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The anatomy of the brain

the brain as it develops as well as "influencing the size of specific structures and the wiring of nerve cells" (pg. 2003). In addition, it is now considered a common scientific belief that hormones as well as specific genes have their place in telling the brain what gender it is and producing brain induced behavior.

The concept that the human brain is a blank late at birth and there is no gender difference at birth can now be disputed based on the new hormone and chromosome research. As discussed, current research now shows that hormones are produced in large amounts at the time of brain development in uteri and start the differentiation between male and female immediately. In other words, it is the hormones that begin to sexually organize the fetal brain, as well as genetic influences. More specifically, Dennis (2004) cites that it is the Sry gene located in the male Y chromosome and the introduction of testosterone, which begins the differentiation of the male traits. In addition, current research also suggests that it is through the introduction of specific hormones, or lack thereof, that begins this differentiation and the development of the brain, and eventual genitalia, or in the cases of some non gender specific individuals, "ambiguous genitalia" (Dennis 2004). These sexual hormones and their role in fetal brain development is so important that it is now being considered to have an effect on cognitive skills as well in both men and women (Kimuru 1985).

Women also tend to rely on one hemisphere of the brain more than men, and are more localized in this left area of the brain. This is the side of the brain that supports language and verbal skills. The opposite is true of men, who rely more on the side of the brain that solves mathematical and spatial problems (Kimaru 1985). Research also shows that there are no differences in the way males and females lateralized or in their ability to intellectualize, although the female brain does tend to be more equally organized on a bilateral level than the male brain.

One of the first things that society considers to be a trait in males is that greater tendency to be more aggressive and antisocial (Barriga 2001). Current research that analyzed aggressive behavior statistics and that of gender discovered that gender differences amongst across gender lines are elusive at best and hard to prove. Instead researchers are now leaning toward the concept that the biological differences are not the reason for more aggressive


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The anatomy of the brain

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