User:Shameisendless
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This page was last edited by Redtigr (talk | contribs) 16 years ago. (Update timer) |
Honors Junior at NCSU, first time at Wikipedia.
Reasons for edit:
Prior to my edit, the information presented in the Brain Size section of the Sex and Intelligence section was heavily biased. Only research supporting a definite difference in the brain to body weight ratios between males and females was cited, and one study from the 1800's was even used as evidence to this ratio difference. A large section discussing the ratio of white matter and grey matter found in males and females was also placed under Brain Size.
To improve the information within this section, I removed the material related to the grey/white matter dispute, and tried to display both sides of the literature related to brain size. I also included a conclusions section to the whole page where it was stressed that links between neurological differences and behavioral differences were not clearly defined and proven. I also stressed that the brain is a complex organ, influenced by many different things, and that a biological basis for a trait does not necessarily mean that it is immutable or final.
Edits below:
Brain Size[edit]
In studies concerning intelligence, the ratio of brain weight to body weight has been found to be more predictive of IQ levels, rather than actual brain weight. While men's brains are an average of 10-15% larger and heavier than women's brains, the ratio of brain to body size does not differ between the sexes.[1] However, some argue that since brain to body size ratios tend to decrease as body size increases, a sex difference in brain weight ratios still exists between men and women of the same size.[2]
Conclusions[edit]
When analyzing the data from studies that revolve around the neurobiological difference of any two groups, such as men and women in this case, it is important to keep a critical mind. Although there are a multitude of ways in which to measure anatomical and neurological differences, there is still no clear relationship between a difference in measurement and a difference in function. This is especially true for studies concerning the brain because of the many different ways that brain size and structure are influenced by experience and hormones. One study on rats found that the visual–spatial learning and memory of both control rats and those who had suffered induced status epilepticus was greatly improved by exposure to an enriched environment.[3] Furthermore, for something to have a genetic or biological basis does not necessarily mean that it is immutable or final -- a wide range of studies in neuroplasticity have shown that experience can alter the structure and function of the brain.
References[edit]
- ^ [Barres, Ben (13 July 2006). Does Gender Matter? Nature]
- ^ [CD Ankney, Sex Differences in Relative Brain Size: The Mismeasure of Woman, Too?, Intelligence, Volume 16, 1992, Pages 329-336.]
- ^ [S Faverjon, DC Silveira, MD, DD Fu, BH Cha, MD, C Akman, MD, Y Hu and GL Holmes, MD, Beneficial effects of enriched environment following status epilepticus in immature rats, Neurology, Volume 59, 2002, Pages 1356-1364.]