It is a common argument that men and women are different because of differences in their brains. The belief that smaller or larger brain areas associated with certain behaviors lead to differences between the sexes is widespread, influencing everything from academic interests to memory abilities.
This belief is not just seen in social media memes but is also a popular topic in science books. The study of brain differences between men and women is a significant area in neuroscience.
However, neuroscience challenges these assumptions and encourages us to ask more critical questions. Dr. Catherine S. Woolley, a neuroendocrinologist from Northwestern University specializing in molecular neuroscience, presented at the Society for Neuroscience’s annual conference, Neuroscience 2025, with a talk titled “Sex Differences in the Brain are Misunderstood.”
Dr. Woolley explained that while there may be differences in certain brain areas between men and women at a macro level, these differences are not as significant as commonly believed. Human brains are a “mosaic” of similarities and differences, with small variations in population sex differences.
Drilling down to the molecular level reveals more differences between male and female brains, but these differences are still not fully understood. Dr. Woolley cautioned against extrapolating behavioral differences from molecular differences.
Hormones play a significant role in both male and female brains, with studies on testosterone supporting this point. The entanglement between sex and gender complicates discussions on behavioral differences linked to brain sex differences.
Dr. Woolley highlighted the changing landscape of neuroscience PhD degrees, showing that societal and cultural factors, rather than innate brain differences, have influenced the gender distribution in the field.
The key takeaway is to approach discussions on brain sex differences with caution, recognizing the influence of cultural assumptions and misunderstandings. It is essential to pause, reflect, and ask more profound questions when it comes to understanding the complexities of the human brain.
