If you ever wondered if there was a difference between male and female mental wellness, a new study suggests there might be. The research, published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, pooled the results of 126 studies examining the differences in brain size between men and women, and found that, overall, men had larger brains than women. The results of the study also revealed differences between men and women in the volume of many different regions. Men, for example, tend to have larger volumes in brain regions associated with survival instincts, memory and learning, while women often have larger volumes in areas of the brain dealing with language and emotions.
The results of the study, which came from researchers from University of Cambridge and University of Oxford, have many media outlets reporting that men have bigger brains than women, which may imply a certain degree of higher intelligence. However, according to the NHS website, ‘You could make a case that this differing mix of abilities means that it is mutually advantageous for the sexes to co-operate…However the media’s preoccupation with brain size is probably something of a distraction. The link between brain function and brain structure or size is still not clearly understood; so we can’t reliably conclude from this study how the differences in brain size influence physiology or behaviour.’
The NHS continue, ‘Gender is influenced by both biological and social factors and it’s not yet clear how these interact to influence behaviour, personality or disease risk…It is also probably simplistic to assume that there is a direct link between brain size and intelligence. It is thought that it is the complexity of the connections between individual brain cells that underpin cognitive ability and not the total amount of brain tissue. For example, elephants have huge brains, weighing around five kilos. And while elephants are certainly bright creatures, renowned for their memory, it would be a bit of stretch to describe them as geniuses.’
This study is interesting as it is reportedly one of the first to systematically search the global literature to identify published studies that have examined the differences in brain structure between men and women, and then combine these results in a meta-analysis. However, the NHS website points out that the study ‘finds evidence that men have a slightly larger overall brain volume than women, with a brain size around 8% to 13% greater. This may be a result of their larger general size. They also find differences between men and women in the volume of many different regions.’
The NHS add that while the differences found in the brain regions may reinforce some commonly held gender stereotypes about the historical roles of men and women, ‘it would be simplistic to think other factors, such as social pressures and environment, do not also play a role in how each gender may tend to think and behave.’ But what did the researchers say? After examining the results, the researchers were led to conclude that the findings ‘suggest candidate brain regions for investigating the asymmetric effect that sex has on the developing brain, and for understanding sex-biased neurological and psychiatric conditions.’
Moreover, the researchers surmised that there may be differences during different stages of your life, such as when your brain develops during childhood and your teens. Still, the NHS warn, ‘This is not possible to say for certain, given that very few studies have been conducted outside of the adult age bracket. Overall this review contributes to the body of studies examining how the different brain structure of men and women may contribute to their propensity to different neurological and mental health conditions. Findings may suggest that both genders work best when they co-operate on a common goal, rather than engaging in a “battle of the sexes”.’