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Study Indicates Male Brain Four Per Cent Faster
CTV ^ | Tue. Feb. 8 2005 | CTV.ca News Staff

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."


TOPICS: Canada; Culture/Society; Extended News; Miscellaneous; Unclassified
KEYWORDS: brain; canada; female; kickme; male; sexdifferences
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To: West Coast Conservative

Our brains function faster because we fuel them with a natural high-energy super-nutrient: BEER.


41 posted on 02/08/2005 3:40:01 PM PST by Califelephant (What's freedom worth?)
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To: West Coast Conservative

Perhaps this explains why a man doesn't need the toilet seat down.

A man will look before sitting down.

Asbestos suit on!


42 posted on 02/08/2005 3:40:47 PM PST by Lokibob (All typos and spelling errors are mine and copyrighted!!!!)
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To: West Coast Conservative

Men obviously have faster brains which explains why we are so easily distracted and have shorter attention sp.....Look, shiny! (Wanders off)


43 posted on 02/08/2005 3:43:51 PM PST by Spiff (Don't believe everything you think.)
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To: West Coast Conservative
This doesn't surprise me in the least. Its due to distributed processors.

Processor A is located in the cranial cavity.
Processor B is located elsewhere.

Processor A is actually slower than the female equivalent.
Processor B is way overclocked, at warp speed.

Together, they average out to +4%
44 posted on 02/08/2005 3:45:12 PM PST by Dat Mon (will work for clever tagline)
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To: NoControllingLegalAuthority

"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.


45 posted on 02/08/2005 3:56:43 PM PST by SendShaqtoIraq (Is there anyway for a FB game to end with NO winner?)
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To: ken5050
Obviously the male brain works faster. It has to, because it's smaller...

Um, Ken, I detect a faint whiff of 'embedded with/by the enemy' here...or is 4% of you being held hostage? LOL
46 posted on 02/08/2005 4:37:02 PM PST by The Spirit Of Allegiance (ATTN. MARXIST RED MSM: I RESENT your "RED STATE" switcheroo using our ELECTORAL MAP as PROPAGANDA!)
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To: SendShaqtoIraq

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.


47 posted on 02/08/2005 4:42:22 PM PST by NoControllingLegalAuthority
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To: sep·ten·tri·on XX; flojo; cyborg; tiamat; momincombatboots; reagan_fanatic; Lokibob; ...
This study is bunkum!

When I entered my brain in the 400 meter hurdles against Gail Deavers, it got creamed.

48 posted on 02/08/2005 4:46:12 PM PST by Do not dub me shapka broham ("There is some sugar...It's harder in the case of fires. The tariffs are too high!")
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To: West Coast Conservative
Even if it were so, mental variations among individuals will always be more important than mental differences between groups. You can say that Swedes are taller than Italians but Swedish jockeys are shorter than Italian basketball players.

Group differences like this tell you noithing about individuals.

49 posted on 02/08/2005 4:55:57 PM PST by muir_redwoods
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To: dawn53
...a man's brain can only carry ONE message at a time, while a woman's brain, although slower, is juggling 16 messages at once.

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.

50 posted on 02/08/2005 4:56:39 PM PST by Capriole (the Luddite hypocritically clicking away on her computer)
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To: Do not dub me shapka broham
You need to drink more.

The alcohol will kill off the slow, weak, dumb braincells and the quick, smart, strong brain cells will thrive and your brain will be faster!

(I like Darwin! LOL!)
51 posted on 02/08/2005 4:56:43 PM PST by tiamat (Some days, it's not even worth chewing through the restraints.)
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To: West Coast Conservative
Study Indicates Male Brain Four Per Cent Faster

That's because we aren't slowed down by the part of the brain that asks for directions.

52 posted on 02/08/2005 5:01:11 PM PST by Moonman62 (Republican - The political party for the living.)
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To: West Coast Conservative
"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)."

Apologetics, apologetics...

What may be afoot here... Hmmm...?

(Please pass that asbestos suit, prontito!)

53 posted on 02/08/2005 5:06:16 PM PST by March I up
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To: tiamat

Cheers to that!


54 posted on 02/08/2005 5:06:45 PM PST by March I up
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To: West Coast Conservative

We need that extra 4% to process this - - why do women think the way they do? - - before answering any question a woman asks


55 posted on 02/08/2005 5:08:40 PM PST by sergeantdave (Smart growth is Marxist insects agitating for a collective hive.)
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To: West Coast Conservative

Well I know that I am at least 4 percent more impetuous than Mrs. jimfree. Is that the same thing?


56 posted on 02/08/2005 5:16:17 PM PST by jimfree (Freep and Ye Shall Find)
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To: Do not dub me shapka broham
Gail Devers eh?





When I entered my brain in the 400 meter hurdles against Gail Deavers, it got creamed.

hehehe no doubt...;o) Did she help rip it out of your skull? ...
57 posted on 02/08/2005 5:18:38 PM PST by sep·ten·tri·on XX
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To: NoControllingLegalAuthority

no, it took a woman. http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa042597.htm


58 posted on 02/08/2005 5:21:47 PM PST by Nataku X (Food for Thought: http://web2.airmail.net/scsr/)
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To: DainBramage

But our brains are 10% cuter!


59 posted on 02/08/2005 5:23:56 PM PST by mlmr (The Majority of the Murders Committed Worldwide have been Committed by Leftist Governments..........)
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To: sep·ten·tri·on XX; DainBramage; CzarNicky; PatrickHenry; hopespringseternal; ...
My brain is currently in suspended animation.

Tyco Brahe's brain is the one replying to your comments.

He's using Babelfish.

60 posted on 02/08/2005 5:27:19 PM PST by Do not dub me shapka broham ("There is some sugar...It's harder in the case of fires. The tariffs are too high!")
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