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."
That explains the differing views on the time spent on foreplay.
With SCSI-320 sneaked in:):)
I'm going to tell my wife that If I don't come back well you know what happen.
Which gives men 16x the time to say something which will make you forget the other 15 messages completely:):):) LOL
That's what I like. Big targets that can't shoot back!
How long before Martha Burke demands men be drugged 4% slower in order to compensate feminists for the paternalistic oppression suffered by liberal women?
LOL..BTW, howyabe?..long time no speak..
I'm amazed it 41 posts for the truth to be told. Maybe the previous 40 haven't had their daily beer yet?
Tit Sling?!
oh, that is bad...funny, but bad.
It should be taken into account that Canadian women were used in the study.
You'll find this of interest.
BTTT
My wife and I debate this all the time..
Could be!
The fact that you posted this.......shows me your brain is 4% dumber...........but that's another case study.
The women will be in charge of that one. Heh.
Whose side are you on? Aren't you a "he"? Or are you just kissing up to the opposition in the hope of earning cheap brownie points?
Us men are indeed inferior to women. I am humbled by the superiority of the female brain.
Okay girls, I'm waiting with open arms. =D
Well, I can't really blame you. When it comes down to it, doing or saying whatever works is usually understood, however grudgingly, by most of us. I hope that your private reply box is overflowing in response!!
What was the question?
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