Men and women think, act, and speak differently from one another. It makes sense that these differences would stem from differences between the male and female brain. There are differences physical differences between the male and female brain which leads to differences between they ways men and women process information.
Brain Size
The average weight of an adult male’s brain is 11 - 12% greater than that of the average female. On average, the male skull is 2% larger than the female skull. The overall physical stature of men is larger than that of women. Having a larger mass and more muscles means the need for more neurons for control. More neurons does not indicate greater intelligence.
Number of Brain Cells
The average male brain weighs about 100 grams more than the average female brain. This means that males have 4% more brain cells than women. This provides them with a greater reserve of brain cells which helps prevent the onset of dementia. Brain diseases like Alzheimer’s are caused in part by a loss of brain cells. Since men have a greater number of brain cells to begin with, it takes longer for them to be effected by the loss of brain cells.
Corpus Callosum
The right and left hemispheres of the brain is connected by the corpus callosum. All the information that is transmitted between the two hemispheres travels through the corpus callosum. In women, the corpus callosum is much larger meaning that they can transfer more information faster between the two halves of their brains than men can. Many studies show that men tend to be either right or left brained while women are more likely to be more balanced. This balance is due to the fact that they have better access to and communication between the two hemispheres.
Cellular Connections
Equally important to the neurons in the brain is the way the neurons connect and communicate. The spaces between the neurons contains the axons, dendrites, and synapses, which is how the neurons communicate. In women, these spaces are more developed, having more connections developed between neurons.
Language
The areas of the brain that deal with language, Broca and Wernicke, are located in the frontal lobes. In women these areas tend to be larger than in men. Women also tend to be able to use both hemispheres of the brain in order to construct and interpret language. Men tend to use their dominant side of the brain for the majority of their language processing.
Limbic Size
The limbic system is responsible for the feeling and expression of emotions. In women this system tends to be more developed, meaning that women are more in touch with their feelings and are better able to express them. A more developed limbic system also means that women are better able to connect with others and show more compassion. Having a larger limbic system, however, also leaves women more susceptible to depression, especially during hormonal fluctuations like those experienced during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause.
Inferior Parietal Lobule (IPL)
In men, the IPL in the left hemisphere is bigger and in women, the IPL in the right hemisphere is bigger. The IPL in the left hemisphere of the brain is associated with how we percieve time and speed as well as the ability to rotate 3-D objects in our heads. The right hemisphere’s IPL is associated with selective attention and the memory needed for understanding spatial relationships. Men tend to have more accurate perception of time and speed than women, due to the larger left IPL. Women tend to have better memories of locations and how they related to one another as well as the ability to pick up on specific stimuli due to their larger right IPL.
These differences between the male and female brains is probably due to the differences in the roles carried out by prehistoric humans. None of the differences indicate any type of superiority, neither gender is smarter than the other. Research into this area has shown that men and women compliment each other in the way they think, perceive, and interact. While there may be times when the differences are frustrating and seem to be a hindrance, there are also times when having different approaches is beneficial. Developing more effective communication starts with understanding that there are differences and not trying to pretend that everyone is wired in exactly the same way.