Friday, February 28, 2014

Nature vs. Nurture Debate: Should the Term "Hard-Wired" Be Used When Describing the Brain?



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

No comments:

Post a Comment