The Hardwired Difference

[Jaguar]

The hardwired difference between male and female brains could explain why men are 'better at map reading'



A pioneering study has shown for the first time that the brains of men and women are wired up differently which could explain some of the stereotypical differences in male and female behavior, scientists have said.

www.independent.co.uk/life-style/the-hardwired-difference-between-male-and-female-brains-could-explain-why-men-are-better-at-map-reading-8978248.html

www.theguardian.com/science/2013/dec/02/men-women-brains-wired-differently

LA Times

Discuss.

[busymom]

I can read maps quite well.  My Dad taught us kids at a very young age how to read a map, as we would roadtrip to visit different relatives.


I still prefer a paper map to the newer electronic toys.  I've talked with too many people who've gotten burned by MapQuest. 

[chiver78]

^I'm with busymom.

[Jaguar]

I never get lost either, so that makes three of us.

[justme]

These things always leave me confused, because I usually fit both sides. Or multiple, in the case of the tests like "what's your learning style" - instead of scoring high in one or two, I was pretty even score among most.

It all gives credence to those that have called me weird or crazy.

Though I guess I should say, I do know more females than males that can't read a map and that sort of thing. In general, I think it's more true than not. Stereotypes have to come from somewhere.

[Jaguar]

Dec 4, 2013 14:41:32 GMT -5 justme said:

These things always leave me confused, because I usually fit both sides. Or multiple, in the case of the tests like "what's your learning style" - instead of scoring high in one or two, I was pretty even score among most.

It all gives credence to those that have called me weird or crazy.

Though I guess I should say, I do know more females than males that can't read a map and that sort of thing. In general, I think it's more true than not. Stereotypes have to come from somewhere.

That's the exact same with me. In brain dominance I'm slightly more left brain wired than right, but I score sometimes right in the middle.

[busymom]

Me too, Sugi!  I'm right-handed in most tasks, but there are a few things (like golf) that I do better left-handed.  Maybe being right in the middle is an advantage? 

[Jaguar]

Dec 4, 2013 17:10:32 GMT -5 busymom said:

Me too, Sugi!  I'm right-handed in most tasks, but there are a few things (like golf) that I do better left-handed.  Maybe being right in the middle is an advantage? 

Yeah I'm right handed too, but I can do things left handed as well. I knit left handed even though I was taught to knit right handed.

[chiver78]

I'm a "saved" lefty.     I tend to do things with the same hand as the person that taught me how to do whatever the skill is. the only exception to this is tying my shoes - I tie my shoes exactly mirrored to what my dad does. at that age, I was still trying to reconcile that left=bad/right=good and that most of what I was learning was "opposite" to what I wanted to do.....so I learned the "opposite" of what I watched as my dad tied my shoes. ya, I know, I'm weird.

[Jaguar]

I was never told left handed is bad, just do whatever pleases you.

[Tennesseer]

Dec 4, 2013 17:30:42 GMT -5 Jaguar said:

I was never told left handed is bad, just do whatever pleases you.

sinister (adj.) Look up sinister at Dictionary.comearly 15c., "prompted by malice or ill-will, intending to mislead," from Old French senestre, sinistre "contrary, false; unfavorable; to the left" (14c.), from Latin sinister "left, on the left side" (opposite of dexter), of uncertain origin. Perhaps meaning properly "the slower or weaker hand" [Tucker], but Klein and Buck suggest it's a euphemism (see left (adj.)) connected with the root of Sanskrit saniyan "more useful, more advantageous." With contrastive or comparative suffix -ter, as in dexter (see dexterity).

The Latin word was used in augury in the sense of "unlucky, unfavorable" (omens, especially bird flights, seen on the left hand were regarded as portending misfortune), and thus sinister acquired a sense of "harmful, unfavorable, adverse." This was from Greek influence, reflecting the early Greek practice of facing north when observing omens. In genuine Roman auspices, the augurs faced south and left was favorable. Thus sinister also retained a secondary sense in Latin of "favorable, auspicious, fortunate, lucky."

Meaning "evil" is from late 15c. Used in heraldry from 1560s to indicate "left, to the left." Bend (not "bar") sinister in heraldry indicates illegitimacy and preserves the literal sense of "on or from the left side" (though in heraldry this is from the view of the bearer of the shield, not the observer of it).

Sinister

We left-handed folks are sinister people.  Just saying.

[Tennesseer]

I do everything left handed except play golf and the use of a computer mouse.

[Jaguar]

Nah we are too cute.

[chiver78]

exactly, Tenn.....and I went to a public school in the early 80s.

[Jaguar]

Sorry peeps that's just awful.

[Tennesseer]

Dec 4, 2013 17:41:43 GMT -5 Jaguar said:

Nah we are too cute.

Well dah!!! Of course we are. But little Rhoda Penmark from the movie 'The Bad Seed' was as cute as the dickens but sinister as hell.

[kent]

I heard or read somewhere MANY years ago there's a gland in the human brain (pineal?) that's sensitive to magnetic fields.

The story goes it's frequently more developed in males than in females. The "theory" is/was that it developed more in males because they had to go hunting for food and find there way home again whereas females were not tasked with that.

I don't know if it's true but it kind of makes sense.

Of course there are always exceptions. I have one daughter that has an absolutely incredible sense of direction. Even when she was VERY young she could tell me to turn left here and then later on say make a right here, etc., etc. and she was always right. < <Twilight Zone theme plays>>

[Tennesseer]

Dec 4, 2013 17:42:03 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

exactly, Tenn.....and I went to a public school in the early 80s.

I went to Catholic schools in the50s and 60s. Other than occasionally sprinkling us lefties with holy water and making the sign of the cross, the nuns left us alone. 

[kent]

Dec 4, 2013 17:40:54 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

I do everything left handed except play golf and the use of a computer mouse.

I'm a lefty as well.  In addition to the mouse thing, I also use my right had for scissors and bet you do as well.  Yes?

Oh, and I'm left-eyed too.

[chiver78]

Dec 4, 2013 17:45:58 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Dec 4, 2013 17:42:03 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

exactly, Tenn.....and I went to a public school in the early 80s.

I went to Catholic schools in the50s and 60s. Other than occasionally sprinkling us lefties with holy water and making the sign of the cross, the nuns left us alone. 

you got off light, from what I've heard. I wasn't the only "saved" lefty in my K class, between that group and whatever other complaints about my ancient kindergarten teacher, she was forced to retire after my class. my mom told me about it when I was in college, the other major complaint my parents had about her was that I already knew how to read when I got to K, and preferred that to playing outside at recess - I was the only girl my age in my neighborhood back then, so I kind of preferred entertaining myself with a book anyway. my bitchy teacher actually told my parents that she was concerned about me, that I would never have any friends because all I ever wanted to do was read.

yeah.....this woman taught kindergarten.

[Tennesseer]

Dec 4, 2013 17:49:45 GMT -5 kent said:

Dec 4, 2013 17:40:54 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

I do everything left handed except play golf and the use of a computer mouse.

I'm a lefty as well.  In addition to the mouse thing, I also use my right had for scissors and bet you do as well.  Yes?

Oh, and I'm left-eyed too.

I did the right-handed scissors for years then got militant and bought left-handed scissors (along with a left=handed measuring cup). 

POWER TO THE LEFTIES!!!!

[Tennesseer]

Dec 4, 2013 17:51:52 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

Dec 4, 2013 17:45:58 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

I went to Catholic schools in the50s and 60s. Other than occasionally sprinkling us lefties with holy water and making the sign of the cross, the nuns left us alone. 

you got off light, from what I've heard. I wasn't the only "saved" lefty in my K class, between that group and whatever other complaints about my ancient kindergarten teacher, she was forced to retire after my class. my mom told me about it when I was in college, the other major complaint my parents had about her was that I already knew how to read when I got to K, and preferred that to playing outside at recess - I was the only girl my age in my neighborhood back then, so I kind of preferred entertaining myself with a book anyway. my bitchy teacher actually told my parents that she was concerned about me, that I would never have any friends because all I ever wanted to do was read.

yeah.....this woman taught kindergarten.

We had a few grammar school nun teachers like that.  They never, ever should have been in the teaching profession.

[chiver78]

Dec 4, 2013 18:02:17 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Dec 4, 2013 17:49:45 GMT -5 kent said:

I'm a lefty as well.  In addition to the mouse thing, I also use my right had for scissors and bet you do as well.  Yes?

Oh, and I'm left-eyed too.

I did the right-handed scissors for years then got militant and bought left-handed scissors (along with a left=handed measuring cup). 

POWER TO THE LEFTIES!!!!

seriously? a lefty pair of scissors was the best thing I ever ordered out of the office supplies catalog - I lost probably 5 or 6 pairs of right-handed scissors in the first year at my job, they just kept walking away.    I've had the same pair of lefty scissors for the past 11 years. can't figure out why this pair doesn't have legs...

[Tennesseer]

Dec 4, 2013 18:07:55 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

Dec 4, 2013 18:02:17 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

I did the right-handed scissors for years then got militant and bought left-handed scissors (along with a left=handed measuring cup). 

POWER TO THE LEFTIES!!!!

seriously? a lefty pair of scissors was the best thing I ever ordered out of the office supplies catalog - I lost probably 5 or 6 pairs of right-handed scissors in the first year at my job, they just kept walking away.    I've had the same pair of lefty scissors for the past 11 years. can't figure out why this pair doesn't have legs...

I have to turn those metal spiral note pads upside down to write on them because the damn spiral irritates the shit out of me.

[Peace Of Mind]

Dec 4, 2013 1:30:43 GMT -5 Jaguar said:

The hardwired difference between male and female brains could explain why men are 'better at map reading'



A pioneering study has shown for the first time that the brains of men and women are wired up differently which could explain some of the stereotypical differences in male and female behavior, scientists have said.

www.independent.co.uk/life-style/the-hardwired-difference-between-male-and-female-brains-could-explain-why-men-are-better-at-map-reading-8978248.html

www.theguardian.com/science/2013/dec/02/men-women-brains-wired-differently

LA Times

Discuss.

Both of those brains look like maps to me.  No wonder I can't read one! 

[NoNamePerson]

If that is the way my brain is wired no wonder I have a horrible sense of direction. -faint-They call me Wrong Way NoName.....

[Deleted]

Dec 4, 2013 17:40:54 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

I do everything left handed except play golf and the use of a computer mouse.

Voting?

[justme]

Of course there are always exceptions. I have one daughter that has an absolutely incredible sense of direction. Even when she was VERY young she could tell me to turn left here and then later on say make a right here, etc., etc. and she was always right. < <Twilight Zone theme plays>>

My mom still tells the story about how in kindergarten we were taking a field trip to the children's museum my mom helped open up. Since it opened before I started school, I spent a lot of time there and while it was being built too. It was new, and the bus driver took us to the art museum in town. This was back in the stone ages, so no cell phones, and I can't recall whether she asked or I volunteered, but I got up to the front of the bus and directed the driver to the children's museum. I just remember being confused at why all the adults were impressed because it was really easy to get there.

[chiver78]

Dec 6, 2013 14:03:35 GMT -5 justme said:

Of course there are always exceptions. I have one daughter that has an absolutely incredible sense of direction. Even when she was VERY young she could tell me to turn left here and then later on say make a right here, etc., etc. and she was always right. < <Twilight Zone theme plays>>

My mom still tells the story about how in kindergarten we were taking a field trip to the children's museum my mom helped open up. Since it opened before I started school, I spent a lot of time there and while it was being built too. It was new, and the bus driver took us to the art museum in town. This was back in the stone ages, so no cell phones, and I can't recall whether she asked or I volunteered, but I got up to the front of the bus and directed the driver to the children's museum. I just remember being confused at why all the adults were impressed because it was really easy to get there.

ha, my dad tells a similar one about me. when my uncle got divorced, he moved in with us for a little while until he bought his condo. well on the day that he moved out, I went along for the first load of stuff to be moved...but my parents stayed behind to pack up more stuff. when we went back for the second load, the first truck left before my parents had finished loading the second truck. they hadn't been to the condo yet, and didn't have an address. in 1981 there weren't cell phones yet either. my 3-yo self managed to navigate my parents to a condo 40 miles away. and yeah, I was confused why they were all impressed too.

[justme]

Dec 6, 2013 14:14:08 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

Dec 6, 2013 14:03:35 GMT -5 justme said:

My mom still tells the story about how in kindergarten we were taking a field trip to the children's museum my mom helped open up. Since it opened before I started school, I spent a lot of time there and while it was being built too. It was new, and the bus driver took us to the art museum in town. This was back in the stone ages, so no cell phones, and I can't recall whether she asked or I volunteered, but I got up to the front of the bus and directed the driver to the children's museum. I just remember being confused at why all the adults were impressed because it was really easy to get there.

ha, my dad tells a similar one about me. when my uncle got divorced, he moved in with us for a little while until he bought his condo. well on the day that he moved out, I went along for the first load of stuff to be moved...but my parents stayed behind to pack up more stuff. when we went back for the second load, the first truck left before my parents had finished loading the second truck. they hadn't been to the condo yet, and didn't have an address. in 1981 there weren't cell phones yet either. my 3-yo self managed to navigate my parents to a condo 40 miles away. and yeah, I was confused why they were all impressed too.

On the other end of the spectrum I remember in 11th grade friends and I were on the south side of time to help with graduation. They followed me back since they didn't know how to get back. Then, I guess assuming since I live in a different direction from them, they kept going straight. It was still another couple miles before they had to go a different direction than me. I called them and she said she didn't know how to get home from there, so she was driving to the mall to get home. -faint-She never could tell me how she knew how to get to the mall from there, but couldn't figure out how to get home.