Women Think More Than Men? Science Weighs In On The Myth.

#1 Aren't We The Same?

We all know our thoughts originate in our brains and that everyone thinks differently, however did you know that the way the brain works is different between men and women?

Psychiatrist Daniel G. Amen recently lead the largest functional brain imaging study to date. The Amen Clinics compared 46,034 brain SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) imaging studies from nine clinics, in order to find the differences between the brains of men and women. Boy, did they find them.

#2 Remember Brains Are Flexible

Before we get too far into what the study found, it's good to remember that our brains are in a constant state of change. Gina Rippon, Professor of Cognitive Imaging at Ashton University, has this to say on the brain:

"The notion that our brains are plastic or malleable and, crucially, remain so throughout our lives is one of the key breakthroughs of the last 40 years in our understanding of the brain. Different short- and long-term experiences will change the brain’s structure. It has also been shown that social attitudes and expectations such as stereotypes can change how your brain processes information. Supposedly brain-based differences in behavioral characteristics and cognitive skills change across time, place and culture due to the different external factors experienced, such as access to education, financial independence, even diet."

So it's possible that stereotypes have helped to shape our brains.

#3 Who They Studied

The Amen Clinics study subjects included 119 healthy volunteers and 26,683 patients with a variety of psychiatric conditions such as brain trauma, bipolar disorders, mood disorders, schizophrenia/psychotic disorders, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. They then analyzed 128 brain regions while at rest and then again when they were concentrating on a task.

#4 What They Found In A Woman's Brain.

Women get more blood flow to the brain in general, even more so in some areas of the brain then men do, specifically the prefrontal cortex and the limbic areas.

Increased blood flow in women's brains is shown in red, in blue is the increased blood flow in a man's brain. Credit: Amen Clinics

#5 What They Found In A Man's Brain.

The visual and coordination centers of the male brain received more blood flow.

An overview of the baseline brains, areas of increased blood flow are shown in red for women and blue for men.

#6 What Does This Mean For Women?

The increased blood flow generally indicates that there's more activity going on in those areas. So, for the female brain to have increased activity in the prefrontal cortex and limbic areas indicates that the women are better able to focus, control their impulses as well as feel empathetic. It could also account for women having significantly higher rates of Alzheimer's disease, depression and anxiety disorders.

#7 What Does This Mean For Men?

On the flip side this study also suggests answers for why men are more likely to have higher rates of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and conduct-related disorders.

#8 Now What?

Thanks to this study, we have more information on the healthy human brains of both women and men than ever before. This will be helping neuroscientists and doctors to make leaps and bounds in treating brain disorders for years.