Posted on 02/08/2005 3:02:00 PM PST by West Coast Conservative
Canadian researchers examining the speed at which the brain works found a secondary discovery -- the male brain works slightly faster than a female one.
The difference in brain speed between the genders -- not the main purpose of the study -- was highlighted in a report in Thursday's Toronto Star.
One of the study's findings was that in men's brains, messages travel four per cent faster than in women's brains.
Researchers examined nerve conduction velocity (NCV) -- the speed at which messages are transmitted between brain cells -- for the study which will be published in the academic journal, Intelligence.
The study's lead author is Edward Reed, professor emeritus in anthropology and zoology at the University of Toronto. The other authors are Phillip Vernon and Andrew Johnson, two psychology professors at the University of Western Ontario.
They stress that their discovery does not mean men are smarter -- and that the difference in gender reaction times is minimal.
". . . the small sex difference that we reported (4 per cent) was secondary to the purpose of the study (which was to attempt to replicate an earlier report by the first-author)," Vernon wrote in an email to CTV.ca.
"Had we conducted the study with younger participants it is possible (likely) that girls would have shown faster NCVs than boys," added Vernon.
"Finally, a difference as small as 4 per cent is unlikely to yield any meaningful differences in cognitive abilities (which is probably why the vast majority of previous studies have found no sex differences in general intelligence)."
The study tested 186 males and 201 females between the ages of 18 and 25.
"It's been known for some decades more intelligent people have faster reaction times," Reed told The Star.
"Brain nerve conduction velocity is an important component in how rapidly we think and this can contribute to being more or less intelligent. If that speed is very low you're going to think slowly. If it's faster, you'll think faster."
Reaction
Canadian feminist Doris Anderson told the Star that the issue of gender differences in the brain is "one of those perennial questions that keep popping up."
"I think there may be a difference between male and female brains. Girls talk earlier. Boys develop different motor skills. But I think an awful lot of the difference between male and female is taught to them," said Anderson to the Star.
Dr. Ruth King from York University's Dept. of Women's Studies told CTV.ca:
"Why is this on the front page? I mean, it's a study that's not been published yet and there's not enough information given for me to say anything beyond the fact that it seems to be part of this general fascination with alleged sex differences."
Our brains function faster because we fuel them with a natural high-energy super-nutrient: BEER.
Perhaps this explains why a man doesn't need the toilet seat down.
A man will look before sitting down.
Asbestos suit on!
Men obviously have faster brains which explains why we are so easily distracted and have shorter attention sp.....Look, shiny! (Wanders off)
"and after thousands of years of drooping breasts, it took a MAN to conceive (and construct) the design for the bra"
Yes. And he should have been shot for it. A bra is the most uncomfortable think I've ever worn.
So, the law requires you to wear a bra? If a man found something was uncomfortable to wear, he might use his superior brain speed to decide to TAKE IT OFF.
When I entered my brain in the 400 meter hurdles against Gail Deavers, it got creamed.
Group differences like this tell you noithing about individuals.
That's right. We women do parallel processing; yall male-type people are linear processors. One isn't better than another, but it explains why I can simultaneously help one child with her algebra homework, help a younger child with his reading, check a diaper, carry on a phone conversation, and work on the computer at the same time (while timing something on the stove). I'm a mom.
That's because we aren't slowed down by the part of the brain that asks for directions.
". . . the small sex difference that we reported (4 per cent) was secondary to the purpose of the study (which was to attempt to replicate an earlier report by the first-author)," Vernon wrote in an email to CTV.ca.
"Had we conducted the study with younger participants it is possible (likely) that girls would have shown faster NCVs than boys," added Vernon.
"Finally, a difference as small as 4 per cent is unlikely to yield any meaningful differences in cognitive abilities (which is probably why the vast majority of previous studies have found no sex differences in general intelligence)."
Apologetics, apologetics...
What may be afoot here... Hmmm...?
(Please pass that asbestos suit, prontito!)
Cheers to that!
We need that extra 4% to process this - - why do women think the way they do? - - before answering any question a woman asks
Well I know that I am at least 4 percent more impetuous than Mrs. jimfree. Is that the same thing?
no, it took a woman. http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa042597.htm
But our brains are 10% cuter!
Tyco Brahe's brain is the one replying to your comments.
He's using Babelfish.
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