Women's brains have more cells than men By Roger Highfield, Science Editor (Filed: 13/11/2001)

WOMEN'S grey matter is packed more densely with brain cells compared with that of men in a region that plays an important role in higher mental processes, according to a team of American researchers.

Differences in the density of cells in the thin rind on the surface of the brain responsible for judgment, personality, planning and working memory have been found by Prof Sandra Witelson, of McMaster University, Ontario.

Women have up to 15 per cent more cell density in this region, the frontal lobe, suggesting that this part of their brains has greater connectivity with other brain regions, according to the study of 20 men and women presented to the Society for Neuroscience meeting in San Diego.

However, unlike men, women shed cells more rapidly from this area with the passing of years, so that in old age women have a similar density to men.

Prof Witelson's team is now checking for effects on performance. "What this means in terms of cognition we don't know yet," she says.

London News Telegraph

Talk to you later.

-- Bob in WI (bjwick@hotmail.com), November 13, 2001

Answers

There is a study proving we are dense and when we get old we are as dense as men?

-- Laura (LadybugWrangler@hotmail.com), November 13, 2001.

I am certainly getting denser as the days go by!!!!

I think that one of the main differences (in my experience) is that men tend to focus single-mindedly on one thing. When they have something to do they concentrate on it until it is done.

Whereas women can think about and concentrate on 10 things at once, and move from project to project easier.

This is especially true with my husband and I, and I notice it with many of our friends as well. I'm sure there are many exceptions to this observation. Neither of these are right or wrong, just different styles!

-- Melissa (me@home.net), November 14, 2001.

It is true that men are born brain-damaged, as some of the brain connections are severed sometime before birth. Dr. Dobson said so.

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), November 14, 2001.

Cathy,

I guess that explains a lot in my life.

Talk to you later.

-- Bob in WI (bjwick@hotmail.com), November 14, 2001.

As mothers, wives etc. we have had to learn to multi-task out of sheer necessity! How else would the baby get fed, the breakfast made, the laundry done, and the DH dressed and fed, all at the same time! My daughter and I have both that men do one chore at a time! They will not start another until the first one is done-even is it means watching the dryer dry clothes!

-- Ardie from WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), November 14, 2001.

I've alway been stupi. ^-^ I like this place, it's a good forum!

-- Xianji (Bmontes@nampa.net), October 16, 2002.