Presents Gender Differences— at Work and Home

1. PresentsGender Differences—at Work and Home Arlene R. Taylor PhD www.arlenetaylor.org Brain References

3. Default SettingArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc Without a conversion process, the brain’s default position will result in an empathizing brain that sprouts more connections in communication centers and in areas that process emotion All fetal brains start out looking very similar

4. Time-lapse photography has shown that brain circuits began changing about 6-8 weeks into gestation in some brains The changes are triggered based on chromosome patterns and available hormones such as testosterone and estrogens Conversion Process Arlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc

5. XX Chromosome PatternArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc Developing ovaries alter levels of circulating sex hormones (especially estrogen and testosterone) The result is an empathizing brain that has specific structural and functional characteristics

6. XY Chromosome PatternArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc Developing testicles alter the amount of circulating sex hormones (especially testosterone) This triggers a chemical bath that begins a conversion process The result is a systemizing brain that has specific structural and functional characteristics

7. Conversion ProcessArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc • The chemical bath triggers • changes in the developing brain • Brain turns a lavender • color temporarily • Maturation of Left hemisphere slows • Development of Right hemisphere flourishes • Structure of the inner ear is changed

8. Impact, Cont’dArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc • Size of 9 of 12 identified areas is increased • Cell #s in communications centers decrease • Cell#s in sex and aggression centers increase • Size and structure of anterior commissure and corpus callosum (bridges) are modified (fewer connecting pathways of with smaller diameter nerve axons)

9. When everything goes according to schedule, the brain develops and templates as expected by society and culture Either a primarily Empathizing or a primarily Systemizing brain Templating variations do occur VariationsArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc

10. Some brains template as half empathizing - half systemizing Some brains fail to match the body’s external genitalia Note: There are more opportunities for variations in systemizing brains since the conversion process is so complicated Variations, Cont’dArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc

11. Brain Differences Arlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc Female Brains At birth the L. hemisphere is more developed Corrected for body size: brain is smaller yet contains same # of neurons Male Brains At birth the R. hemisphere is more developed In adulthood: brain is 9% larger and 10% heavier

12. Brain Differences Arlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc Female Three of twelve areas are larger (e.g., language comprehension and perception of emotion) Speaks 50,000 words a day Male Nine of twelve brain areas are larger (e.g., the significance of size, if any, is unclear) Speaks 25,000 words a day

13. Brain Development Arlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc • Myelination of the corpus callosum may be complete by age 20 or 21 • Development of the pre-frontal cortex may be complete by mid-twenties • Male brains tend to require an additional 1.6 yearsfor completion (have a set of binoculars in their eyes and can usually see farther)

14. Blood Flow to BrainArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc Female 15%-20% higher blood flow to brain Risk for an occlusive stroke (blood clot)  Risk for a (bleed) hemorrhagic stroke Male Lower blood flow •  Risk for blood clot •  Risk for bleed  Risk for long-term disability post head injury (wear a helmet!)

15. Connection DifferencesArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc Male Brains A smaller anterior commissure, and likely a smaller corpus callosum • connections provide for a more lateralized style of processing Female Brains A larger anterior commissure, and often a larger corpus callosum  connections provide for a more generalized style of processing

16. Connections, Cont’dArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc Male Brain One section can be working while another is “idling” – requires less energy to run  risk for conditions related to reduced hemispheric connection (e.g., dyslexia, hyperactivity) Female Brain If any part is “on,” it’s all on – requires more energy to run second for second but has enhanced sense of intuitive knowing  Risk for dyslexia, hyperactivity

17. Female Brains Rarely complete one task before starting another Tend to try to multi-task: perform rapidly alternating shifts of attention Male Brains Prefer to complete one task at a time Can simul-task: do two different cognitive tasks simultaneously as long as each uses functions from a different hemisphere Task Style Arlene Taylor PhD Realizations Inc

18. The BrainArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc Is the first body system to recognize a stressor It reacts with split-second timing It can stimulate the stress response for up to 72 hours after a traumatic event—real or imagined—longer, if you keep rehearsing the event

19. Female BrainArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc The alarm system is more sensitive to CRF and stress Lack of receptor internalization in the female brain could translate into impaired ability to cope with high levels of CRF — as occurs in depression and PTSD Even in the absence of any stress, the female stress signaling system is more sensitive from the start Debra Bangasser PhD

20. Effective Stress ManagementArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc Is critical for females as they are twice as vulnerable as males to many stress-related disorders Studies reported inMolecular Psychiatry: In response to a stressor, Corticotropin Releasing Factor (CRF), both a hormone and a neurotransmitter, binds to receptors on cells in the locus ceruleus, an alarm center deep in the brainstem

21. Female Brain – StressArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc When the going gets tough in a locus ceruleus neuron, the female brain acts macho In response to a stressor, receptors for the stress hormone CRF remained exposed on the cell surface in the female rat, taking the full hit —this increased CRF binding heightened the brain's stress reactivity

22. Male Brain - StressArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc In the stressed male rat, internal proteins called arrestins (green), pulled some of the receptors (docking stations) into the cell's interior, where they couldn't bind with CRF This adaptation, unique to the male brain, toned-down the neuron's stress sensitivity

23. Green arrestin proteins help CRF receptors retreat inside the cell – and  stress reactivity Blue receptors and  binding to CRF – help  the brain’s stress reactivity (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2010/stress-hormone-receptors-less-adaptive-in-female-brain.shtml?WT.mc_id=twitter&sms_ss=email)

24. Female Brain More experience oriented Keeps general score, may expect payback in a differing type of trade Male Brain More goal oriented Keeps careful / more detailed score, tends to pay back in similar type of trade based on the score Goal vs ExperienceArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc

25. Trunk-Cabinet MetaphorArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc Male Brain Resembles a chest of drawers May shut a drawer and never open it unless prompted Tends to segment, separate, and compartmentalize Female Brain Resembles a storage trunk Bumps into many things when looking for something (thinking) Tends to integrate, stew, and compound

26. Female Brains Male Brains Processing StyleArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc It takes on average about 12-15 minutes of processing time to arrive at a conclusion – for female as well as male brains The most efficient way of processing differs

27. Female Brains Processes information most efficiently verbally and aloud Arrive at a conclusion during the process of verbalization Male Brains Processes information most efficiently silently and internally Arrive at a conclusion silently and then will state it Processing StyleArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc

28. Female Brains Brain processes out loud “I only know what I’m thinking when I hear myself say it out loud.” Male Brains Brain processes silently “I’m thinking. When I’ve reached a conclusion, you’ll be the first to know.” Different StylesArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc

29. Female Brains Wait for the male brain to finish internal processing before pushing for a conclusion—or you may get a half- baked conclusion Male Brains Recognize that the female brain comes to a conclusion by verbalizing aloud— avoid assuming that the first thing she says is her conclusion RememberArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc

30. Female Brains May want only empathy and a listener rather than help with a solution Need to state up front which one is wanted Male Brains Usually want to fix a perceived problem or come up with a workable solution May expend energy needlessly if they misunderstand what is wanted . . . Empathy or Solution?Arlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc

31. Gender DifferencesArlene R. Taylor PhD Realizations Inc Gender differences are here to stay – foundational You can either understand them and have fun with them or be miserable and frustrated

32. The End