In a previous article we asked about the psychological differences between men and women. Today we question ourselves, without taboos or ambiguities, which of them is smarter
Much has been said about this topic, and in this article we have proposed to shed a little light on a controversy full of clichés. Are men or women more intelligent?
Are women more skilled at managing several tasks at once, but less skilled at reading a map? Without a doubt, men and women have different ways of behaving. A good number of theories have proposed to discriminate differences between sexes These differences are frequently discussed based on brain dissimilarity; Here we provide a summary of these factors.
The human brain contains between 10 and 15 billion nerve cells called neurons, and one trillion synapses, which are the connectors between neurons. However, the brain works in a way that is still unknown to medical science, and therefore it is difficult to specify how relevant physical differences between humans are or how much they contribute to their behavior.
The brain: small differences
Women have a brain slightly smaller than men (on average, about 100 grams lighter). However, we already know that size is not everything. Elephants, for example, have a much larger brain than humans, but as far as is known, no one suggests that they may have greater intelligence. And although the female brain weighs a little less than the male, Both genders have a similar ratio of brain weight to body weight
Women have 4% fewer brain cells than men, which does not mean that they use their brain capacity less.
Another important difference is found in the frontal lobe. This is responsible for making judgments, predictions, planning future actions and language. Women have a greater number of cells than men in this region.
The cerebral hemispheres
It is often said that the cerebral hemispheres have clearly differentiated functions. The left hemisphere is responsible for analytical data processing, while the right hemisphere operates holistically, encompassing judgments with emotions. Men typically have left hemisphere-dominant brains; However, women use both hemispheres in a more balanced way.
The corpus callosum transmits information to both hemispheres. Women have a larger corpus callosum than men, which may explain why women score better on tests that assess speed of thought and speech.
The limbic system affects our emotions and tends to be greater in women. Likewise, the greater capacity for transmitting information of the female brain between the two hemispheres means that women have greater emotional sensitivity. A larger limbic system also means that they feel negative emotions more acutely, which is why they are at greater risk of depression.
Gray matter and white matter
Information processing takes place in the gray matter. White matter is responsible for connecting different parts of the brain, making it easier for us to perform various tasks. Women tend to have more white matter than men, while men have more gray matter Intelligent, each in their own way.
The hypothalamus controls the endocrine system, which produces most hormones in the body. It regulates important functions such as sexual function, sleep, body temperature… In men, the hypothalamus is almost twice as large, and contains twice as many cells as the female hypothalamus.
