BTN News: Sex and gender are often confused. Many adults in the U.S. think gender is the same as the sex given at birth. But a new study of almost 5,000 children aged 9 and 10 shows that sex and gender are linked to different brain parts. This research gives the first clear look at how sex and gender separately affect the brain.
Understanding the Differences Between Sex and Gender Assigned at Birth
Researchers say sex is assigned at birth based on genitalia. This usually means a baby is called female or male. Some babies are intersex, meaning their bodies don’t fit typical female or male categories. Gender is different. It includes a person’s attitudes, feelings, and behaviors, as well as social roles. Gender is not just male or female. This study shows why we need to study sex and gender separately to understand the brain better.
Important Findings from the Research
The study looked at brain images from 4,757 U.S. children in a long-term study of brain growth and child health. The researchers used machine learning to predict a child’s sex and reported gender from brain scans. They found that sex affects brain parts involved in seeing, feeling, moving, and decision-making.
How Parents and Environment Affect Brain Development
Parents’ views on their children’s gender behaviors were very important to the study. The researchers asked both children and parents about gender. They wanted to know how children showed their gender and how they felt about it. Parents gave details on their children’s actions and any gender distress. This information helped understand how the social environment shapes brain growth.
How Gender Influences Brain Mapping in Different Ways
The study showed that gender affects the brain. Experiences shape brain parts, just like how London taxi drivers have a larger hippocampus, the brain part for memory and navigation, than others. This shows that as people, we become experts in our gender, and this shows in our brains.
What This Means for Future Research and Understanding
The study gives useful information, but it cannot predict a person’s future gender identity. Gender can change over time. The study also doesn’t show how the environment affects brain function related to sex and gender or predict sexual orientation.
Researchers hope to learn how sex and gender affect people throughout life. They also want to see how different cultures impact these factors and brain growth. They hope other scientists will also study sex and gender to make neuroscience more inclusive and fair.
How Culture and Health Are Affected by Understanding Gender
A survey in 2022 found that most U.S. adults, especially conservatives, believe gender is the same as the sex assigned at birth. This belief is important for gender-affirming care, which is medical treatment for people whose gender identity is different from their assigned sex. Many conservative politicians have tried to ban this care, and almost half of U.S. states have banned gender-affirming care for minors.
Conclusion
Knowing the differences between sex and gender and how they uniquely affect the brain is key to advancing neuroscience and improving health. This research might help find better treatments for brain disorders and give more insight into how cultural pressures affect mental health. As the field grows, it is important to keep studying these interactions to understand human development better.
