Gay Men, Straight Women Have Similar Brains (Warning: Science content)

[M. Wolfe]

This article was recently brought to my attention.


MONDAY, June 16 (HealthDay News) - MRI and PET scan studies are showing remarkable similarities between the brains of gay men and straight women, and between those of lesbians and straight men.

For example, the brains of straight men and of gay women share certain common features: both are slightly asymmetric, with the right hemisphere larger than the left, say the Swedish researchers.

On the other hand, the brains of gay men and straight women are both symmetrical.

Similar trends emerged when scientists tracked connectivity in the amygdala, the region of the brain involved in emotional learning and in activating the fight-or-flight response. They noted strong similarities between gay men and straight women, and lesbians and straight men.

However.


This study does little to clarify the reasons behind the differences, the researchers added, although it certainly does add to the debate.

Though I do wonder what it means for us. Sexuality is a neurological in nature, so I'd like to know what produces bisexuality, though I see that an answer is far off from now.

[TheKnaveOfHearts]

I remember that study. I'm no neuroscientist, but it's my opinion that behavior influences the way that particular part of the brain is shaped rather than the orientation itself. In other words, I don't think people are born with "straight" or "gay" brains, for lack of better terms. And the only way scientists could ever prove that people are born with certain types of brains is to track the life and brain development of a baby from birth until adulthood. Of course, doing so is practically impossible. And of course, the study doesn't say anything about bisexuality because, in truth, sexuality defies easy explanations like the one these researchers offer. So, the mystery remains.

[Cherokee_Mountaincat]

[ And of course, the study doesn't say anything about bisexuality because, in truth, sexuality defies easy explanations like the one these researchers offer. So, the mystery remains.[/QUOTE]

lol Just means us Bisexuals are a wonderful breed of our own! :three: ;)
Cat

[M. Wolfe]

Keep in mind that the FDA passed trans fats and hydrogenated oils because conventional scientific intelligence at the time thought they were okay for us.

Also just look at how homosexuality was once seen by scientists and psychologists as a mental illness.

Just look at the horrible biased studies that go on about how female bisexuality exists but bisexuality does not exist in men at all.

The moral of this story is that blind faith in science is blind faith nontheless, and no less subjective of a process than putting your faith in holistic cures, voodoo, or whatever floats your boat.

Science is no longer and never was the end all answer for every question in life so it's about time we stop treating the "experts" like gods and realize that they can be bought off, can make mistakes, etc. etc. and are human just like the rest of us.

Keep in mind how Galileo was treated for believing that the earth wasn't the center of the universe.

Also keeping in mind that ignoring science, and devaluing it's usefulness is tantamount to anti-intellectualism.

Science never was about the "end all answer" for all of life's questions, it's there to explain how nature works - not why.