0 Brain Differences Men and Women

Low capacity differences between men and women has long been the main attraction among psychologists, particularly those engaged in differential psychology. No doubt, based on the public observation or research results show that between different creatures have different type, seen in physical and psychological aspects.

The results of a recent study conducted Ingalhalikar, (2013) to 949 participants young people aged 8-22 years showed that there are differences of brain connectivity between men and women. This study using Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) is an imaging technique that can reveal the structure of the life of the brain, capable of tracking and highlighting the fiber pathways that connect different brain regions.

Of the 428 men studied, the researchers found that the connections in the brain more men moving between the front and rear in the same hemisphere (inter-hemispheric connectivity). The movement of the connection from back to front is believed to be the brain activity that connects perception to action. This gave us the explanation that men have an advantage in motor skills and spatial skills (insight space) than women.

Meanwhile, of the 521 women who became participants in this study, the researchers noted that the connections in the brain more women move between the two hemispheres of the brain (intra-hemispheric connectivity). Lines of communication between the two hemispheres of the brain is believed to be the brain activity that connects intuition with analysis. This provides an explanation that women have an advantage in memory skills and social cognition skills.

The researchers also found that there is little difference in brain connectivity between men and women, before the age of 13 years. Different patterns of brain connectivity is very striking between the ages of 14-17 years, which is triggered by the onset of puberty and 17 years and over. Ruben Gur, a member in the study said :

".... Map this connection not only helps us better understand the differences of how men and women think, but also gives us a deeper understanding of the roots of neurological disorders, associated with gender. "    

Several previous studies have shown the existence of differences in the brain between men and women, but the study of the neural wiring that connects regions throughout the brain associated with cognitive skills, and involving a large population apparently never happened. 

0 Struggle at CUNY

Readers of this blog ought to be interested in changes at the Graduate Center at the City University of New York affecting the pay and resources of their graduate students.

In a nutshell, the same market-based approaches to education inflicted on k-12 schooling and more recently undergraduate education are now being brought to bear on graduate education.  Characteristics of that sector that some find undesirable-- for example longer times to degree--are being attributed to student laziness and treated with new rejiggered incentives.  The President of the CUNY Grad Center recently equated his students with roaches, who check into a model and never check out.

The pushback on the part of many CUNY grad students is merited and admirable-- while some of the so-called reforms are good on their face (who doesn't like fellowships?) their roll out and implementation suggest deeper problems.  It seems that too-little consideration has been given to the effects on access likely to occur with such a completion agenda, and this is especially problematic at an institution with such a long history of opening doors (and admittedly, then often slamming them).

I'm eager to learn more about these events, and encourage those of you in New York to share what you know with us.