http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1815538,00.html?cnn=yes
This article discusses the link between biology and sexual preference specifically in gay men. According to the article, recent findings suggest that the brains of gay males are more similar to the brains of heterosexual females than they are to heterosexual males. This similarity was noted with regards to the size of the two hemispheres of the brain, which are usually about equal in size in heterosexual women but unequal among most straight men. In most straight men, the right hemisphere is somewhat larger than the left, and this tendency was absent in men who identified themselves as gay.
In addition to this difference in hemisphere size, brain scans found that the nerve connections between hemispheres in gay men were also more similar to straight women than they are to straight men.
According to scientists, these findings are not significant because they are the first differences found between the male homosexual and heterosexual brain, but because they are the first differences noted that are not directly linked to portions of the brain that are solely linked with sexuality and/or reproduction. These newly found differences are more closely linked with emotional centers of the brain, and parts of the brain that are not linked to reproduction at all.
Right now, scientists are not completely sure of the significance of their findings, and what these findings will lead to, but I think that once there is more research conducted, it will change the way we look at gender roles as well as at people with different sexual preferences. Today, there are still many people that defend their homophobic tendencies by claiming that to be gay is a perversion or a choice. Its true that coming out as a homosexual may be a choice, but there is more evidence being found each day to support the notion that some or all gay people are born gay, and that it is not simply a choice.
There are also other applications to this type of research. I would find it very interesting to see the brain scans of people who do not identify themselves as either gay or straight, but as transexual or transgendered. I wonder if their brain scans would yield similar results to those studied here, or if different patterns would be found altogether.
Finally, I would like to the brain scans of women who identify themselves as lesbian. I think that many people do not take lesbianism as seriously as they take homosexuality in men, and tend to think that it is more of a lifestyle preference than an innate desire. I think that seeing the brain scans of lesbian women would help enlighten society, even if it turns up that there are no significant differences between the scans of homosexual women and straight women. Either way, knowing more about the brain and its structure is always helpful, and will always help society reach for more concrete and fulfilling answers to our most mysterious questions. I also feel that science is one field that can affect society in a positive way by fostering and encouraging a common understanding.
3 comments:
Dorit,
Wow, I think the brain scan results are significant. I understand the scientist hesitation in making this finding significant because they like evidence to smack them in the face first. However, my first thoughts are this says to me that genes play a significant role in who we are at birth and who we become as we get older. There are approx. 1100 genes in the X chromosome and approx 50 in the Y. Science once thought that in women, who have the XX chromosome, that some of the genes in the second X chromosome would be turned off. But they later found that this is probably not true. This tells me that there can be many variations in the gene proportioning between the XY and the XX regardless of the sex you are born into. That is to say that between the XY and the XX there are many grey areas which equate to variations. So with that in mind it’s no wonder that sex genes and gender can potentially develop more prominently in a man with more secondary X genes than Y or a women who inherits more of the male Y genes.
Are these variations mistakes in nature or is this how nature intended it? We make these variations out to be freakish because of our stereotypical socialization. But if we didn't grow up with biased socialization how would we then view these variations? Very interesting!
This is awesome. I always believed that it is something related with the DNA of each person. Information, journals and studies like this are getting closer to give some answers.
I once read about a pregnant woman who was carrying twins and she had a car accident. The impact was only in one side of her body and after that one of her twin girls switches to be men in adult life. Some doctors had theories that it could have been the stress in pregnancy and the released of hormones during the accident.
Incredible findings...thanks for sharing.
I also think the brain scan results are significant. I have talked with several gay men and women who said they all knew from very early ages that they were gay. In all of their families, their parents and what they had been taught was that heterosexual life was the norm.
I think genetics do play a part in the determinations. Very interesting article!
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