Scientists now know that sex hormones begin to exert their influence on our brains as early as the development of the foetus.
Scientists now know that sex hormones begin to exert their influence on our brains as early as the development of the foetus.
A study by Israeli researchers, which examined male and female brains, found distinct differences in the developing foetus at just 26 weeks of pregnancy. The bridge of the nerve tissue that connects the right and left sides of the brain had a thicker measurement in female foetuses than in male foetuses. Observations of adult brains show this area may continue to remain stronger in females. The result: women have language functions in both halves of the brain. Researchers, using brain-imaging technology that captures blood flow to ‘working’ parts of the brain, analysed how men and women process language. When males listened, only the left hemisphere of their brains was activated. The brains of female subjects, however, showed activity in both hemispheres. This may result in the strong language skills typically displayed by females. Typically, girls outperform boys in the use of language and fine motor skills till puberty.
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