neuroscientists to promote the idea that brains are hard-wired. Clearly, there
are differences in behaviors amongst boys and girls, but Eliot believes experiences
play a large role in creating these differences. Eliot also points out many of
the differences found are actually not significant. However, in extreme cases,
differences are seen, and that is what is placed in the public's eye.
Plasticity is an area of research that is devoted to the understanding that the
brain changes with regards to the experiences it undergoes. Eliot's research is
based on the idea of plasticity. Her book was published in 2009.
Only
two months ago, an article was published in the Wall Street Journal, saying
that research is proving that differences in the female and male brain are
hard-wired. This article was published four years after Eliot's book. Eliot
would not approve of the title of this article, although she might agree with some
aspects aligned in the article. This article emphasizes the importance of
finding these differences before being able to understand them in regards to
gender difference health issues. Ragini Verma, a biomedical analyst at the
University of Pennsylvania, would agree with Eliot that little differences
between the female and male brain are seen at young ages. Differences are seen
once adolescence is reached. Verma focuses on the myriad connectivity in the
brain. Although the title of the article is that brain differences is
hardwired, the article does acknowledge that "the effects of diet,
experience and biochemistry, neurons and synapses are ruthlessly pruned,
starting in childhood." If this is the case, then Eliot would argue the
brain is not hardwired. Instead, the brain holds plasticity.
Although
Eliot would have some issues with this article, interesting data has
nonetheless been found. In 2011, a study performed at UCLA by Dr. Jahanshad
found that there are "signficant" differences in the frontal lobe in
the male and female brain. Eliot would question how significant the differences
actually were. Dr. Verma from University of Pennsylvania has also found
interesting findings. In these experiments, more connections between the
hemispheres of the brain (left to right and right to left) were found in
females' brains, whereas more connections within the hemispheres (back to
front) were found in males' brains. Because of these connection differences,
females could be thought to be "better wired" for analytical thought
and multitasking whereas males could be thought to be "better wired"
for single activities where they can place all their focus on one task. The
article does point out that these assumptions are not proved and are rather
speculations. The article also points out that other factors play a part in
seeing gender differences in the brain, so it is important to be cautious when
publishing results. However, being able to produce the same results is key.
Neuroimaging allows to produce the same results even after taking different
paths, which is important for significant data to be found.
As
time goes on, many new research studies are carried out and new findings are
published. However, the debate continues to question whether or not it is
nature or nurture that brings out these differences in the male and female
brain. Eliot would argue experiences largely effect brain differences and
plasticity is important, which is why using the terms "hard-wired"
and "fixed" is not appropriate. Although every neuroscientist is
aware of the importance of plasticity, the terms are still used. It will be
interesting to see the debate continue.
Works Cited
Eliot,
Lise. Pink Brain, Blue Brain: How Small Differences Grow
into Troublesome Gaps--and What We Can
Do About It.
Boston:
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009. Print.
Hotz,
Robert L. "Differences in How Men and Women Think Are
Hard-Wired." The
Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company, 9 Dec. 2013. Web. 25 Feb.
2014.
URL
to article: http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304744304579248151866594232
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