Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: artemis.of.isles on 29/05/2009 16:21:16

Title: Do men on average have bigger or heavier brains than women?
Post by: artemis.of.isles on 29/05/2009 16:21:16

This is a regular taunt my boyfriend throwing at me whenever we have different opinions on something although we both know bigger brain does not necessarily guarantee more intelligence and girls are every bit clever or even cleverer than boys. ;)

Is there any evidence of his claim?

Title: Do men on average have bigger or heavier brains than women?
Post by: Variola on 29/05/2009 17:51:12

Yep!

Average brain weights (BW)

AGE          BW - Male (grams)   BW - Female (grams)
--------     -----------------   -----------------
Newborn           380                  360     
1 year            970                  940
2 years         1,120                1,040
3 years         1,270                1,090
10-12 years     1,440                1,260
19-21 years     1,450                1,310
56-60 years     1,370                1,250
81-85 years     1,310                1,170
(Data from Dekaban, A.S. and Sadowsky, D., Changes in brain weights during the span of human life: relation of brain weights to body heights and body weights, Ann. Neurology, 4:345-356, 1978)


http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/dev.html (http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/dev.html)

Just tell him his brain may be bigger....but its lacks the specific areas that enable us ladies to ask directions, to multitask, and to get our dirty washing in the linen basket instead of the floor. [:D]

Title: Do men on average have bigger or heavier brains than women?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 29/05/2009 23:05:29

Tell him that it is about the brain-to-body mass ratio, also known as the encephalization quotient, this will only work if you weight less than him.