So, apparently, men and women’s brains are literally built differently, fresh out of the womb. It’s like buying two different models of a car, except one comes with extra memory and the other with a super-charged engine.
A new study, involving the head-scanning of over 500 newborns (one can only imagine the tiny MRI machines!), has revealed some hilarious differences. It turns out, baby girls are rocking more “grey matter,” which is basically the brain’s equivalent of a high-powered think tank, responsible for things like remembering where you left your keys (or, you know, your mom’s car keys) and processing all those pesky emotions.
Meanwhile, baby boys are packing more “white matter,” which is like the brain’s high-speed internet connection, zipping signals around like a caffeinated squirrel. This means they’re better at, uh, processing information quickly. Like, really quickly. Maybe that’s why they can instantly find the TV remote hidden under three cushions. Or maybe not.
The researchers, from the University of Cambridge, suggest these differences stick around into adulthood. So, next time you’re having a disagreement with someone of the opposite sex, just remember: they’re not being difficult, their brain is literally wired to process information differently. It’s science! (Or at least, scientists say it is.)
Now, there’s been a bit of a debate among the brainiacs about just how different men and women’s brains actually are. Some say it’s all about size (like, “my brain is bigger, therefore I’m right!”), while others insist it’s the wiring that counts. This new study seems to be siding with the wiring crew.
Apparently, even before we’re old enough to argue about whose turn it is to do the dishes, our brains are already preparing us for a lifetime of gender-based misunderstandings. Girls are born with a head start in memory and emotional regulation (explaining why they remember every single detail of every single argument you’ve ever had), while boys are apparently born with a superior sense of direction (which, let’s be honest, is often negated by their refusal to ask for directions).
So, what does this all mean? Well, according to the researchers, it doesn’t mean one brain is “better” than the other. It just means they’re different. Like cats and dogs. Or socks and sandals. Or, you know, men and women.
And in a fun little twist, one of the authors of this study is Simon Baron-Cohen, cousin of none other than Sacha Baron-Cohen (aka Borat). So, if you ever find yourself struggling to understand the opposite sex, just remember: it’s not you, it’s science. And maybe a little bit of Borat’s family genes thrown in for good measure.
