Men And Women Respond Differently to Given Stimuli
It's been evident throughout human history that men and women are different; each having thought processes that are completely bewildering to the opposite sex. New research have shown that these observations can be traced to a physologically distinctive reaction based on gender to positive and negative stimuli. Men evaluate stimuli with a focus on what potential action might be required, whereas women emphasize the emotional resonse generated by such stimuli.
The study was conducted on 40 right handed subjects; 21 men and 19 women. While under a functional MRI machine , the subjects were exposed to hundreds of pictures from a standarized testing database. On the first run through, the volunteers were shown only negative images. The second run exposed the subjects to only positive pictures.
When the women were exposed to the negative images, the left thalmus showed extensive activity. The left thalmus is a major conduit of sensory information to and from the cerebral cortex, which in turn affects many centers, including the pain and pleasure centers of the brain. The positive images invoked a response from the right superior temporal gyrus, which is involved in the auditory process as well as memory formation. Dr. Urbanik, the leas researcher, thinks that women may analyze the stimuli in a social context and relate the stimuli with their own memories. An example used in the article was a women might see a baby and remember her own child at that age.
The male response to the negative images corresponded to an increased activity of the left insula, which takes part in determining the physiological state of the body and sending signals to prepare it for action. It is thought that the insular cortex may correspond to the autonomic responses such as increased heart rate and sweating. This affect might cause men to react with action to a dangerous situation. The positive images solicit an increase in the bilateral occipital lobes, which correlates to the visual and auditory senses. This means that men most likely observe positive stimuli on a more individual perceptive level, and not on a social level like women.
For years "women are from mars, women are from venus" has been the proverb to throw around when the opposite sex responded with something seemingly ridiculous and contorted. Men and women have forever been unable to explain the actions and thoughts of the other sex. Research now seems to be able to say why that is; men and women are different on a fundamental physiological level. The possible scientific verification of something that has been intuitively suspected for is absolutely fascinating. We have already seen some physiologival differences with the sexual organs: their formation and function. The concept and seeming support that these differences run deeper, while not wholly unexpected, provides an exciting oppurtunity for future revelations on the physiological function of th human species.
Colton McElheny
Source: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091129125131.htm
The study was conducted on 40 right handed subjects; 21 men and 19 women. While under a functional MRI machine , the subjects were exposed to hundreds of pictures from a standarized testing database. On the first run through, the volunteers were shown only negative images. The second run exposed the subjects to only positive pictures.
When the women were exposed to the negative images, the left thalmus showed extensive activity. The left thalmus is a major conduit of sensory information to and from the cerebral cortex, which in turn affects many centers, including the pain and pleasure centers of the brain. The positive images invoked a response from the right superior temporal gyrus, which is involved in the auditory process as well as memory formation. Dr. Urbanik, the leas researcher, thinks that women may analyze the stimuli in a social context and relate the stimuli with their own memories. An example used in the article was a women might see a baby and remember her own child at that age.
The male response to the negative images corresponded to an increased activity of the left insula, which takes part in determining the physiological state of the body and sending signals to prepare it for action. It is thought that the insular cortex may correspond to the autonomic responses such as increased heart rate and sweating. This affect might cause men to react with action to a dangerous situation. The positive images solicit an increase in the bilateral occipital lobes, which correlates to the visual and auditory senses. This means that men most likely observe positive stimuli on a more individual perceptive level, and not on a social level like women.
For years "women are from mars, women are from venus" has been the proverb to throw around when the opposite sex responded with something seemingly ridiculous and contorted. Men and women have forever been unable to explain the actions and thoughts of the other sex. Research now seems to be able to say why that is; men and women are different on a fundamental physiological level. The possible scientific verification of something that has been intuitively suspected for is absolutely fascinating. We have already seen some physiologival differences with the sexual organs: their formation and function. The concept and seeming support that these differences run deeper, while not wholly unexpected, provides an exciting oppurtunity for future revelations on the physiological function of th human species.
Colton McElheny
Source: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091129125131.htm
posted by Colton McElheny at 2:14 PM
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