Are Men And Women Brains Different? New AI Study Proves

Every shade of feminism has vociferously fought against all forms of determinism, especially biological determinism. Unfettered, they have tried to change the patriarchal narrative on ‘differences’ by calling it a ‘socially constructed idea’. So, are all differences socially constructed? Or, is there room for intervention? 

Well, a groundbreaking study conducted by researchers from Stanford University, recently published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, has shed new light on the fundamental differences between the brains of men and women. Utilizing artificial intelligence, the study has demonstrated that these distinctions are not only real but also highly significant.

Findings

Lead author of the study, Vinod Menon, who is a professor of psychiatry and behavioural sciences, emphasized the importance of acknowledging sex-based differences in brain organization. He highlighted that overlooking such discrepancies could impede the accurate diagnosis and treatment of neuropsychiatric conditions.

The researchers employed advanced artificial intelligence techniques to analyze brain scans, effectively training the AI to identify unique patterns associated with each sex. Remarkably, the AI model achieved an impressive accuracy rate of over 90% in distinguishing between male and female brains.

The study pinpointed distinct variances in key areas of the brain responsible for various cognitive functions. Notably, disparities were observed in the default mode network, involved in self-focus and introspection; the striatum, crucial for habit formation and reward processing; and the limbic network, which regulates emotions.

Expanding their investigation, the researchers developed a predictive model capable of forecasting individuals' performance in behavioural tasks based on identified sex-based brain differences. This additional analysis revealed compelling evidence that these functional disparities in the brain can significantly influence behaviour.

The implications of these findings are vast and far-reaching. By elucidating the underlying neurological variances between sexes, researchers hope to gain a deeper understanding of psychological and neurological conditions that disproportionately affect one gender over the other.

For instance, the study provides insights into why women are more susceptible to conditions like depression, while men are more prone to addiction. Understanding these sex-based disparities in brain function could revolutionize the way such conditions are diagnosed, treated, and ultimately managed.

What Does It Entail?

This breakthrough study re-opens and adds a new spectrum to the age-old ‘Sex vs Gender’ debate. What remains to be seen is whether these cognitive differences are a result of gendered, socially constructed reality or just based on sex. 

Gina Rippon, the author of “The Gendered Brain” and emeritus professor of cognitive neuroimaging at the Aston Brain Centre in the UK, told the Telegraph that these differences identified are “key parts of the social brain”. Furthermore, Rippon also said that there needs to be more investigation on whether these are just sex-based or gender-based differences or an entanglement of both. 

What’s very clear is that this particular finding has re-invigorated feminism, as an ideology, adding nuances to it. Let’s see how our new-age feminists respond to these.